Seitz expands to Hamburg with leading employment team from Watson Farley & Williams

Publicado em 29/10/2025

German business law firm Seitz had earlier announced the opening of a new office in Hamburg in early 2026, marking its sixth location nationwide. The move comes alongside the high-profile hire of Dr. Nikolaus Krienke LL.M., one of Germany’s foremost employment law specialists, who will join Seitz from Watson Farley & Williams with an eleven-lawyer team.

The new Hamburg office will be led by Dr. Krienke, who is widely recognized for his expertise in restructuring, reorganization, and complex employment law matters at the interface with corporate law. His arrival, together with his team, represents a significant strengthening of Seitz’s employment and corporate practices across Germany.

Strategic growth across key German hubs

Founded in Cologne and now operating in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, and soon Hamburg, Seitz has steadily evolved into one of Germany’s leading independent business law firms. The firm advises clients across employment law, corporate law, tax, and digital business, and is known for its strategic counsel to corporations, family-owned businesses, and executives.

The establishment of the Hamburg office underscores Seitz’s strategy of regional expansion with top-tier talent. “Hamburg is an essential hub for both traditional industries and international commerce,” said the firm’s management. “With Dr. Krienke and his team, we are gaining exceptional expertise that will strengthen our national platform and further enhance our ability to advise clients on complex employment and corporate matters.”

A team reinforcing multiple offices

The incoming lawyers will not only anchor the Hamburg office but also enhance Seitz’s capacity in Frankfurt and Munich.
The team composition is as follows:

  • Hamburg: Dr. Nikolaus Krienke LL.M., Sebastian Schroeder, Sönke Plesch, Martin Siemens

  • Frankfurt: Dr. Harasch Yakubi, Inke Möcklinghoff

  • Munich: Dr. Johannes Oehlschläger, Jennifer Seiler LL.M., Philipp Touma

In addition, Fabian von Lübken will transfer from Seitz’s Düsseldorf office to Hamburg to represent the firm’s corporate law offering in the new location. Von Lübken, who joined Seitz in 2023 from Glade Michel Wirtz, brings strong transactional and corporate governance expertise to complement the employment-focused team.

Strengthening Seitz’s position in the German market

With the addition of the Hamburg team, Seitz will grow to around 150 lawyers across its six offices. The firm continues to focus on the synergy between employment and corporate law, particularly in the context of restructurings, reorganizations, and M&A transactions—areas where Dr. Krienke’s team has long-standing experience advising both national and international clients.

The arrival of the new team also signals a broader trend in the German legal market, where top-tier independent firms like Seitz are increasingly competing with international players by combining deep local roots with cross-disciplinary expertise.

A new chapter in Hamburg

The Hamburg office is set to open in January 2026, expanding Seitz’s presence to another of Germany’s major legal and economic centers. The move not only broadens the firm’s geographic reach but also cements its reputation as a go-to advisor for employment and corporate law across the country.

Sophie Stevenard