US firm Goodwin Procter is opening its first office in mainland Europe, hiring four Ashurst partners to launch its Frankfurt base. 

Real estate partners Marc Bohne and Peter Junghänel will kickstart Goodwin Procter’s German launch, with Junghänel having served as Ashurst’s Germany managing partner between 2009 and 2013. 

They will be joined by finance partner Stephan Kock and private equity partner Lars Jessen. 

The quartet are not the first Ashurst partners to leave the firm for Goodwin Procter. 

Four years ago, Goodwin Procter hired Ashurst partner David Evans to head up its launch in London, as well as Ashurst partner Samantha Lake Coghlan. 

The London office, which recently launched a private equity practice, is currently home to 40 lawyers, including approximately 10 partners. 

Frankfurt will be Goodwin Procter’s first base in mainland Europe and it is not yet known how many lawyers will be joining the four new recruits.  

Goodwin Procter is the third US firm to open in Germany this year. Last week litigation specialist Hausfeld announced plans to open in Berlin after a €30m (£21.6m) investment from litigation funder Burford Capital. Earlier this year Greenberg Traurig also launched in Berlin, taking on Olswang’s office in the German capital.

Meanwhile Herbert Smith Freehills unveiled its intention to launch its third German office in Düsseldorf with the hire of former Clifford Chance partner Thomas Weimann.