Two new appointments to Bird & Bird’s German management team

Corporate/M&A partner Dr Peter Veranneman has been appointed as the new Head of Country in Germany, effective January 2022. He replaces Sven-Erik Heun, who is has served in the role for seven years and more than two terms. Sven-Erik’s term, which was due to expire at the end of 2020 was extended by a year due to the challenging situation caused by the Corona pandemic. Sven-Erik will remain a member of the firm’s international management team in its Executive Committee.

In addition to Peter’s appointment, Dr Catharina Klumpp, LL.M., employment law partner and diversity officer in Germany, has been appointed to the German management team. She will replace Oliver Jan Jüngst, LL.M., one of Germany's leading patent lawyers, who is stepping down at his own request after his first three-year term. He will remain a member of Bird & Bird's international Strategy Committee.

Peter and Catharina will join existing members of the German management team, partner Stefan Münch and COO Philipp von Mecklenburg.

Under the leadership of Sven-Erik Heun, the firm’s German team has experienced continuous growth and increased its turnover by over 60%. Through his commitment to the firm’s strategy of advising organisations being changed by the digital world, Sven-Erik has cemented the firm’s offering in the German market and led it on a successful path of growth.

Sven-Erik says: "The role has given me great pleasure and has enriched my personal and professional life enormously. I thank the partnership and everyone at Bird & Bird for their trust and the great collaboration between our international offices. I’ve been working closely with Peter for the last few months, and I know the new management team under his leadership will take the firm from strength to strength. I wish them much enjoyment and success in doing so."

Peter says: "On behalf of the partnership, I would like to thank Sven-Erik for his commitment and the strategic foresight through which he and the rest of our German management team has positioned the firm so excellently over the last seven years. Our thanks also goes to Oliver for his outstanding dedication. His experience and input has been invaluable, especially in these challenging times of change due to the pandemic.

“I am now very much looking forward to continuing to shape Bird & Bird's future in Germany with Catharina, Stefan and Philipp. With our deeply experienced team and our firm’s strong culture of international collaboration, we will ensure our German offices will continue to create added value and provide our clients with market-leading advice on their future projects.”

Catharina says: "After more than 12 years at Bird & Bird learning and developing as an associate and now being partner, I am very much looking forward to bringing my experience to the management team and to further shaping our very unique firm culture."