Baker & Mckenzie values global arbitration work at £6bn

Thomas Schrell joins from the Frankfurt office of Freshfields-Deringer, where he was a senior associate.

Dr Erich Michel, head of the Frankfurt office, says: "We are delighted that Thomas has decided to join us.

"His background is highly relevant to the type of work we are focusing on at the moment - mainly corporate, banking and capital markets work."

Schrell says he made the move because he has room to build his practice at White & Case's new office. "It is different from being at a traditional, well-established German law firm," he says.

"It was the prospect of being able to take things forward and develop my own practice in an international environment.

"I have been given responsibility here to do that and that was the main reason.

He says the office will take on another four or five lawyers by the end of this year