Wragge & Co is set to open a new intellectual property (IP) office in Munich later this year, with the hire of two new recruits to head up the practice.

The new office will be led by ex-Meissner Bolt partner Michael Schneider, who will join the firm's partnership on 1 September, and Alexander Bayer, who is set to join from Jones Day in Germany as a director. An opening date for the new office is yet to be finalised.

The move will not affect the firm's best friends relationship with German firm Graf Von Westphalen., which began in 2003, in other practice areas.

Commenting on the new office, Wragges head of international, Christopher Hughes, said: "We have discussed our plans with Graf from the beginning. The Graf partners understand and support our decision to open a dedicated IP office. Both firms value our longstanding relationship and will continue to develop that relationship."

Gordon Harris, head of the IP team, added: "A tangible presence in Germany is the next logical step for us to achieve our goal of being number one in Europe.

"We considered a number of locations but chose Munich because of its established reputation as an IP litigation forum, its proximity to the European Patent Office and our existing client base."

Wragges currently has European offices in London, Birmingham, Brussels and Asian offerings in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

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