Denton International loses Berlin office to D&P's Görg

The marriage with the 25-lawyer office, which includes 12 partners, gives Görg its first presence in Berlin.
Heuking's Berlin office is particularly strong in real estate and it will also give Görg public law and government work capability.

However, Berlin is believed to be Heuking's most profitable office and its departure will be a blow to the firm's international alliance Denton International.

According to Görg's managing partner Ulrich Jüngst, Berlin is important to the firm's long-term international strategy. "We need an office in Berlin and Heuking's Berlin office has a very strong local client base and a practice which fits in well with ours," he said. "We're committed to being part of an international alliance and we need to increase our critical mass."

DLA's international alliance DLA & Partners' (D&P) chief operating officer David Church said that the move is great news for D&P. "It brings an excellent team in Berlin, which is an important strategic location in the context of Germany and the rest of Europe," he said.

The profitability of the two firms is similar and Jüngst anticipates that integration will be smooth.

Görg, which has 40 lawyers, is a full service firm but is particularly well known in the media sector and for its restructuring and insolvency work. It is currently advising on the restructuring of media company Kirch-Gruppe and other clients include Deutsche Bank and production company Endemol, producer of Big Brother.

Görg, which had a relationship with Eversheds until the beginning of 2000, joined D&P in February 2001.

Since its inception in 1999 D&P has acquired offices in Brussels, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. In January, it started the integration process and completed its first full European merger with Belgian alliance firm Price & Partners.

Görg's merger with Heuking will take effect on 7 March.