Expansion to Düsseldorf: DLA Piper fuels growth strategy and gains M&A team led by Dr. Murad M. Daghles

Expansion to Düsseldorf:

• DLA Piper is opening a new office in Düsseldorf in 2024 to advance the growth strategy initiated in 2023.
• A team specializing in complex M&A transactions, led by Partner Dr. Murad M. Daghles and Counsel Dr. Philipp Kynast, has been recruited for the Düsseldorf location.

"With the opening of the office in Düsseldorf, we are enhancing the impact of our law firm across Germany and positioning ourselves innovatively for the demands of today's market," explains Dr. Kai Bodenstedt, who, together with Dr. Martin Haller, serves as Co-Managing Partner of DLA Piper in Germany. "We are particularly excited about the further strengthening of our German corporate practice with Dr. Murad M. Daghles and his team, along with Dr. Philipp Kynast at the new location," adds Dr. Martin Haller on the occasion of the announcement of the opening.

DLA Piper has recruited Partner Dr. Murad M. Daghles and new Counsel Dr. Philipp Kynast, who will join the Corporate/M&A practice. With the addition of this renowned team of experts, which has been collaborating for many years, DLA Piper significantly expands its expertise in the M&A/Corporate field and substantially reinforces its existing unit focused on international transactions. "Murad and his team will fit seamlessly into our market leading global Corporate team, offering innovative approaches to help our clients to deliver transactions with impact,” says Dr. Benjamin Parameswaran, Global Co-Chair (Corporate) at DLA Piper.

Dr. Murad M. Daghles specializes in complex national and international M&A transactions and strategic joint ventures, particularly in the Energy, Infrastructure, and Chemicals sectors, and is renowned as a leading expert in transactions related to the Middle East. He advises both German companies on international investments and transactions, especially in the Middle East, and foreign investors, companies, and sovereign wealth funds on their investments in Germany and Europe. Recently, he legally advised the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) on a strategic joint venture with Iberdrola for the development of a wind farm in the Baltic Sea, as well as the Chinese company Inventronics on the strategic acquisition of Osram's Digital Systems business unit. Another focus of his work lies in Corporate Real Estate and Venture Capital. In the area of Venture Capital, Dr. Murad M. Daghles and Dr. Philipp Kynast have particularly advised on various investments in financing rounds by foreign companies and sovereign wealth funds in recent years. "The Corporate sector plays a significant role for DLA Piper and is at the center of our growth strategy. Dr. Murad M. Daghles will actively contribute to the ongoing expansion of the Düsseldorf office," says Dr. Kai Bodenstedt.

"Düsseldorf is the logical next step for us as a law firm to continue our growth trajectory in a future-proof manner, and we are excited about it," adds Dr. Martin Haller. The plan is to occupy a modern property in a prime location and in close proximity to international companies, financial institutions, and other major law firms. As a leader in foreign direct investments in Europe and home to over 37,000 companies, Düsseldorf is an important market for the globally operating law firm.

"Our clients in Germany will benefit from both our global presence and our local team members in the future. Together, we will build an innovative office in Düsseldorf and offer full-service consultancy there as well," says Dr. Kai Bodenstedt. The office in Cologne, which currently operates alongside Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Munich, will be maintained as a City Hub.

"The opening in Düsseldorf and the associated consolidation of our expertise at the new location is an important component of our long-term growth strategy. We anticipate an expansion of the cross-border business and aim to further strengthen the importance of Germany as a location within DLA Piper internationally," concludes Dr. Martin Haller.