German independent Noerr Stiefenhofer Lutz has opened a liaison office in New York as it moves to bolster its referral relationships with US law firms. The office is headed by the firm's former joint head, Ronald Frohne, who has been replaced in the managing partner role by partner Tobias Burgers. Joint managing partner Dieter Schenk said the opening of the New York outpost was "an important development in the firm's international strategy".