Morrison & Foerster Adds New Investigations and Corporate Governance Team in Germany, Continuing Global Expansion of Practice

BERLIN, March 18, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its Investigations + White Collar Defense and Corporate Governance practices with the additions of Dr. Roland Steinmeyer and Mr. Patrick Späth from WilmerHale in Berlin, who join the firm as partners.

Dr. Steinmeyer and Mr. Späth's arrival builds on the momentum of the firm's Global Investigations and White Collar Defense practice, which has recently expanded through the recruitment of former senior U.S. government officials, including John Carlin, former Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ's National Security Division and former Chief of Staff to then-FBI Director Robert S. Mueller; Charles Duross, former Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the DOJ, where he led the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) Unit; James Koukios, former Senior Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division of the DOJ; Lisa Phelan, former Chief of the National Criminal Enforcement and Washington Criminal I Sections of the Antitrust Division of the DOJ; John Smith, former Director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC); Robert Litt, former General Counsel of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and former prosecutors and SEC enforcement attorneys, including Amanda Aikman, Michael Birnbaum, Jina Choi, Carrie Cohen, Josh Hill, and Christine Wong.

"Roland has a stellar reputation as a leading advisor to German blue chip corporates," said Paul Friedman, Morrison & Foerster's managing partner for Europe and head of the firm's compliance practice. "Roland and Patrick have extensive experience advising management and supervisory boards on global compliance and government enforcement issues, and on structuring compliance programs, further strengthening our ability to support clients across multiple jurisdictions and industries."

Dr. Steinmeyer's practice focuses on board counseling and advising clients on the impact of U.S. regulations such as the FCPA, and on German corporate and criminal laws. He also advises clients on a range of cross-border government enforcement and other compliance and corporate matters, the structuring of compliance programs, follow-on litigation, and D&O insurance coverage.

Dr. Steinmeyer is counsel to Daimler AG's supervisory board in connection with the investigations by German and U.S. authorities into diesel emissions.

Mr. Späth's practice focuses on compliance, corporate and criminal internal investigations, corporate governance, and related litigation. His experience spans German domestic and international anti-bribery laws, the FCPA, anti-money laundering, tax, and economic sanctions. Mr. Späth conducts related internal investigations in Germany and abroad, internal compliance reviews, due diligence of third parties, and training programs. He also regularly pursues claims arising out of compliance failures and advises on related D&O insurance coverage.

Dr. Steinmeyer and Mr. Späth's recent notable mandates include advising Hessische Landesbank in relation to stock trades around dividend date, and counseling Bilfinger SE, HSH Nordbank AG and MAN SE in connection with multiple corporate internal investigations and compliance issues.

"We are delighted to welcome Roland and Patrick to our practice in Germany. Their truly global experience will be a significant driver in our client offering and a perfect addition to our growing team," said Dirk Besse and Kristina Ehle, co-managing partners of Morrison & Foerster's German office in Berlin. "The high-profile nature of the matters that they advise on in Germany and globally makes them a standout team hire."

"MoFo's reputation and its commitment to expanding its impressive Global Investigations + White Collar Defense practice in the past several years, together with its thriving corporate practice in Germany were key factors in our decision to join the firm," said Dr. Steinmeyer and Mr. Späth. "We look forward to further building out the firm's investigations and compliance offering in Germany, and working closely with colleagues in Europe and across the world to advise our clients on their complex matters."

Dr. Steinmeyer earned his L.L.M. from the University of Cape Town and his Doctorate in Law from the University of Würzburg. He is admitted to the bar in Berlin. Dr. Steinmeyer is an honorary professor at HTWG Konstanz University of Applied Sciences.

Mr. Späth earned his law degree from Freie Universität Berlin and has an L.L.M. from King's College London School of Law. He is admitted to the bar in Berlin. Mr. Späth is a lecturer at Humboldt University Berlin, where he teaches on compliance and internal investigations.

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SOURCE Morrison & Foerster, LLP