Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has launched a US desk in Duesseldorf as part of its efforts to bolster its Germany network.

The move coincides with the reduction of its Germany office count from six to five. The firm's Cologne base is due to close later this year, with the bulk of its lawyers and staff shifting to Duesseldorf on 1 December.

Its aim is to secure more outbound German work to the US and also outbound work from the US globally.

Commenting on the launch, the first of its kind for the firm, co-managing partner Stephan Eilers said:

"The link between Germany and the US is something we would really like to focus on. It is a unique position for the firm. Germany is the strongest [European] economy and we would like to enhance our offering in German industry."

Eilers is also a tax partner and is based in Cologne.

Out of the 18 partners in Colgone, 16, including Eilers, will transfer to Duesseldorf on 1 December and two will move to Munich. 

The US desk will be run by corporate partner Franz Aleth, currently based in Cologne, with support from Duesseldorf corporate partner Gregor von Bonin and Berlin antitrust partner Helmut Bergman, who has previously worked in New York.

Eilers said Aleth and von Bonin were selected due to their "close contacts" with one of Freshfields' key US clients, technology company Hewlett-Packard (HP).

The pair advised HP on the split of the company into two separate publicly listed entities, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and HP Inc and the worldwide separation of the respective businesses in 2015.

Eilers added: "They will be responsible for finding the opportunities in outbound transactions from Germany into the US and they will spend a lot of time in the US."

When asked why there are no other US desks in any of Freshfields remaining offices, nor any desks set up elsewhere to look specifically at Germany, a spokesperson for the firm said: "There is a strong synergy between the US and German economies and we believe an excellent opportunity for the firm to do more. Our firm is well integrated; the US desk is a reflection of changing capability in the US market and ensuring that we are focused on it."

As well as HP's split, Freshfields has advised on a number of other cross-border Germany-US deals. For example, last year, it advised IT company Wincor Nixdorf on its merger with rival US group Diebold. It also acted for US technology company Honeywell on its takeover of German manufacturer Elster from British investment company Melrose.

Freshfields has also launched an investigations hub in Duesseldorf as part of the integration between Cologne and Duesseldorf. It will be led by disputes partner Norbert Nolte and will handle antitrust, tax and fraud work.

The firm's current mandates in this area include acting for German car giant Volkwagen (VW) to work on a raft of legal cases in the UK and Europe stemming from the emissions test rigging scandal that the company is currently embroiled in.

It was also hired last year by the German football federation (DFB) to investigate the the 2006 World Cup corruption allegations.

The changes to the German offering come after a management crackdown on partner performance began last year. It is understood that this is part of a global drive to boost firm-wide profitability, with partners in Germany and other locations set to see their profit share reduced.

At the same time, the firm has seen a number of partner departures in continental Europe. Four Paris partners are set to join US firm Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe while a team of four Hamburg lawyers, including one partner, have opted to leave the firm to start their own boutique.