Ms Schomaker is departing KWM to join rival firm Taylor Wessing. Joining her will be fellow partner Clemens Niedner, counsel Ulf Gosejacob and two associates. The five-lawyer team all joined KWM from White & Case in 2013 and have been recommended in the Legal 500 for their ‘excellent level of service’. Together, they will bring the headcount of Taylor Wessing’s German banking and finance practice up to 17 lawyers. Taylor Wessing German banking and finance head Peter Seemann commented: ‘This is a milestone in strengthening our Frankfurt location and expanding our financing practice.’

Exits continue

KWM has been suffering under a spate of exits from its European offices this year. In Frankfurt, the firm lost former corporate head Julian Lemor and private equity partner Birgit Huebscher-Alt to Mayer Brown in February, while former funds head Sonya Pauls quit the firm for Clifford Chance in August. Just last week, KWM confirmed that it would have to pause the planned recapitalisation of its European practice following the sudden resignation of four high-profile London-based partners, including former managing partner Rob Day.

Sources: Legal Business; Legal Week