NetApp adds to legal team for Emea push

US-based technology company NetApp is boosting its European legal team by 40 per cent to support its aggressive growth policy in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (Emea).

The company has 10 lawyers in its European legal team, but hopes to add four more to keep up with the company's growth.

Emea director of legal affairs Volker Weisshaar told The Lawyer: "Our company is growing at around 35 per cent per year and the legal team will probably grow at the same speed."

Last year the company increased its turnover by $500m (£253.58m) to $2bn (£1.01bn).

The legal team is spread across European headquarters in Amsterdam and offices in London, Munich and Paris.

Weisshaar is planning to recruit lawyers in Italy, Israel and Spain for the first time, as well as in Amsterdam.

"These are places where the legal work is increasing," said Weisshaar, adding: "You have to be close to the customer."

Weisshaar spends around e1m (£660,000) a year on specialist legal advice, but this figure could fall with the expansion of the team. NetApp aims to hire lawyers with experience in commercial work as well as competition specialists.

"To some extent we'll use law firms less, but we'll still need outside advice from time to time," said Weisshaar.