Orrick Hoelters & Elsing has made its first lateral partner hire since its merger went live in September. The German arm of Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe is set to add Bird & Bird corporate and M&A partner Erich Michel in Frankfurt (1 January, 2009).

Michel will bring one associate as well as senior European consultant, Stefan Kleinbreuer, with him in the switch, with Kleinbreuer joining as of counsel.

Michel was the founding partner of Bird & Bird's Frankfurt office, launching the City firm's base there at the end of 2005. His move comes after spending three years with Bird & Bird.

He joined the UK law firm in Duesseldorf in October 2004 from the Frankfurt office of Norton Rose, which he had joined two years earlier from White & Case Fedderson.

Orrick's European managing partner Stuart McAlpine said: "We have about 18 lawyers in Frankfurt and it is an important market, mainly for finance but also in corporate. The law firm is strong in Duesseldorf, but we realise that in Frankfurt we need to take the opportunity to strengthen the firm early on.

"We think Michel's arrival will do that and we also talk actively with other lateral candidates."


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