Bird & Bird has more than doubled the size of its new Hamburg office with the hire of an 11-lawyer media and telecoms team from Hogan Lovells.

The team is led by media and competition partner Stefan Engels, who co-heads Hogan Lovells' international technology, media and telecoms (TMT) sector group.

Bird & Bird has also recruited Hogan Lovells counsel Michael Stulz-Herrnstadt as a partner, while Ulrike Gruebler will join as senior European consultant. In addition, Beatrice Brunn and Verena Haisch join as senior associates alongside six other junior associates.

Prior to the hires Bird & Bird had just two partners and four other lawyers in Hamburg, having only opened the office in May this year. The firm said the hires came as part of a long-term plan to broaden the capabilities of the office, which until now has mainly focused on corporate work.

The Hogan Lovells team has advised on matters involving press, copyright, trademark, competition and advertising law and also has a strong reputation in the fields of regulation, administrative and constitutional procedural law and data protection.

Bird & Bird Germany head Alexander Schroeder-Frerkes commented: "We have planned for some time to bring strong media expertise to our Hamburg office, as a capability that will greatly benefit our clients locally as well as further strengthen our international media group. With this team, we have found the right addition for Bird & Bird and we are very happy to welcome them."

Engels added: "With its strong intellectual property capability as well as its international network, Bird & Bird provides an ideal platform for our team's further development. We look forward to presenting a flexible range of excellent services to our clients."

The Hamburg launch marked Bird & Bird's fourth office in Germany and its first new base in Europe since September 2008, when the firm opened in four Central and Eastern Europe countries.

The base opened for business on 1 May with the hire of a six-strong team from local boutique Recore Business Lawyers which specialises in real estate, corporate, M&A and restructuring work.

Hogan Lovells's TMT practice in Germany has 20 remaining partners following these departures, while's the firm's media team in Hamburg includes partners Andreas Bothe, Yvonne Draheim and Morten Petersenn.

Hogan Lovells continental Europe managing partner Christoph Kueppers said: "Our IP and media practice is recognised as being at the top of the market in Germany including a significant number of lawyers who are widely regarded for their expertise.

"Our advisory practice in the IP and media fields is a core competence which we regularly invest in through the appointment of new partners and the recruitment of new lawyers – in Germany and beyond."