Earlier this month, Octávio de Sousa was appointed as the office managing partner of Reed Smith’s Frankfurt office while Daja Apetz-Dreier was appointed as office managing partner of the firm’s Munich office in April this year.
A partner in the firm’s Global Corporate Group, De Sousa joined Reed Smith from Willkie Farr & Gallagher in 2015 and is one of the founding partners of the Frankfurt office.
With over 17 years’ experience, he has substantial knowledge and extensive experience in advising on national and cross-border transactions, in particular on mergers & acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and finance transactions as well as in advising on general corporate matters.
Apetz-Dreier joined Reed Smith in 2010 from Heussen Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH. She is a partner in the firm’s Global Commercial Disputes group with nearly 15 years’ experience. Her practice is focused on finance related litigation, complex commercial litigation as well as arbitration – often in cross-border conflicts. From an industry perspective, she has wide-ranging expertise covering ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) finance (including cryptocurrencies), insurance, health care, life science, real estate, entertainment & media.
Tamara Box, Reed Smith’s Europe & Middle East managing partner, said: “I am delighted that Daja and Octávio have taken up the firm’s office managing partner roles in Germany. They are both exceptional lawyers with all the qualities needed to lead the firm’s growth and development in the region.”
“We are of course very grateful to their predecessors, Oliver Rathje and Rolf Hünermann, who have built very strong foundations on which to grow.”
Apetz-Dreier Dreier said: “I am very proud to be the Munich office managing partner. We have a tremendous offering in Germany, with hugely talented lawyers and an enviable global platform. Working closely with Octávio and the Frankfurt office, we will continue to play to our strengths in advising our clients on some truly market-leading matters as well as newly emerging innovative areas such as ESG, digital assets and the metaverse.”
De Sousa added: “It’s an honour to take up the role of Frankfurt office managing partner. One of the firm’s key strengths is its truly collaborative culture. As a result, the German team advises on some of the most significant matters both in the country and internationally. It’s an exciting time to be at the firm and I am already enjoying working closely with Daja to ensure we continue to provide our clients operating in the region with the best possible support.”
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a dynamic international law firm dedicated to helping clients move their businesses forward. With an inclusive culture and innovative mindset, we deliver smarter, more creative legal services that drive better outcomes for our clients. Our deep industry knowledge, long-standing relationships and collaborative structure make us the go-to partner for complex disputes, transactions, and regulatory matters. Now celebrating more than 140 years of service, our firm spans 30 offices with 3,000 people, including 1,700 lawyers.
For more information, please visit www.reedsmith.com.