DWF makes strategic swoop in Germany
LAW firm DWF has accelerated its European expansion plans with an acquisition in Germany.
The Manchester-based national firm, which announced the launch of a Brussels office earlier this month, is buying BridgehouseLaw, a four partner practice with offices in Cologne and Munich. The deal will be effective from January 1
DWF said: “Driven by client demand, the strategic acquisition will help build the firm’s international capability, particularly in Germany and will strengthen DWF’s capability in its chosen industry sectors, specifically energy, real estate, retail, food & hospitality and tech.”
BridgehouseLaw focuses on advising foreign, especially US and Israel-based companies expanding into Germany and German companies expanding abroad, especially into the US, and advises them on the full range of commercial issues with particular expertise in corporate/M&A, distribution and franchise law, employment, IT/IP and dispute resolution matters.
It has a strong focus on the energy, real estate, retail, food & hospitality and tech industry sectors, complementing DWF’s own sector focus, with clients including Carbo, Deutsche Telecom, Media Broadcast, MEP and Univa.
DWF’s managing partner and chief executive Andrew Leaitherland said: “BridgehouseLaw is a strong strategic fit with DWF, giving us capability in key geographic regions where we’ve identified growth opportunities with existing clients in our chosen industry sectors particularly tech and energy.
“DWF has a large number of German clients, as well as clients who do business in Germany, the EU and the US, and this strategic acquisition provides a platform to access many of the sectors and markets which are important to our clients’ business objectives and which support DWF’s own strategic plans.”
BridgehouseLaw’s Michael Falter added: “DWF is an ambitious, fast-growing business with a strong track record for its innovation and there’s clear strategic alignment in our vision and culture, in the geographic markets we’re targeting, and in the industry sectors upon which we focus, so, in combining our strengths there’s a real opportunity for us to enhance our international capability for the benefit of our clients.”
The merger will take effect on 1st January 2016. BridgehouseLaw’s Michael Falter will lead operations as managing partner of DWF Germany.
The merged firm will have a turnover of £194m and will employ approximately 2,360 people across 16 locations.
BridgehouseLaw’s four equity partners – Oliver Bolthausen, Klaus Brisch, Michael Falter and Dr Mathias Reif – will become equity partners of DWF.
