Osborne Clarke Germany reports 13% revenue increase – First choice for technology projects and transactions

International legal practice Osborne Clarke reports another very successful last year in Germany. The revenue of the four offices increased by 13 per cent to EUR 40.1m in the reporting period 2016/17. The firm’s total international revenue increased to EUR 245,1m.

Managing Partner Carsten Schneider commented: “We have established ourselves as the first choice for technology projects and transactions in Germany. We are making strong progress in sectors like energy, health and retail which is supported by our market leading IT, IP and transaction practices. We also work with a number of dynamic growth companies.”

Currently the firm has had particular high demand in the following areas:

• Digitalization and data protection – The firm has had large number of enquiries regarding the implementation of a number of General Data Protection Regulation projects;
• Corporate Venture Capital – The firm advised e.g. Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners, Bertelsmann subsidiary Arvato Financial Solutions and Klöckner & Co. KG & Co. SE;
• M&A transactions in technology industries – The firm recently advised ProSiebenSat.1 and Allgeier on acquisitions. Osborne Clarke has been listed in eleventh position in Thompson Reuters’ 2016 Midcap M&A ranking in Germany.

The firm’s future plans include further investment in IT solutions to improve client service. Carsten Schneider commented: “We plan to offer our clients more efficient solutions by using joint technology platforms. In addition, the firm’s IT capabilities enable the employees to work flexibly: “We also want to further develop our leading position as an outstanding employer,” Carsten Schneider added.

Osborne Clarke Germany appointed a new Partner and nine Counsels during the reporting period. The firm also added lateral partner Dr Thomas Grünvogel, a specialist for contract and product liability law particularly in the automotive sector, as well as senior counsel Robert Hunter, a leading expert on international investment and commercial arbitration.

International focus in Asia

The firm’s total revenue increased to EUR 245,1m, a 12 per cent increase on revenues in the previous year. Osborne Clarke has more than 850 lawyers in 24 international offices and appointed 29 partners within the previous year.

Osborne Clarke recently expanded its international network with the newly founded law firm Zhang Yu & Partners in Shanghai. Entering Mainland China was a key part of Osborne Clarke’s expansion plans in Asia, which have also included the successful launch of an association with OC Queen Street in Singapore in 2016, an association with Koh Vass & Co in Hong Kong in 2015 and the firm’s close working relationship with BTG Legal in India, which started in 2014.

The firm advises various US companies, particularly from the technology sector, on their expansion into Europe. The firm launched an office in New York in 2016, its third location in addition to San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

US clients benefit from the constant expansion in continental Europe. Locations like Paris or Amsterdam have become well-established in their markets during the last few years. International clients include, amongst others, Yahoo!, Facebook, CBRE Global Investors, Vodafone, Siemens, Grifols and GoPro. Osborne Clarke recently won panels at Deutsche Bank and BT.