Dechert hired Wolfgang Kissner for its financial services and investment management group as a national partner in Munich.
Before Dechert, he worked as a structurer and platform specialist for an BNP Paribas in Paris. He was also with the legal department of Bank of America in London.
Kissner began his career at international law firms in Clifford Chance (Munich) and Allen & Overy (Frankfurt), respectively from 2002 to 2007. He is qualified both as Rechtsanwalt in Germany and as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Throughout his career, Kissner has focused on advising both German and international clients on capital markets, private funds, banking and structured finance matters, specifically with regards to the tax and regulatory aspects of transactions.
His background also includes advising clients on the establishment of investment fund and hybrid issuance platforms, structured note programs, mezzanine funds, hedge fund repackagings and OTC transactions. He also focuses on the structuring of insurance products and the implementation of tax optimized structures.
Kisser's arrival is the latest in a series of partner additions and expansions for the law firm's German investment funds practice. Achim Pütz, the former head of SJ Berwin's German Financial Markets Group, and Hans Stamm, a previous partner at Clifford Chance and a veteran in the German asset management and structured finance sector, joined Dechert in Germany in 2010.
"Wolfgang’s arrival is another reinforcement of our presence in the expanding funds sector in Europe's largest economy. We are delighted he will be joining us, " said Peter Astleford, co-chair of Dechert's financial services practice.
"I'm excited to be moving back into private practice, especially to a firm with a unique, market-leading global investment funds practice such as Dechert, " Kissner said. "I look forward greatly to helping further expand the practice in Germany."
