Hogan launches in Munich at client’s request

US firm Hogan & Hartson will open its second German office in Munich at the request of a key media client, believed to be Universal.

German managing partner Guernod Minell said: “A Hollywood-based film studio asked us to open. The choice was either to move to Munich or face the situation where the client was forced to hire another counsel.” He declined to name the client, but Universal is one of Hogan’s key media clients in the US.

He added that the firm, which currently operates only in Berlin, had been considering Munich for some time. “We’ve been active in Munich for a couple of years,” he said. “We worked for Saban on the recent ProSiebenSat1 deal.”

Two Berlin partners, Stephen Belew and Jan Hegemann, will relocate to Munich together with three senior associates.

Initially the office will concentrate primarily on the media and telecoms sector, but Minell said: “In the medium term our aim is to develop our pharma and healthcare practice in Germany,” adding that the firm also hoped to do some private equity work.

Lateral hires are planned for the pharma and private equity practice at a later stage.