Willkie Farr & Gallagher has strengthened its German tax capabilities with the hire of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) partner Patrick Meiisel.

Meiisel joins the Frankfurt arm of the top 50 US firm, where he will focus on advising private equity investors on tax issues.

Meiisel will be accompanied by senior tax associate Bettina Bokeloh, who also specialises in advising private equity clients and will become a salaried partner at the US firm. Willkie is currently negotiating starting dates for the duo with PwC.

The appointments mark the latest in a string of hires for Willkie's German private equity practice in the last year. Notable additions include Clifford Chance corporate partner Mario Schmidt, who joined the firm in December, and Linklaters junior partner Jochen Winter, who switched to the New York-based firm in February 2006.

Willkie also promoted Frankfurt M&A associate Michael Bernhardt to its equity partnership this year, while M&A associate Christine Mark, competition specialist Christoph Schmid and telecoms lawyer Valerian Jenny were all made salaried partners at the firm.

The latest hires come after Willkie posted robust end-of-year financial figures, with 2006 revenues up 14% to reach $502m (£250m). Profits per partner rose by 13% to a new high of $2.03m (£1.03m).