Nabarro wins debut panel role for German auto manufacturer

Shearman & Sterling, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, Nabarro and Willkie Farr & Gallagher have all won roles on German car company Daimler's inaugural legal panel.

The mandates will see the firms advise the company across the UK, Continental Europe and the US.

Skadden, Shearman, Freshfields and Willkie Farr have all advised Daimler in the past, with all the firms' relationships with the company originating in Germany. In contrast Nabarro, which will advise Daimler in the UK only, has not previously advised the automobile giant.

News of the appointments comes as Daimler has appointed a new general counsel, with Stuttgart-based Renata Jungo Bruengger set to take over from incumbent Gero Herrmann next month (1 November).

Jungo Bruengger previously served as GC corporate EMEA and vice president/general counsel of the process management division of Emerson Electric in Switzerland. Outgoing GC Herrmann is set to take up his first non-legal role as head of Daimler's strategy and alliances department.

One relationship partner said: "As part of the panel arrangements, Daimler has given us a significant opportunity to advise across a number of practice areas, and even across several geographies."

Freshfields has carried out many of Daimler's corporate mandates over the last decade, most recently advising the carmaker on a joint venture between Daimler, Nissan and Renault in 2010.

Meanwhile, Shearman has previously advised on several largescale litigation mandates, last year winning the company dismissal from a lawsuit brought by creditors in the Chrysler bankruptcy proceedings.