International law firm Gowling WLG has appointed two new senior experienced consultants in its corporate and M&A team in Stuttgart. Dr Joerg Heyer and Dr Arnim Powietzka join the firm's Stuttgart office, which was opened by Dr Andreas Woelfle in March 2017.

Joerg is a leading corporate and M&A lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. He started his legal career at Wessing before joining Clifford Chance's corporate team. For the last 17 years he has been a corporate partner at Seitz in Cologne where he built a successful corporate and commercial practice group with an excellent reputation for national and cross-border M&A. Joerg's practice focuses on corporate and commercial law as well as corporate sports law.

Arnim is a renowned employment specialist who has been practicing in Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Mannheim for the last 18 years. Arnim's focus is on the employment/HR aspects of M&A transactions, executive compensation schemes and pensions. He has also assisted clients with strategies for restructuring measures, including post-deal reorganisations. Between 2000 and 2005, Arnim and Andreas worked at the same firm, and have since advised many clients together.

Andreas said: "This is an important step in the further development of our Stuttgart team and demonstrates our commitment in Germany and our focus on the regional market. As a firm we are committed to international expansion and this is a key piece in our jigsaw. We have large commercial bases in Canada, UK and France, an established practice in the UAE and a growing office in China. This expansion in Stuttgart means we will be even better placed to support our growing international client base in Germany."

Stuart Young, Head of Corporate, Finance and Tax, said: "Having Arnim and Joerg on board is a tremendous addition to the Stuttgart team, which under Andreas's leadership has already enhanced our ability to provide integrated full service corporate advice to clients in Germany. With extensive experience in handling complex and demanding cross-border matters, they will each contribute a high level of expertise in the development and delivery of an integrated international service, strengthening our capability in Germany and beyond."

Gowling WLG's Stuttgart team advises both German and international clients on corporate, M&A, commercial, employment and other matters. Recently, a team led by Andreas Woelfle, including Joerg and Arnim, assisted U.A.E. based dnata, part of the Emirates Group and one of the largest air services providers worldwide, with the acquisition of Tropo GmbH from the P7S1 Group.