International law firm Clifford Chance is strengthening its global Corporate team with Michael Dietrich. The antitrust law and regulatory advisory specialist will join Clifford Chance as a partner and will be based in the firm's Düsseldorf office.
Michael Dietrich is a versatile antitrust lawyer and a highly regarded advisor in particular in high-profile antitrust proceedings and antitrust damage claims. He has a deep experience across a number of business sectors. Most recently, he has been active in the areas of consumer goods and retail, automotive, manufacturing/logistics and tourism.
Michael Dietrich will boost the strong global Clifford Chance antitrust practice. This new partner addition exemplifies the firm's sustained focus on regulatory legal advice. Clifford Chance is a leading advisor on complex transactions and projects globally, where antitrust aspects are often crucial due to growing state and regulatory influence.
Michael joins from Herbert Smith Freehills where he is leading the firm's German Antitrust team as well as the German practice. He started his career at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and subsequently acted as a partner at Taylor Wessing, where he led the Competition, EU and Trade practice group.
The announcement of Michael Dietrich's hire comes weeks after the firm welcomed new partner and regulatory specialist Thomas Voland into the Corporate practice in Düsseldorf. Thomas joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and advises clients with a focus on public law interfacing with litigation, M&A transactions and compliance matters. The firm's investment and growth in the Corporate team is further demonstrated by new lateral hire Mark Currell joining in Sydney as well as the nine partner promotions into the global Corporate practice earlier in May.
Peter Dieners, Managing Partner at Clifford Chance Germany: ""When selecting new partners, we focus on personalities with particular ambition and potential to advance our team and strategy. We are pleased to have found, in Michael Dietrich, a partner who matches this profile. His expertise and experience perfectly complements our strong Antitrust team, which our clients will certainly appreciate.""
Joachim Schütze, Antitrust partner at Clifford Chance: ""We are committed to dynamically expanding our antitrust practice and to further strengthen our client potential and market position. We will be continuing our growth both by winning experienced laterals and by further developing our talented counsels and associates. We are looking forward to having Michael joining our successful and ambitious team. ""
Marc Besen, Antitrust partner at Clifford Chance: ""Antitrust law and regulatory advice are key factors for the majority of successful transactions, projects and cases, both nationally and internationally. Michael is our ideal candidate. He fits in perfectly with our German and global team, bringing to the table excellent professional standing and personal qualities as a high-end advisor and sharing our ambition to expand our antitrust practice.""
The German antitrust law group is part of Clifford Chance's global practice including more than 150 lawyers. In addition to the German partner team, these also include the London partner and German lawyer Nelson Jung, who joined Clifford Chance from the position of Director of Mergers for the British competition authority CMA in 2017, as well as the German-speaking partners Katrin Schallenberg based in Paris and Miguel Odriozola in Madrid.