Weil adds private equity duo from Latham in Germany

Weil has become the latest international firm to add headcount to its German offices, bringing on board two private equity partners from Latham in Munich and Frankfurt.

PE dealmaker Dr Sebastian Pauls, who joins in Munich, will become Weil’s Germany co-head alongside litigation partner Britta Grauke - taking over from Gerhard Schmidt, who is set to step down after over 20 years at the helm. Pauls, previously of Clifford Chance and Sullivan & Cromwell, joined Latham in 2011.

He joins with Susanne Decker, a Frankfurt-based partner who advises PE firms and portfolio companies on cross-border M&A. Decker joined Latham in 2015 (also from CC).

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The duo’s arrival lifts Weil’s German partner count to 10. The New York firm is among a number of international firms that have been expanding in Germany this year. Simmons added a four-partner real estate team from Goodwin in August, Eversheds picked up two additional real estate partners from Goodwin last month, while Willkie launched in Hamburg with a 25-lawyer team in July.

What they said

Weil managing partner Barry Wolf said: "Lawyers of the caliber and quality of Sebastian and Susanne are extremely difficult to find, and we are thrilled to welcome them both. Their exceptional talents are well placed to fit into Weil’s top quality German practice and our culture of excellence".

Marco Compagnoni, Weil’s PE co-chief, commented: "Germany is of enormous importance to any credible European private equity platform and Sebastian and Susanne are two of the best dealmakers in the region, where we are witnessing a generational shift in private equity deal lawyering at the very highest levels.

"We expect to see significant levels of private equity activity, and we intend to expand further in Germany and across private equity, restructuring and other areas."