Sidley Austin continues Euro expansion

Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP announced that it will open an office in Frankfurt, Germany in early 2006. Oliver Kessler and Jens Rinze, currently partners in the Frankfurt office of Lovells, will join Sidley Austin as partners. The Frankfurt office will initially focus on securitization, structured finance, derivatives, and international securities transactions. "We are delighted that Oliver and Jens have decided to join us," said Graham Penn, co-head of Sidley's London-based international finance group. "For some time, Sidley has considered opening an office in Frankfurt because many of our clients, particularly those in the financial services sector, view Germany as critical to their own growth." Penn added they need experienced lawyers of Kessler's and Rinze's caliber to serve their clients effectively, having previously worked with the new hires on a wide range of securitization and structured finance deals.