Herbert Smith Freehills strengthens in Germany through new FSR expertise

International law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has strengthened its Global Financial Services Regulatory (FSR) practice by combining existing expertise with the hire of Dr Timo Buehler as a partner, to create a dedicated FSR team in Germany.  

The FSR team will be led by Germany Managing Partner Kai Liebrich, who, over the past few years, has developed a highly successful advisory and contentious FSR practice in Germany. The new dedicated team, which will form part of HSF's German and Global Disputes practice, has been created in response to the increasing demand of clients from the financial sector for specialist advice on financial regulation, including representation in proceedings by financial supervisory authorities. Further expansion is already planned with the hire of a Counsel, joining in 2024.

New partner, Timo, returns to the firm, having been a senior associate at Herbert Smith Freehills from 2016 to 2018. He regularly  advises domestic and international banks, securities institutions and payment service providers on strategic questions and represents them in in internal and external investigations as well as contentious proceedings. Furthermore, he has advised various clients from the financial sector on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, establishment of joint ventures, financial restructurings and capital market transactions. Timo has also advised insurance companies and asset managers in regulatory issues and is experienced in the structuring and formation of investment funds.

Jenny Stainsby, Global Head of the Financial Services Regulatory practice, commented:

"I am delighted that we are fulfilling our ambition to grow our financial services regulatory team in Germany, building on the successful practice led by Kai Liebrich.  Germany, and in particular Frankfurt, is an important hub for many of our clients and, with the deep experience of the expanded team, we are pleased to be able provide additional legal and regulatory support in response to regulatory change and challenge."

Kai Liebrich, the firm's Managing Partner in Germany, commented:

"We are one of the first firms in the German market to establish a dedicated team for Contentious Financial Services Regulatory. Our extensive experience in the financial sector and our traditionally strong global disputes practice is a strong foundation to advise our clients with foresight and support them in cross-border as well as national proceedings. Furthermore, the addition of Timo is an important step in the implementation of our growth plan in Germany."

Dr Patricia Nacimiento, Head of Disputes Germany, commented:

"The formation of the contentious FSR team is an important addition to our disputes offering, which covers investment arbitration, commercial arbitration and litigation as well as Compliance/internal investigations and Intellectual Property."

Timo commented:

"I'm looking forward to returning to Herbert Smith Freehills as a partner and to working with my former colleagues on further building the FSR practice."

Herbert Smith Freehills operates a world-class FSR team across its global network spanning Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. Recognised as Tier 1 in the directories and lauded as 'pragmatic and decisive, underpinned by excellent knowledge and leadership', HSF covers the full spectrum of regulated firms' key issues including regulatory change, enforcement and investigations, governance and risk management, compliance advice, market conduct, complaints handling, financial crime and the regulatory aspects of transactions or restructurings.