Volkswagen has hired Clifford Chance German partner David Detweiler as general counsel in the US, just months after an emissions tests scandal rocked the global car maker.
Detweiler, who was a key advisor to Volkwagen while at the magic circle firm, took on the top legal job on 1 February. He also becomes executive vice president at Volkswagen of America Group.
He succeeds David Geanacopoulos who will move to a role leading the car brand’s government lobbying efforts in the US, based in a new office in Washington, after eight years as legal chief.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exposed claims VW had used cheat devices to circumvent emission limits for vehicles last year.
Detweiler’s most recent work for VW included advising on the issuance of $2.8bn of corporate bonds last May.
The top-level change is part of plans by VW to bolster its relationships with lawmakers in the face of the scandal that has brought criticism from worldwide governments and regulators.
Detweiler’s appointment also comes amid numerous legal challenges set to hit the UK, German and US courts later this year.
The Lawyer revealed in October VW had instructed Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to defend a raft of civil claims being brought in the UK and France in relation to the emissions scandal.
Lawyers from Freshfields will work with a team from Kirkland & Ellis in Washington, which is representing the car manufacturer in the US.
VW has also instructed Jones Day to manage its internal investigation, after it admitted cheating on the emissions tests.
In the UK, claimant firms Slater & Gordon and Leigh Day are expected to launch actions against the company by targeting tens of thousands of European car owners in what could become one of the biggest UK legal claims in history.
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has been retained by litigation funder Bentham to bring a shareholder claim against the car giant in Germany that is understood to be valued in the tens of billions of euros.