Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer planning and regulatory partner Michael Schaefer is taking a team of three associates to launch an infrastructure, real estate and energy boutique in Germany.
Schaefer, who is based in Hamburg, will run the new firm, named Chatham Partners.
He takes with him a trio of associates from Freshfields’ Hamburg office including Felix Fischer, who will join as a partner, as well as Joyce von Marschall and Marieke Luedeke.
Chatham Partners will launch in Hamburg in May and will open a second office in Frankfurt later this year focusing on project finance and bond finance.
Schaefer joined legacy Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann in 1995 and was made a partner at Freshfields following the merger in 1999. He has since served as global head of ports and shipping. His recent clients include Dong Energy and German construction giant Hochtief.
Schaefer’s exit follows news at the start of the year that Freshfields would move some of its partners to a lower lockstep ladder in jurisdictions including Germany, London and New York. The firm is understood to be seeking to remove up to 500 points from its partner profit distribution in Germany.
A spokesperson for Freshfields said: “Michael is a valued colleague. We wish him all the best in his new firm.”