Kirkland & Ellis has made a major corporate team hire in Germany from Hengeler Mueller.
Munich-based M&A partner Achim Herfs has taken counsel Anna Schwander and senior associate Benjamin Leyendecker-Langer to Kirkland, with all three joining as partners.
The moves mark the first time a partner at Hengeler Mueller has taken a team to a rival US firm, according to German magazine Juve.
It also marks the second major corporate hire for Kirkland in the region in less than a year after the firm took private equity partner Jörg Kirchner from Latham & Watkins last July.
Herfs’ recent client work includes advising German cable operator Tele Columbus and digital marketplace Scout24 on IPOs last year. He was one of the firm’s founding partners in Munich, launching the office in 2005.
Kirkland corporate partner Volker Kullman said: “Achim Herfs is one of the most senior and well known corporate and capital markets lawyers in Germany.
“Together with Anna and Benjamin, this team builds upon our strong partner bench and capabilities across capital markets and corporate transactions as well as restructurings.”
The hire marks a win for Kirkland in Germany after a turbulent few months for the firm in the UK. Kirkland doubled its notice period for departing equity partners worldwide in March after losing a six-partner team to Sidley Austin and high-yield partner Andy Hagan to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.
Other losses over the past year include a funds trio to Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson. However, the firm has also hired from a number of magic circle firms, including Michael Steele from Freshfields, and Matthew Elliott and Paula Riedel from Linklaters.