Ex-Hengeler partner quits Milbank after just ten days

Wolfgang Grobecker, a corporate M&A partner in the Munich office of Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, has parted company with his new firm.

The news follows a statement published in The Lawyer today from Grobecker’s former employer Hengeler Mueller, detailing “unacceptable personal misconduct” as the reason behind his leaving his old firm.

Subsequently, Milbank confirmed today that Grobecker has left his new role as a partner in the US firm’s corporate advisory practice – after just 10 days in the post.

A spokesman from Milbank said: “Milbank and Wolfgang Grobecker have agreed that he leave the partnership.”

Hengeler, Slaughter and May’s German best friend, took the unprecedented step of releasing the damning statement (see story) after Grobecker discussed his reasons for leaving his old firm in favour of Milbank earlier last week (see story).

Grobecker would have been the first partner to leave Hengeler for a rival in 20 years.

However Hengeler were keen to make it clear the reasons behind his departure.

Markus Meier, a partner in Hengeler’s Frankfurt office, said: “Wolfgang Grobecker has not been active for Hengeler Mueller since 23 November 2009. The firm was forced to part with him due to unacceptable personal misconduct in the workplace not related to the firm’s business.”

Hengeler declined to comment on Grobecker’s latest departure.