Change of leadership at CMS Hasche Sigle completed: Dr Hubertus Kolster is new Managing Partner
Berlin – Dr Hubertus Kolster is the new Managing Partner of law firm CMS Hasche Sigle. With effect from the start of April, the Corporate lawyer has taken over the role from his predecessor, Cornelius Brandi, who is stepping down at the end of his fourth term to become Senior Partner after 12 years in his current position. Brandi replaces Joachim Gres, who for many years held the post of Senior Partner at CMS Hasche Sigle. Brandi also remains Chairman of the Executive Committee of the international CMS organisation.
Dr Hubertus Kolster is a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice. The largest German law firm, CMS Hasche Sigle elected partner Dr Hubertus Kolster as its new Managing Partner at the annual partner meeting in mid-November last year. Cornelius Brandi welcomed the choice: "Hubertus Kolster is a business-minded, experienced and dedicated partner who will keep our firm on track for continued success."
Born in 1962, Dr Kolster has been a lawyer in the Frankfurt office since 1993 and gained international experience through secondments to law firms in London and New York. His key specialist areas are corporate and business law and M&A transactions. He has advised German and international strategic clients on corporate acquisitions and disposals with great success. In addition, Kolster has been Managing Partner of the Frankfurt office since 2009.
Cornelius Brandi was the driving force behind the expansion of CMS Hasche Sigle after becoming Managing Partner in 1999. The number of lawyers at the firm has more than doubled since then to around 600 and fees have tripled to over 200 million euros, making CMS Hasche Sigle one of the fastest-growing and highest-volume firms in the German law market. Its international expansion and consistent growth in profitability are a direct result of Brandi’s focused, forward-looking management approach. His time at the helm saw a series of successful mergers and the establishment of offices in Moscow and Shanghai. Brandi’s astute stewardship in conjunction with the management boards of the other European CMS law firms was also instrumental in relocating the international headquarters of the CMS organisation from Brussels to Frankfurt. He has been Chairman of the CMS Executive Committee since 2008 and will continue in that role. The CMS Executive Committee recently confirmed Brandi in his role with an expanded sphere of responsibility, and his new term in office was extended from three to four years.
The firm’s instructions, billings and profits have risen steadily over the years. CMS Hasche Sigle has also enjoyed significant growth in the past two years, despite the challenging economic climate, and is thus ideally positioned in the market. Cornelius Brandi commented: "I wish my successor, Dr Kolster, every success and all the best in guiding the firm going forward." Brandi also had warm words of thanks for his predecessor as Senior Partner at CMS Hasche Sigle, Joachim Gres: "Our firm owes a great deal to Joachim Gres. With his many years of in-depth experience in various management positions within the firm and a high degree of skill, he has benefited the development of the partnership in a host of ways, helping to create the effective, cohesive unit we see today."
The election of Dr Hubertus Kolster signals a commitment to continuity and to retaining the strategy of a firm which has a presence in all key business locations. CMS Hasche Sigle has a successful track record of providing international full-service advice across borders and disciplines. The unanimous aim that emerged from the partner meeting is continuity, a strategic objective also strongly endorsed by clients.
"We remain committed to our full-service approach and occupy leading positions in the major rankings for commercial law firms," said new Managing Partner Dr Kolster. "Together with the partners, I intend to build on these successes, including M&A and the deep roots we have established among SMEs," added Kolster. "CMS Hasche Sigle is also committed to developing the high-end segment and new areas of legal advice. We bring together continuity, highly-qualified expertise, innovation and the international dimension of the CMS organisation. This combination is and remains our key strength as we go forward."
