Osborne Clarke elects new management team for Germany

Osborne Clarke has elected its German management team for the next three years. From 1 August 2025, Nicolas Gabrysch will take over as Managing Partner, with Gereon Abendroth and Anne Wittmann joining him as members of the Management Board to lead the German practice. The extended leadership team also includes Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Operating Officer Carsten Knoll, who will significantly shape the strategic direction and operational implementation.

The new leadership team will replace the current Managing Partner Carsten Schneider and Dr Nanni Spitzer as a member of the current Management Board. Continuity is ensured by the re-election of Gereon Abendroth, who is now serving his second term on the Management Board.

Carsten Schneider, who did not stand for re-election after 12 years as Managing Partner at his own request, will continue to support the firm internationally. Under his leadership, the team in Germany grew substantially from 80 professionals to nearly 300. In addition, Schneider oversaw the launch of new offices in Hamburg and Berlin, and achieved a revenue increase from EUR 26 million to over EUR 90 million – with a very successful financial year in 2024.

Carsten Schneider: "I am very pleased that we were able to sort out the succession in the management team well in advance. Nicolas and I have shared over 25 years of professional experience, which will help to ensure the transition of management responsibilities will be both seamless and founded on mutual trust."

Having been with Osborne Clarke for nearly 25 years, Nicolas Gabrysch has significantly shaped the development of the firm's German team, especially in Cologne and Berlin, as well as the expansion of various business areas and the corporate law team. He heads the German Venture Capital Team and is Co-Head of the Corporate Practice Group of Osborne Clarke in Germany. He advises venture capital funds, start-ups and growth companies with a focus on digital business models comprehensively on all issues of growth financing and participation structures with a large team and across practice groups.

Nicolas Gabrysch: "I am very pleased with the confidence placed in me by electing me as Managing Partner of Osborne Clarke. My heartfelt thanks go to Carsten Schneider, whose tireless commitment and foresight have significantly shaped our firm. With great respect for the job ahead, I look forward to continuing the growth of Osborne Clarke – nationally and internationally – together with colleagues and especially my management team to sustainably shape our future as an innovative, technology- and value-oriented firm."

Gereon Abendroth will continue his work on the Management Board focusing on the transformation of legal service delivery and the use of artificial intelligence – both nationally and internationally, where he chairs the international AI Management Board. In particular, he will focus on driving the development of innovative technologies to meet the changing demands of the legal market and making cross-border mandate work more efficient. Osborne Clarke’s ambition is to be the market leader in legal service delivery, enhanced by artificial intelligence.

Anne Wittmann completes the management team and she will focus on career development and talent promotion for the German team. A specialist in insolvency law, Wittmann has been with Osborne Clarke for 15 years and has successfully expanded this area within the firm.

The future leadership team aims to further develop the firm's overall strategy in Germany and internationally, integrate technology more prominently into legal practice while increasing the firm's market profile.