Linklaters promotes five new partners in Germany

Linklaters has promoted five lawyers in Germany to partner, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to one of its key European markets. The new partners are Atif Wolfgang Bhatti (Intellectual Property), Kaan Gürer (Antitrust and Foreign Investment), Lars Harzmeier (Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations), Martin Rojahn (Capital Markets) and Dr Julia Rupp (Private Capital). Their promotions will take effect on 1 May 2026.

Staffan Illert, German Senior Partner, said the appointments underline both Germany’s strategic importance to the firm and the breadth of opportunities available to its lawyers. “These promotions reflect the strength of our German practice and our focus on advising clients on complex, cross-border and multi-practice matters. Each of the new partners has earned this step through consistently outstanding performance,” he said.

Globally, Linklaters will promote 37 lawyers to partner on 1 May.

Atif Bhatti – Intellectual Property

Atif Bhatti advises on all aspects of intellectual property, with a focus on the IP dimensions of complex, high-value corporate transactions. He works with buyers and sellers on M&A deals, as well as advising companies on restructurings, joint ventures and sophisticated licensing arrangements. His clients include multinational businesses across the industrial, healthcare and technology sectors.

He also has deep experience in AI-related IP issues and in coordinating national and international patent litigation.

Bhatti joined Linklaters in 2015 and holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law from Queen Mary University of London.

Kaan Gürer – Antitrust and Foreign Investment

Kaan Gürer advises on European and German competition law, covering cartel and abuse investigations, damages actions, compliance programmes, merger control and foreign investment screening. He regularly represents clients before the European Commission, the German Federal Cartel Office and European and German courts.

His practice also includes internal investigations, dawn-raid response and the antitrust assessment of cooperation, distribution and platform models, particularly in digital markets. He has sector experience spanning the digital economy, automotive and mobility, private equity, industrials, real estate and healthcare.

Gürer has been with the firm since 2014 and is qualified in Germany. In addition to German and English, he speaks Turkish.

Lars Harzmeier – Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations

Lars Harzmeier represents corporates, investors and financial institutions in complex cross-border disputes, including international arbitration, commercial litigation and high-stakes negotiations. His work focuses on disputes arising from commercial contracts, M&A transactions, shareholder conflicts and insurance coverage.

In addition to his disputes practice, he has worked on more than 100 M&A transactions, giving him a transactional perspective that informs his litigation strategy. Private capital is a core area of his practice, and he advises sponsors and portfolio companies throughout the investment lifecycle.

Harzmeier joined Linklaters in 2018 and studied law at Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, including an exchange semester at Fudan University in Shanghai.

Martin Rojahn – Capital Markets

Martin Rojahn advises corporates and investment banks on international capital markets transactions, with a particular focus on debt capital markets. His experience includes bond and Schuldschein issuances, regulatory capital instruments for banks and insurers, as well as liability management exercises such as buybacks and restructurings of outstanding securities.

He also advises clients on sustainable finance transactions and related compliance matters. Rojahn has been with Linklaters since 2015.

Dr Julia Rupp – Private Capital

Julia Rupp advises private capital investors and their portfolio companies on M&A transactions, strategic investments and joint ventures. Her work frequently involves competitive auction processes and cross-border deal execution, as well as ongoing advice to investors on portfolio management, including management incentive schemes and add-on acquisitions.

Rupp joined the firm in 2017. She studied law and completed her doctorate at the University of Bayreuth and holds an LL.M. from the University of Virginia.