Pinsent Masons expands regulatory compliance practice with partner hire in Munich

Eike Grunert advises German and international companies on all aspects of compliance. He is particularly experienced in setting up and reviewing compliance management systems, and previously worked on the monitorship of Siemens. Before starting his own law firm in 2017, Dr Grunert was a partner with PSP Peters Schönberger & Partner in Munich. He began his professional career at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he was part of a team that worked on a worldwide special audit of the anti-corruption system of a German DAX company, and on special audits of several Swiss banks.

Rainer Kreifels, Partner and Head of Germany at Pinsent Masons, said:

"DAX companies, as well as large corporations, are fully aware of the importance of effective compliance systems. Increasing regulation and enforcement, both in Germany and overseas, means compliance is increasingly important. With a specialised regulatory compliance practice that will continue to grow over the coming months, we are further responding to the needs of our clients."

Tom Stocker, Head of Corporate Crime and Investigations at Pinsent Masons, added:

“The appointment of Dr Grunert is Pinsent Masons' second major appointment in the compliance and international investigations space in Europe, following Chris Richardson joining as a partner from EY to lead Pinsent Masons’ Forensic Accounting Service (FAS). As a firm we offer a holistic legal, accounting and forensic service, maximising legal privilege to protect our clients’ interests, and ensuring investigations and major compliance reviews are conducted in full compliance with all relevant data protection, employment, and criminal laws. Other firms fly lawyers in-and-out of a country, and sub-contract forensic and technology services, but we offer a different approach by offering joined-up legal and forensic service and in-country legal advice. In Eike we have a leading German compliance and anti-bribery lawyer for supporting German and international companies with fulfilling their compliance ambitions.”

After a phase of strong growth, Pinsent Masons today ranks among the top 50 law firms in Germany. Since its launch in Munich (2012) and Düsseldorf (2016), the firm has expanded its German practice to more than 90 lawyers, including 29 partners. Pinsent Masons focuses on the technology, life sciences, energy and real estate sectors in Germany.