GvW Graf von Westphalen appoints new partners from its own ranks

With effect from 1^st January 2014, GvW Graf von Westphalen welcomes two new partners from its own ranks, in addition to IT partner Stephan Menzemer: Associated partners Dr Gerd Schwendinger and Dr Marco Zessel were appointed equity partners.

Dr Gerd Schwendinger is partner in the Hamburg office and advises the public sector and private national and international companies in state aid and subsidies law as well as customs and foreign trade law. As a lawyer and former judge, the lecturer at Bucerius Law School and Hamburger Zollakademie has extensive forensic experience and represents clients before German and European courts as well as the European Commission and national authorities.

Dr Marco Zessel‘s focus lies with national and international corporate law. The certified specialist for trade and corporate law offers comprehensive advice to entrepreneurs and investors on all corporate law issues. Dr Zessel is a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences for Economics and Management Frankfurt and specialized in advising start-ups and young entrepreneurs.

“With the appointment of Dr Schwendinger and Dr Zessel as equity partners, we are systematically continuing our policy to also grow from our own ranks”, state managing partners Dr Robert Theissen and Christof Kleinmann. “Both lawyers are recognized specialists in their focus areas with who we are even better positioned, both qualitatively and with regard to our service portfolio”.

Furthermore, Karsten Kujath, Hans-Joachim Lagier and Felix Wolf were appointed associated partners.

Karsten Kujath jointed GvW’s Frankfurt office in 2008. The 37-year old employment law specialist mainly advises employers on individual and collective employment law.

Hans-Joachim Lagier, specialized lawyer in construction and architects law, only joined the firm’s Munich office last year. With his particular expertise in project development, Lagier advises his clients on complex real estate projects.

M&A expert Felix Wolf is also based in GvW’s Munich office. The certified specialist for trade and corporate law has long-standing experience in international transactions and substantially participated in the latest large transaction projects of the Munich team.