Jones Day expands base in Germany with new hire

Jones Day expands base in Germany with new hire

Arrival of Thomas Weimann, a veteran with three decades of experience, will boost Jones Day arbitration practice in Germany

Jones Day, a Top 10 US law firm, has announced that Thomas Weimann, the former co-head of Herbert Smith Freehills' German disputes, has joined the firm.

This is the second senior hire for the firm in Germany after Amy Kläsener, who in May this year had moved over from Dentons.

Weimann makes a comeback after a short spell of going solo after he had quit Herbert Smith Freehills in March this year after being associated with the firm for five years. He will be based out of Jones Day's Düsseldorf office.

Jones Day is currently on a mission of expanding its base in Germany – Europe's largest economy.

According to Ansgar Rempp, head of Jones Day's German practice, the duo would help the firm become a leading arbitration practice in Germany, building on its strong US and international reputation.

Weimann has three decades of experience in a wide spectrum that includes advising clients on construction, infrastructure and technology disputes. Before joining Herbert Smith Freehills, he was associated with Clifford Chance for 25 years.

Weimann is well-known in Düsseldorf for his strong arbitral connections and previous work as an academic and legal publisher, a business he ran in parallel with his legal practice from 1986 to 2010. He has experience working in Germany, the Middle East and China. He was co-founder of the Chinese-European Arbitration Centre, which came into existence in 2007. He led the institution for 12 years.

Ulrich Brauer, head of Jones Day's Düsseldorf office, termed Weimann's arrival a milestone. "He is a top-class international arbitrator, is also highly regarded as a leading legal personality in the Düsseldorf economic region," Brauer said.

Weimann said moving to Jones Day was a new challenge, following his work for two internationally recognised law firms in the past.