Freshfields strengthens PE and M&A partnership after recent defection

Freshfields has announced new partner additions across Germany and Austria as it seeks to reinforce its private equity and M&A practice following the recent loss of senior partners to Latham & Watkins. The firm has brought in one lateral partner from Kirkland & Ellis in Munich and promoted three lawyers internally to partner. Two existing partners based in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf will also begin splitting their time with the Munich office, further strengthening the firm’s presence in its key German hub.

Patrick Cichy (PICTURED), who heads Freshfields’ corporate and M&A practice in Germany and Austria, said the appointments enhance the firm’s depth in private equity and transactional work while expanding sector expertise in technology, insurance and infrastructure.

Among the new partners is private equity specialist Florian Sippel, who returns to Freshfields’ Munich office after a brief period at Kirkland & Ellis and earlier experience at Noerr. He previously advised on major transactions including Permira’s investment in Adevinta and Hellman & Friedman’s acquisition of AutoScout24.

The firm has also promoted M&A lawyer David Schwintowski and transactions lawyer Lukas Treichl to partner in Munich, and elevated private equity specialist Carsten Bork to partner in Frankfurt. Schwintowski brings particular strength in the insurance sector, while Treichl focuses on digital transformation and legaltech-driven transactions across industries including automotive and telecommunications. Bork advises private equity clients on cross-border infrastructure and energy deals.

Freshfields said the moves bring the Munich office to more than 90 lawyers, including 19 partners. According to market data, the firm remains the leading M&A adviser in Germany by deal value, having advised on transactions worth $52.8bn in 2025.

When a team of four left for Latham & Watkins

The reshuffle comes amid an increasingly competitive market for private equity talent in Germany, with several high-profile team moves between leading international firms over the past year. In particular, these changes come after Freshfields lost a four-partner private equity team, led by former continental Europe managing partner Markus Paul, to Latham & Watkins (WE TALKED ABOUT IT HERE). The departures fuelled market speculation about the firm’s strategic priorities in continental Europe, amid its growing investment in the US market.