Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom has hired senior Siemens lawyer Anke Sessler as a litigation and arbitration partner in its Frankfurt office.

Sessler, previously a partner at Clifford Chance, was chief litigation counsel at the technology giant for six years.

Bernd Mayer, the head of Skadden's German offices, told Legal Week that the hiring ends a long search for an experienced litigation partner to work with and build the firm's relationships with corporate clients in Germany.

As part of the move, a German senior associate in Skadden's London office has been transferred to Frankfurt to work in Sessler's team, and the firm is in the process of hiring an additional junior associate.

"She is a very well recognized name in the German arbitration and litigation market," Mayer said.

He added that Sessler's extensive corporate experience would help Skadden build relationships with German companies.

"Our focus is not only Siemens but also other big German corporations," Mayer said.

The firm also said Sessler's hire was partly in response to an increase in demand for litigation and arbitration services by existing clients.

Skadden's executive partner Eric Friedman said: "Due to client demand we are adding another dimension to our German practice.

"Anke's experience in dispute resolution complements our corporate practice in Germany and also enhances our European arbitration and litigation practice, led from London. This is our fourth partner hire in the last two years in Germany."