Top Level Change at Taylor Wessing Germany: Olaf Kranz elected as new Managing Partner

Olaf Kranz is the new Managing Partner for Germany at the international law firm Taylor Wessing. Kranz was successfully elected today at the Partners’ Conference in Berlin and will take up the post with immediate effect. He takes over from Andreas Meissner who has held the position since April 2014. The 49 year-old commercial lawyer from the Düsseldorf Office started his career at Taylor Wessing in 1998, was promoted to Partner in 2003 and was appointed to the Management Board in 2014. Setting out his starting position, the Düsseldorf-born Kranz stated: “In the forthcoming months I will be able to operate from a position of strength with my colleagues: in recent years under the leadership of Andreas Meissner we have changed our conceptual and structural bearings and this has given us a clear direction for the next few years”.

Fine-tuning of core areas and development of market presence

Kranz explains his plan that the strategic development of the law firm should focus on the fine-tuning of the four core areas of Life Science and Healthcare, Energy, Private Wealth and TMT. This does not amount however to a 180-degree turn-around but instead the logical continuation of the course adopted in recent years. For the development of new products in our legal services, a think tank will be established from a selected circle of Partners. At the same time, we must make our own organisation fit for digitalisation and further promote the theme of Legal Tech. Clients are concerned with questions of digitalisation in complex projects which have to be reflected in the composition and respective skills of the advisory team.

Appointment of four Management Board Members

Following his election, the Managing Partner appointed the Management Board made up of four Taylor Wessing Partners. Three of the four were members of the former Management Board and the new member is Oliver Kirschner.

With immediate effect the Management Board for Germany is made up of:

Olaf Kranz: as Managing Partner is responsible for the business activities of Taylor Wessing Germany. He advises and represents his clients in disputes particularly in the area of corporate law before the ordinary courts and before national and international arbitration tribunals. Olaf Kranz is a Specialist Lawyer for International Commercial Law. –  see details

Oliver Kirschner: responsible for the area of Commercial, Litigation, Employment and China and an expert in M&A transactions. A focus of his practice is advising on transactions in the health sector. Furthermore he advises Chinese clients on an ongoing basis on their transactions in Europe. Due to his long-standing activity for Chinese clients, Oliver Kirschner has substantial know-how on cross-border transactions with a Chinese element. – see details

Oliver Klöck: responsible for the area of Real Estate and Regulatory & Competition. The focus of his practice is in regulatory health law which he has established in recent years as an important area of growth. – see details

Thomas Raab: responsible for the area of IP/IT. One focus of his work is on advising brand owners on the development of trade mark strategies and representing them in infringement cases, licensing matters and the combat of trade mark and product piracy. He is a recognised expert in trademark law and has established his reputation in landmark cases before the ECJ.– see details

Robert Wethmar: responsible for the area of Corporate as well as Finance & Tax. For a number of years he has been one of the leading lawyers in the field of Mergers & Acquisitions with a focus on the aerospace industry, information technology and the energy sector. Robert has a Dutch family background and is the honorary consul of the Netherlands in Hamburg. He is also admitted to the New York bar and advises many Dutch and US clients. – see details