Osborne Clarke is accelerating its European expansion with the opening of two new offices. The UK firm announced the move to increase its capacity in private markets and funds offerings. New locations include Frankfurt—its fifth office in Germany—and Luxembourg, which the firm views as a leading financial center within the European bloc amid growing client demand.
The Frankfurt branch will focus on small- and mid-cap private equity, M&A, finance, technology, and corporate reorganizations. Partner Johannes Goossens will lead the team in the German city. He joined the firm on September 1 from White & Case, where he served as a local partner in the global private equity and M&A practice. His previous work focused primarily on cross-border technology and finance-led deals.
The Luxembourg office is led by partners Anne‑Gaelle Delabye and Gerard Maitrejean, who both joined the firm on September 1. Delabye arrives from the Luxembourg office of Ogier, where she was a partner in the investment funds team. She will lead the office’s investment funds and regulatory group. Maitrejean was previously head of corporate at CMS’s office in the country and will now lead the corporate and M&A group.
Mathilde Ostertag and Nicolas Mille also join as partners. Ostertag came from AKD Luxembourg, while Mille joined from VDB Law. Delabye added that the news is also positive for Luxembourg’s growing position as a financial and legal hub in Europe, and will allow it to build on initiatives such as the newly introduced securitisation framework.
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Leadership Changes and New Hires
The twin openings come as Osborne Clarke looks to further complement its European offering. The firm already maintains a presence in several countries, including Germany, France, Belgium, and Italy. Goossens describes the double move as a natural step for the firm.
“It makes sense to do it now rather than waiting for competitors to do it first,” said Maitrejean. He noted that the firm will develop its practice around these new offerings. Market conditions and the recent surge in interest in private credit make this a good time for the firm to offer this additional capacity.
The pair said that Osborne Clarke provided the ideal platform for them to continue operating in Luxembourg and leverage their existing networks. The firm’s advanced use of artificial intelligence in its technology suite in particular stood out, including sophisticated investment tools and automated solutions.
Why the shift matters
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Legal service providers are increasingly consolidating their capabilities to reflect the changing nature of global finance. As investors flock to private markets seeking higher returns, the traditional loop between raising capital and managing assets has tightened. Firms that can bridge the gap between the initial structuring of funds and their eventual restructuring offer a distinct advantage in a market where liquidity is less predictable than in public exchanges. By clustering lawyers in hubs like Luxembourg and Frankfurt, firms attempt to follow the money where investors are pooling their resources.
Delabye said the firm is trying to give both new and existing clients access to the Luxembourg platform. “It is a leading centre for fund formation and restructuring,” she said. The strategy is to “make a link between fund structuring and downstream aspects.”
Goossens says the expansion allows the firm to serve the entire investment cycle for its clients as the region’s private markets continue to evolve and grow.
These two new locations bring the firm’s global office tally to 26. As well as in the UK and the rest of Europe, Osborne Clarke has an established presence in the US, China, and India.