DLA gains German insurance capability with CC hire

DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary has secured German insurance capability for the first time with the hire of Clifford Chance insurance expert Dr Herbert Palmberger.

Palmberger was counsel at Clifford Chance in Dusseldorf and will be based in DLA’s Cologne office.

Prior to joining CC, Palmberger worked inhouse at a range of insurance and reinsurance companies including Hannover Re, DKV and CHUBB. He joins DLA on 1 May.

DLA’s German managing partner Ulrich Jungst said in a statement: "Cologne is home to a number of important insurance companies in Germany and is often referred to as Germany’s insurance capital. Establishing an insurance practice in Cologne is certainly the right thing to do."

The hire continues DLA’s rapid expansion in Germany since its Cologne debut last year. Since splitting with its former German ally Gorg Rechtsanwalte, the firm has raided Gorg for its former managing partner Ulrich Jungst as well as taking three partners to launch in Hamburg. The firm subsequently gained project finance expertise with the hire of ex Lovells senior associate Frank Roth and bolstered its corporate capability with the hire of former Clifford Chance partner Martin Schulte.