Latham & Watkins Munich raids Dechert for private equity partner

US firm Latham & Watkins has lured a Dechert private equity partner to its Munich office.

Volkmar Bruckner, who joined Dechert from Baker & McKenzie in 2004, has expertise in both corporate/M&A and private equity and boosts Latham's corporate capability in Munich to four partners. His clients include bluechip private equity houses such as 3i.

Latham opened its 11-lawyer office in Munich in January 2006. The firm has pursued a strategy in Germany of cherrypicking choice private equity laterals, including partner Dirk Oberbracht from Baker & McKenzie last November.

Meanwhile, Dechert's Munich office is left with 12 lawyers, 10 of whom are experts in corporate or private equity.

Latham's global corporate vice-chairman John Watson said: "On the corporate side we’re committed to building the leading private equity, M&A and acquisition finance capability in Europe. Volkmar's arrival is further evidence of this commitment and ambition."