Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has boosted its Germany real estate and infrastructure practice with the hire of a six-lawyer team from Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe in Berlin.

Two partners – Norbert Impelmann and Albrecht von Breitenbuch – and four associates will make the move to BLP's Berlin base on 1 October, alongside four support staff.

Impelmann is head of Orrick's real estate practice in Germany and also head of the firm's Berlin office, while Von Breitenbuch is a member of Orrick's real estate and European corporate groups.

The news comes after Orrick this April confirmed that the firm was planning to close its Berlin and Munich offices this year. Orrick had offered the five partners across its Berlin and Munich offices the opportunity to relocate to its remaining offices in Duesseldorf and Munich.

However, all of the Berlin partners, as well as the associates, have opted to move elsewhere.

Earlier this month, Dentons announced that Orrick's two other Berlin partners, Peter Braun and Wolfram Krohn would be joining the firm from 1 October, along with two Orrick associates. Braun will be based in Frankfurt while Krohn will remain in Berlin.

In addition to the Berlin base, BLP also has an office in Frankfurt, both of which launched in 2011 with the hire of a team from Linklaters.

BLP Germany managing partner Roland Fabian said: "Germany, and in particular Berlin, ranks highly in Europe's most active real estate markets and there is huge potential for us as a firm in the region. By strengthening our German team, we will ensure that we are at the forefront of this activity."

An Orrick press spokesperson said: "We thank the team for their contributions to our firm and wish them continuing success."