Magic circle firm recruits new COO for Germany and Austria region

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has hired Axel Koelsch from Hogan Lovells as its new chief operating officer for Germany and Austria.

Koelsch will join the firm by the end of the year to fill the newly-created position. He will act as the interface between lawyers and central business services across the firm's seven German offices, heading up the region's administration and reporting to regional managing partner Klaus-Stefan Hohenstatt.

Due to the decentralised nature of the region, Freshfields decided to bring in the role of COO alongside Hohenstatt's appointment.

Koelsch has been COO for Continental Europe at Hogan Lovells and legacy Lovells since March 2009, prior to which he was at Linklaters from 2006 working in its London strategic projects group and as COO in Germany.

Hohenstatt said: "It is my aim to spend at least 50% of my time on client work, which will only be possible with the help of an experienced COO. With around 25% of the firm's people working in the region, it is one of the key markets in which Freshfields operates. Our size and ambition to be the number one international law firm here requires top quality business support."

Hohenstatt has continued in his role as global head of the firm's employment, pensions and benefits group alongside his appointment as regional managing partner.