International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) today (19 September 2011) announced plans to open two offices in Germany (Frankfurt and Berlin).  The offices, which are expected to be open before the end of the year, will focus on high end real estate work.

As the biggest economy in Europe and one of the most important markets in the world, Germany is a base for major international real estate investors and has strong links to emerging markets especially where BLP has existing offices in Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Russia and China (which will be served from Hong Kong).  In Frankfurt and Berlin, the team will advise clients investing in and out of Germany.  

The offices will be staffed by an experienced team of German lawyers previously at a magic circle firm in Germany. They will be supported by BLP’s real estate team in London and other BLP offices. 

This announcement follows a year of significant international investment for BLP which has included the hire of real estate specialists David Nunn and Mohammad Kamal in Abu Dhabi, doubling the size of the Singapore office through the appointment of Alistair Duffield and a corporate team from Holman Fenwick and the recent launch of a Hong Kong office.  As a result of this expansion, BLP’s work that includes an international element has increased by more than 70% over the last two years.  

Neville Eisenberg, BLP’s managing partner, said: “The internationalisation of our real estate practice and the increasing levels of international real estate work we are doing led us to conclude that it was necessary for us to have a multidisciplinary team on the ground in Germany. The team has an excellent reputation and proven experience. In addition to the focus on German real estate work, we also anticipate significant synergies with our offices in major emerging markets which enable us to provide the German investor community with expert local advice on the ground, especially in Russia and China, through our Hong Kong office.”