Latham & Watkins has hired a partner from Linklaters to expand its real estate transactions capabilities in Germany. 

Carsten Loll joins the firm after five years at Linklaters, where he was a partner in the Magic Circle firm’s real estate group. Previously he headed up DLA Piper's real estate practice in Germany. Loll will divide his time between Frankfurt and Munich at Latham.

Burc Hesse, Latham’s office managing partner in Germany, said Loll’s track record of advising on significant transactions in Europe “combines well with our goal of becoming the leading private equity real estate practice in the region”. 

“He will bring added depth to the team, and valuable expertise to our diverse corporate and finance practices,” Hesse added. 

Loll’s practice covers asset and share deals and portfolio transactions across all major asset classes, including offices, retail and logistics. His clientele includes German private equity firms, institutional investors and asset managers. 

Loll was part of the Linklaters team that in September advised asset management giant MEAG on its acquisition of twelve German retail parks from Patrizia, a deal that also involved teams from Gleiss Lutz and Clifford Chance. 

Michael Haas, global co-chair of the firm’s real estate practice, said: “Germany is a key market for global investors and a major commercial hub in continental Europe. We see exciting opportunities to further grow our European real estate practice, and Carsten’s arrival will help consolidate our position as the market’s premier transactional firm.” 

Latham has a significant presence in the German market with more than 150 lawyers across four offices in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf. Last summer, it hired M&A partners Ingo Strauss and Heiko Gotsche from Baker McKenzie to strengthen its corporate department in Düsseldorf. 

Germany has been the focus of considerable investment from international firms looking to build their private equity capabilities. Last month, Goodwin Procter hired private equity partner Winfried Carli from Shearman & Sterling. He is joining the firm's recently launched Munich office.