Phila.-based Dechert LLP opens new Germany office

Philadelphia-based law firm Dechert LLP, which has a significant national and global presence, announced Tuesday that it has increased its international operations with the opening of an office in Frankfurt, Germany.

The firm announced via news release on its website Jan. 17 that Achim Pütz, who joined the firm in 2010, will serve as the new office’s managing partner alongside Carsten Fischer and Benedikt Weiser, who will serve as partners in the Financial Services group.

“Germany has always been an important part of our strategy to serve our clients’ global needs,” Daniel O’Donnell, Dechert’s chief operating officer, said in a statement. “We are delighted to have found lawyers of Carsten’s and Benedikt’s caliber to join us as we continue to build our team in Europe. Further recruitment in the financial services and corporate area is expected shortly.”

With about 160 services lawyers working throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, Dechert has one of the largest Financial Services practices among all major firms, the announcement states.

Dechert’s first German office opened in Munich in 2004, according to the news release. The Munich team is expected to work closely with the new Frankfurt office on issues such as private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance and acquisition finance, financial services and asset management, securities, banking, capital markets, labor, tax, finance and real estate and Islamic Finance and other business law for various industries, the statement says.

Pütz, who will serve as the managing partner of the new office, is the founder and chairman of the German Alternative Investment Association, the statement says.

He has extensive experience advising German and other international clients on traditional and alternative investment funds, and the conception, documentation and promotion of structured debt products.

“With Carsten and Benedikt, we have further strengthened our German Financial Services group, giving us an even greater ability to cover all aspects of financial services and asset management related matters,” Pütz said in the statement. “Our German presence is an important key for a top-ranked global law firm focusing on this area.”