A partner in the firm’s Financial Industry Group, Hahnelt joined the firm in 2023. With over 15 years’ experience, his practice is centred on all aspects of complex domestic and international private credit, direct lending, and leveraged finance transactions. He also has extensive experience in corporate lending, PIK-HoldCo structures and financial restructurings. His clients include credit/debt funds, financial institutions, private equity investors and corporate companies.

Gregor Pryor, Reed Smith’s EME managing partner, said: “We are very pleased to have Oliver at the helm in Frankfurt. He is a talented lawyer with impressive leadership qualities and the drive needed to ensure we continue to deliver the very best service to our clients in Germany and beyond. We are, of course, very grateful to his predecessor Octávio de Sousa for his contributions throughout his decade with the firm.”

Hahnelt added: “It’s a hugely exciting time to take up the role, following the firm’s decision to make considerable investments to enhance our German offering and the broader global expansion, with two new office openings in the US already this year. We have some tremendous talent in our German offices and I look forward to working with the team to help our clients achieve their business goals.”