KPMG Legal is launching a Luxembourg office with hires from Charles Russell Speechlys.

The branch has been set up under the name of "KPMG Law Luxembourg", according to filings on the Luxembourg business registry. The new business was registered at the end of May this year and is a separate legal entity to KPMG Luxembourg.

As part of the launch, the Big Four firm has hired investment management and funds partner David Louis, who was the head of Charles Russell Speechlys' local office in the region until April this year, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Louis had been at CRS for over half a decade and was also previously a partner at legacy Speechly Bircham, his LinkedIn profile says.

He is joined by associates Chloe Poncin and André Mai and former associate Jean Rollin, according to their LinkedIn profiles.

In an emailed statement Louis said: "The legal environment is rapidly evolving and we are looking forward to supporting our clients through challenging times."

In a statement, a CRS spokesperson said that Jean-Baptiste Beauvoir-Planson was now the firm's Luxembourg head "which continues to perform well and has exciting plans for expansion". It added: "Our Luxembourg partners are eager to continue the growth seen in all key practices, while expanding further in the funds space. The entire office is enthusiastic and strongly motivated by the opportunities ahead."

The move comes just months after KPMG established a legal services arm in Thailand. Last year, the firm also established a Hong Kong base. 

KPMG is the second firm to set up shop in Luxembourg so far this month, after Debevoise & Plimpton announced it was opening an office with the hire of Allen & Overy lawyer Christopher Dortschy.

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