Ross & Craig partner to head Field Fisher's new Anglo-German group

Field Fisher Waterhouse is creating a London-based Anglo-German group with the recruitment of partner Robert Wieder from nine-partner West End firm Ross & Craig.

Wieder, who holds dual Austria-UK citizenship and joined Field Fisher this month, is heading a group of three lawyers at the firm - Annett Sonderman, who is dual UK/German qualified, Roman Hekelsberger and Sarah Weakley.

There are also a number of fluent German-speaking assistants in litigation and property, with another about to join the intellectual property department who will assist the group when necessary.

"It will be one of the largest German groups in London," said Wieder.

He said the group's aim was to advise large private English companies going to Germany and similar German companies investing in England.

Wieder, who was head of EU/international trade at Ross & Craig, added : "We see Germany as a very important client base."

He also has experience of transactions in Eastern Europe and has just advised on the largest private sale of a Slovakian company - Saris Brewery.

He said the firm's strategy "at the moment" was not to open a German office but to rely on a network of German firms to whom work could be referred.