Olswang triples Berlin office with Freshfields hires

Olswang has tripled the partner headcount in its Berlin office by hiring a real estate team from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Partners Christian Schede and Martin Wiemann will join Olswang along with a team of nine associates, according to German legal magazine Juve.

This is the second time in the space of a year that Olswang has hired a team from a magic circle firm in Berlin. Last March the firm doubled the size of its office in the city after taking on Linklaters’ highly rated IP team of two partners and six fee-earners (31 March 2008).

The firm launched its Berlin office just over two years ago to focus on real estate, finance and media. With the Freshfields hires Olswang will have six partners based in Berlin.

The firm’s Berlin managing partner Stefan Lütje said: “It’s an exciting time for Olswang in the German market. We’ve been a busy and successful group from the start and working alongside the London based real estate, corporate and finance groups, we’re confident that the new team’s expertise will enable us to meet our clients’ demand.”

Wiemann and Schede have both been Freshfields lawyers for a considerable period pf time. Wiemann joined the firm in 1989 and made partner in 1993. Schede joined the firm in 1996 and has been a partner since 2002.

Juve reported that a Freshfields spokesman said the firm would not look to rebuild its Berlin real estate team following the departures but would focus on regulatory work instead.