Fladgates founds City German practice

Fladgate Fielder has launched a German private equity practice with the hire of Allen & Overy senior associate Alex Kaufmann.

Kaufmann joins the firm's London-based German group as a partner-elect.

Head of the Germanic practice Andrew Kaufmann said: "He's not related. He's been brought in to develop the German practice with us, bringing great City contacts."

Alex Kaufmann said of his move: "Fladgates are looking to expand their private equity practice and that's something that really appealed to me. I couldn't miss the opportunity."

Fladgates' German group has seven lawyers, three of whom are dual-qualified in Germany. Fladgates has no plans to open in Germany. The group sits within the corporate practice and gets around two-thirds of its work through relationship firms in Germany, working with around six in each major city.