Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has launched a European antitrust practice with the hire of SJ Berwin's head of EU and competition in Germany.

Alexander Rinne is set to leave SJ Berwin in the coming weeks to set up and head the antitrust practice in Milbank's Munich office. He will be followed by associates Andreas Boos and Tatjana Muehlbach.

Rinne (pictured), who has been at SJ Berwin since 2001, specialises in both German and European competition law, including related regulatory areas such as energy, recycling and telecommunication.

Milbank's Peter Nussbaum, a founding partner of the US firm's Munich office, said: "We have been working with Alexander since we left Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2004 on a number of cases.

"Milbank does not have an antitrust practice in Europe at the moment and this hire is definitely a great step towards changing that. We are building up our practices, but only if we are absolutely confident that it is the right fit."

In a statement, SJ Berwin said: "Alexander is a first-rate lawyer who since 2001 has made a significant contribution to our firm and our European EU and competition practice, which has gone from strength to strength."

The expansive Milbank also recently entered the Brazil market with the launch of an office in Sao Paulo office last month. The firm's new base will be led by Andrew Janszky, the former head of Shearman & Sterling's local operations.