PwC Legal bolsters team with procurement law specialist from Oppenhoff

Esteemed procurement law expert Heiko Höfler (pictured) is bidding farewell to Oppenhoff & Partner. After a tenure of just over five years with the Hamburg-based firm, the 56-year-old will join PwC Legal in December to fortify the practice in the defense sector. Höfler will step in as an equity partner within the Big Four arm, focusing on advising on military procurement projects.

Noteworthy companies such as Heckler & Koch, Airbus, and Secunet are counted among his clients. He had made the move to Oppenhoff in early 2018, following previous roles at Bird & Bird and Orrick, where he played a key role in establishing the Frankfurt office post-merger with Hölters & Elsing.

Höfler’s entry into PwC Legal aligns with the Big Four company’s current push to operate in a more interconnected and industry-specific manner. The foundation for improved internal integration of tax and legal advice, as well as auditing and business consulting, stems from a reorganization of the former service line structure implemented in the summer of 2023. The company’s international strategy consulting branch, in particular, has historically maintained close ties to the defense sector. Operating from Hamburg, Höfler will now be tasked with advancing a tighter integration of existing capacities, with PwC Legal already boasting a procurement law team, notably in the Berlin office.