CMS Hasche Sigle has appointed Dr Hubertus Kolster as its new managing partner, following the firm's annual partner conference last week (13 November).

Kolster is set to succeed current incumbent Cornelius Brandi, who has managed the firm for a total of 12 years.

Kolster, a corporate partner in the firm's Frankfurt office, specialises in corporate and business law, as well as M&A. He has been the firm's Frankfurt managing partner since 2009.

Brandi, meanwhile, will take over as senior partner, while remaining in his role as chairman of the firmwide executive committee. He will replace Joachim Gres, who has held the senior partner post since 2001.

The leadership changes will come into effect next year (30 June), when Brandi completes his final term as managing partner.

Outlining his mid-term strategy during the conference, Kolster commented: "Our presence in all key German business locations, the closeness to our clients together with the highly-qualified expertise of our teams and the strength of the international CMS organisation are all major competitive advantages we aim to reinforce and strengthen."

He also declared his intention to address the increasing shortage of junior lawyers and focus on the opportunities offered by the resurgent economy.