Reinforcement for Frankfurt: Oppenhoff recruits renowned litigator Michael Weigel

Oppenhoff is strengthening its position in Frankfurt: renowned litigator Dr. Michael Weigel is transferring from Arnold & Porter as an equity partner effective 1 February 2021. Weigel will be joining the firm with his team of two additional lawyers, including junior partner Maximilian Reichl.

Michael Weigel advises on complex litigation in the areas of contract and corporate law as well as on banking and finance law. He represents national and international industrial companies as well as financial service providers. One focus of his advice is professional liability for professional services firms. Prior to his partnership at Arnold & Porter, he was initially a lawyer from 1989 to 2008 and from 1994 a partner at Linklaters, more specifically at its German predecessor firms, most recently Oppenhoff & Rädler.

Weigel recently advised and represented inter alia Freshfields and Bird & Bird in defending damage claims and various institutional investors in actions against VW in the diesel emissions scandal.

The firm’s spokesman, Dr. Gilbert Wurth, commented: "Litigation and arbitration proceedings are becoming increasingly important to our clients. With Michael Weigel’s extensive expertise, many years of experience and market reputation, his joining the firm is an important step in the growth of the litigation and arbitration practice. With Vanessa Pickenpack’s team in Cologne and Michael Weigel’s team, we can offer our clients optimal service from two offices."

Michael Weigel: "I am really looking forward to my new environment and many familiar and new colleagues. Oppenhoff, with its first-class client portfolio, offers the perfect basis for further developing the area as a team with the new colleagues."

Weigel will be joined by Maximilian Reichl, who will start as a junior partner, and Caterina Hanke. Reichl's focusses are commercial and contract law, manager and consultant liability, antitrust damages and international arbitration.

The litigation & arbitration practice group at Oppenhoff will in future have a total of ten lawyers, including three partners. Vanessa Pickenpack was most recently active, among other things, in various antitrust damages proceedings (together with antitrust lawyer Dr. Daniel Dohrn) and as an arbitrator in various arbitration proceedings. Peter Klappich primarily advises and represents pharmaceutical companies and has many years of experience in product liability cases.

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