US/ Germany: Freshfields gets a competition boost with new promotions

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has promoted five new disputes partners in a global 16 partner class. This year’s promotions highlight further expansion in the firm’s German offices.

International firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has promoted three new partners to its global dispute resolution practice, and two in its antitrust, competition and trade practice. The appointments, which will take effect on 1 May 2016, are spread across the UK, US and Germany, and particularly reflect growth in the firm’s German dispute resolution practice.

In a statement, Freshfields’ London-based senior partner Edward Braham commented on the appointments noting that the “outstanding qualities” of the new partners will help strengthen the firm’s “market-leading offering”.

Katrin Gaßner, who is based in Freshfields’ new Rhineland office in Düsseldorf, Germany, was promoted to partner in the antitrust, competition and trade practice, after 10 years at the firm. Specialising in EU and German antitrust and merger control investigations, her main focus includes all aspects of cartel defence from dawn raid responses, to coordination of leniency applications and settlement procedures through to follow-on damages litigation. Gaßner also advises multinational clients on antitrust risk management, including global compliance programmes.

In Washington Mary Lehner, who joined Freshfields as counsel in 2013, was also promoted in the firm’s antitrust, competition and trade practice. Lehner’s expertise focuses on representing clients before the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and for state attorneys general on a variety of antitrust assignments including transactional and intellectual property arrangements, and other anti-competitive conduct. Her previous experience includes serving as an advisor to two FTC chairs, and overseeing antitrust merger control investigations.

Full content: Commercial Dispute Resolution

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.