New Partners – GvW Graf von Westphalen is growing from its own ranks

In this year’s general meeting, GvW Graf von Westphalen’s partners have elected three new equity partners and five new associated partners.

As of 1 January 2015, Hans-Joachim Lagier, Dr Kurt Luka, LL.M., and Dr Patrick Wolff will join the partnership as equity partners.

Hans-Joachim Lagier is a specialist lawyer for building and architects law at the firm’s Munich office. With his long-standing experience in building and architects law as well as real estate law, Mr. Lagier has particularly specialized in the project development of properties and technical facilities. The 41-year old, who grew up in Costa Rica and only joined the firm as an associate last year, is supporting the firm’s Spain/South America desk.

Dr Kurt Luka has also been working as a lawyer for GvW since 2013 in project development and plant engineering. The investment volume of the real estate projects he advised on so far amounts to more than EUR 1 billion, with a key focus on the development of larger commercial and residential units - most recently with regard to student housing (more). In the field of plant engineering with particular focus on renewable energies, the Hamburg-based partner advises his clients on the project planning of solar systems/solar parks (more) as well as wind power plants/wind parks and deep geothermic plants.

Dr Patrick Wolff, a specialist lawyer for banking and capital markets law, advises and represents banks, financial services providers and companies on all issues of banking law, in particular loan and loan security law as well as investment advice and prospectus liability cases, but also with regard to the enforcement or defense of insolvency law claims. In addition, banking supervision law advice is one of the key focus points of the new partner at GvW’s Hamburg office. Dr Wolff also acts as the head of the Scandinavian desk, which promotes the firm’s German-Scandinavian business relations.

Moreover, Melanie Eilers, Saskia Soravia, Tobias Osseforth, Dr Christian Triebe and Nils-Alexander Weng were appointed as associated partners from the firm’s own ranks.

Melanie Eilers is a specialist lawyer for private building and architects law in GvW’s Hamburg office. In addition to private building and architects law, she is specialized in condominium law and represents companies in the enforcement of construction time extension claims.

Food and feed law is one of Saskia Soravia’s core competencies. The Hamburg-based specialist lawyer for administrative law, who started her career as a lawyer at GvW in 2010, also acts as the firm’s central point of contact for all animal protection law issues.

Tobias Osseforth is specialized in procurement law and advises on procurement procedures in the areas construction, supply and services. The Munich-based lawyer advises regional administrative bodies, research institutions and university hospitals. In addition to his activities as a lawyer, Mr. Osseforth is the publisher of a practice commentary and acts as a speaker at various procurement law seminars.

With his specialization in copyright and media law as well as industrial property protection, Dr Christian Triebe supports the practice group IP, IT and media. The Hamburg-based lawyer does not only liaise closely with food law, but is also a member of the GvW startup group and offers advice to start-up companies concerning their foundation, amongst others on copyright and trademark law issues (www.startupberater.com)." target="_blank" title="Management Partners">the firm’s managing partners, Dr Robert Theissen and Christof Kleinmann. “All candidates are a perfect fit for our partnership, both professionally and personally.”