Following a year of rapid international expansion that saw highly profitable litigation outfit Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan dominate the global litigation agenda with launches in jurisdictions such as Sydney and Hong Kong, the top 35 Global100 firm today (18 February) confirmed to Legal Business that it is to broaden out its capability with a launch in the heart of the European Union (EU), in Brussels.
The new office, its seventh in Europe, will focus on EU and member state competition litigation and investigations and will be managed by Nadine Herrmann, head of the firm’s European competition practice.
Herrmann will divide her time between Quinn’s Hamburg and Brussels offices and joining her in Brussels will be dual-US and English qualified anti-trust and intellectual property partner Catherine Manley and German-qualified Jan Jacob, both specialists in competition law.
Quinn’s managing partner, John Quinn (pictured) commented: ‘Any major antitrust dispute or investigation includes an EU component. In fact, more and many originate in the EU. Brussels is the epicentre of EU competition matters. We believe we had to have an office in Brussels to effectively represent our clients in these global disputes. Nadine is a veteran of these disputes, particularly when there is also an IP component.’
Herrmann added: ‘Brussels is the de facto capital of the European Union. We believe a Brussels office is essential to effectively represent clients before the European Commission and before the Union Courts. It will provide an excellent platform from which to expand our competition practice. Opening the office in Brussels demonstrates our commitment to our European competition practice.’
In May 2013 Quinn opened an office in Sydney with the hire of Herbert Smith Freehills partners Michael Mills and Michelle Fox and the same month also saw it launch in Hong Kong with the hire of senior arbitrator John Rhie from leading South Korea commercial law firm, Kim & Chang.
This latest move comes as the 591-lawyer firm, which for 2012/13 turned out a profit per equity partner figure of $4.4m and turnover increase of 18% to $852.6m, contributing to its selection as Legal Business US Law Firm of the Year 2014, looks to extend its capability in areas including competition and arbitration.
UK managing partner Richard East told Legal Business: ‘We needed to have a proper presence in Brussels.’
david.stevenson@legalease.co.uk