Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has bolstered its German offering with the hire of its first ever employment partner, as labor law in the region gains in importance in the wake of COVID-19′s effect on the economy.

Julia Schweitzer joins the firm's Frankfurt office as partner to head its employment practice, BCLP said in a statement. She joins the firm from JUSTEM Rechtsanwälte, an employment boutique based in Frankfurt.

Schweitzer was previously an 'associated partner' at JUSTEM for close to three years. Before that, she spent over 11 years with Taylor Wessing, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Schweitzer will be the firm's sole employment partner in Germany, according to a person close to the firm. She will be joined associate Janine Weber in August, according to the firm statement.

Prior to the double-hire, the firm's sole German employment lawyer was Katharina von Rosenstiel, who is a counsel in Berlin. 

The firm's Germany managing partner Roland Fabian said in the statement: "Labor law issues play an increasingly important role for our clients, particularly during this period of rapid change for many businesses.

Her comprehensive experience in supporting mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and personnel measures, as well as in representing clients in labor law proceedings in court, is an important reinforcement for the firm, both for the German offices and for our colleagues worldwide." 

The hires are an early step in replenishing recent headcount loss in the region. Last year, BCLP lost a 10-lawyer German team to Addleshaw Goddard, including two partners, to launch an office in Hamburg.

Earlier this year, BCLP hired six lawyers to its Paris office, including one partner, one month after the firm boosted the size of its Paris office with the hire of a team of 21 lawyers, including seven partners.

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