DLA Piper makes 15th hire of 2008

DLA Piper has made its 15th lateral hire in Europe this year, taking litigation veteran Rob Ludding from Dutch corporate and competition law boutique Van Wylick & Ludding.

Ludding's hire comes a week after the firm hired CMS Hasche Sigle's Munich technology head Jan Geert Meents.

Ludding has more than 33 years of experience and his career included a stint in-house at Shell, and work for the Dutch Competition Authority from its inception in 1998 until 2006. He will become counsel at DLA Piper.

Léon Korsten, DLA Piper Dutch competition head, said: "We need to be able to respond to the European Commission and the Dutch Competition Authority and having someone of Rob's calibre as part of our offering will be a huge benefit to our clients."

In France alone DLA Piper has hired seven partners and three associates in 2008, including a two partner corporate team from Denton Wilde Sapte.