Allen & Overy (A&O) global head of employment and benefits Tobias Neufeld is leaving the magic circle firm, in the second partner departure from its Frankfurt office to emerge today (1 October).

Neufeld will leave A&O at the end of November to launch a consulting business, advising companies on personnel, data and technology issues.

He has been head of employment and benefits at A&O since 2016, while he is also head of the German data and data protection group and co-head of the German pensions group.

He joined A&O in 2010 after spending a year as a partner at Taylor Wessing, prior to which he led Ashurst's employment team in Munich as a senior associate.

Earlier today, it emerged that A&O German head of litigation Daniel Busse is also set to leave the firm early next year to launch his own boutique. Busse will exit the magic circle firm after eight years as German litigation head. He joined A&O in that role from legacy Lovells, where he had been a partner since 2004.

The Germany departures come after senior figures from A&O – including Germany senior partner Thomas Ubber – met with US firm O'Melveny & Myers in Frankfurt last month to discuss their potential transatlantic merger.