Key Takeaways
- • Freshfields suffered another setback in its German private equity practice as partner Dr Florian Sippel departed after roughly nine months, having joined the Munich office from Kirkland & Ellis in early 2026, according to German legal publication JUVE.
- • Freshfields confirmed Sippel's exit but declined to comment on the reasons behind it.
- • The departure follows the December 2025 loss of four senior dealmakers to Latham & Watkins, including former Continental Europe managing partner Markus Paul and former global M&A co-head Wessel Heukamp.
- • Freshfields has rebuilt partly through internal promotions and the June 2026 hire of Daniel Möritz from Hengeler Mueller, but replacing established rainmakers and sponsor relationships remains the central challenge.
Summary
Freshfields has suffered a new setback in its German private equity practice with the departure of Dr Florian Sippel, who joined the firm's Munich office from Kirkland & Ellis in early 2026 and left after approximately nine months. According to German legal publication JUVE, Freshfields confirmed the departure but declined to comment on the reasons. Sippel had previously spent seven years at Freshfields in Frankfurt, Munich and London, and his recruitment was intended to help restore the firm's private equity capabilities after a series of high-profile departures in Germany.
The exit follows the December 2025 move of four prominent Freshfields partners to Latham & Watkins: Markus Paul, the former managing partner for Continental Europe; Wessel Heukamp, former co-head of the global M&A practice; Verena Nosch; and Carsten Haak. The four lawyers brought experience in private equity, leveraged buyouts and high-value M&A, along with relationships with major financial sponsors. Transactions associated with the team included Permira and Blackstone's EUR 14 billion acquisition of Adevinta and Cinven's acquisition of Grant Thornton Germany.
Freshfields responded in January 2026 by announcing Sippel's arrival alongside three internal partner promotions: David Schwintowski, Lukas Treichl and Carsten Bork. Two existing partners were also arranged to spend part of their time in Munich. The firm later recruited Daniel Möritz from Hengeler Mueller, announced in June, a partner with nearly 15 years at the corporate firm. Sippel's exit complicates these efforts, as client relationships, deal origination and sponsor access are difficult to rebuild after a major team departure.
The German developments come amid broader partner turnover. In September 2026, another partner departure in London was reported, and the Financial Times reported in July on equity-partner exits and reductions in equity stakes tied to a performance-focused overhaul of partner remuneration. These developments do not establish a single cause for the departures, but they frame questions about Freshfields' ability to retain senior talent while investing in its US platform and maintaining its European businesses. Freshfields remains a major force in German M&A, but the outcome of its private equity rebuild remains uncertain.
The exit follows the December 2025 move of four prominent Freshfields partners to Latham & Watkins: Markus Paul, the former managing partner for Continental Europe; Wessel Heukamp, former co-head of the global M&A practice; Verena Nosch; and Carsten Haak. The four lawyers brought experience in private equity, leveraged buyouts and high-value M&A, along with relationships with major financial sponsors. Transactions associated with the team included Permira and Blackstone's EUR 14 billion acquisition of Adevinta and Cinven's acquisition of Grant Thornton Germany.
Freshfields responded in January 2026 by announcing Sippel's arrival alongside three internal partner promotions: David Schwintowski, Lukas Treichl and Carsten Bork. Two existing partners were also arranged to spend part of their time in Munich. The firm later recruited Daniel Möritz from Hengeler Mueller, announced in June, a partner with nearly 15 years at the corporate firm. Sippel's exit complicates these efforts, as client relationships, deal origination and sponsor access are difficult to rebuild after a major team departure.
The German developments come amid broader partner turnover. In September 2026, another partner departure in London was reported, and the Financial Times reported in July on equity-partner exits and reductions in equity stakes tied to a performance-focused overhaul of partner remuneration. These developments do not establish a single cause for the departures, but they frame questions about Freshfields' ability to retain senior talent while investing in its US platform and maintaining its European businesses. Freshfields remains a major force in German M&A, but the outcome of its private equity rebuild remains uncertain.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.