Simmons & Simmons has recruited Munich corporate partner Robert Alan Heym from CMS.

Heym leaves CMS just four months after he joined the firm through its merger with Nabarro and Olswang in May this year.

He previously spent two years as a partner with legacy Olswang, before joining the CMS UK LLP in Munich as a result of the tripartite tie-up.

He will be joined at Simmons in Munich by CMS corporate of counsel Theresia Gondro, who was also previously with legacy Olswang.

Before joining Olswang, Heym spent more than five years as a partner at German firm Graf von Westphalen.

Simmons corporate head Mark Curtis said: "Robert's experience not only complements that of our existing team, but it also enhances our offering in corporate/M&A to our clients."

The Germany hires come after Simmons bolstered its City corporate practice with the hire of US capital markets partner Chris Walton from Clifford Chance (CC) in London in July, as well as adding corporate partner Michael Chin in Hong Kong from Hogan Lovells.

Earlier this year, Legal Week reported that CMS had opted to retain Olswang's five-strong Munich patent prosecution team, which comprises partner Tobias Reker, two associates and two patent engineers.

Rather than joining the CMS Hasche Sigle Germany partnership, they joined the firm's UK LLP, as did Heym who was the only remaining ex-Olswang Munich partner outside the patents team.

The patents team continues to be based in Olswang's old Munich office, however, it is understood that future office plans remain under discussion. Previously, Legal Week reported that the team will remain in Olswang's office until the current lease expires, when they will relocate to a new office near the European Patent Office.

Olswang launched its IP-focused Munich base in 2011 at the request of key client Microsoft. It is understood that Reker and London TMT head Clive Gringras are the main client relationship partners for the tech giant.

In a statement, CMS said: "We can confirm that Robert Alan Heym has left CMS, and we wish him well for the future."

Last month, Legal Week reported that almost a third of Olswang's partnership left the firm in the financial year before its merger with CMS and Nabarro, according to Companies House records.

Key London departures in the 12 months prior to the merger's completion included IP partner and co-head of life sciences Stephen Reese, who joined Clifford Chance; former interim CEO and IP partner Michael Burdon, who joined Simmons & Simmons; and patent prosecution group co-chair Justin Hill, who is now at Dentons.