News

Frankfurt – Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced the hire of Dr. Thorsten Voss (41) as a partner and Thomas Lesser (40) as counsel to the firm’s Banking and Finance practice. The hires further strengthen the firm’s experience in the fields of banking supervisory law, financial markets regulation and funds as well as bonds and derivatives. In late 2011, Mayer Brown added structured products / derivatives partners Dr. Jochen Seitz and Peter Maier to its Banking and Finance team comprising existing partners Dirk-Peter Flor, Dr. Simon Grieser, Dr. Ralf Hesdahl, Andreas Lange, Kai Liebrich, Markus Strelow and Dr. Jörg Wulfken.

Thorsten Voss worked for the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, “BaFin”) for five years. During that period he had a leading role in the establishing of BaFin’s prospectus group and led various administrative offence proceedings. He was a partner with law firm Schulte Riesenkampff since 2009. Thorsten focuses on banking supervisory and securities trading law as well as capital markets compliance. He also advises clients on issues of financial markets regulation and funds with special emphasis on conception and approval procedures for real estate, renewable energy, infrastructure and ship funds of the closed end type. This sector is currently subject to new EU-regulation through the AIFM directive. Thorsten has edited leading publications on the Sales Prospectus Act (Verkaufsprospektgesetz,“VerkProspG”), the Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz, “WpPG”) and the Securities Trading Act (Wertpapierhandelsgesetz, “WpHG”) and is a member of work groups in this area.

Thomas Lesser joins from Macquarie Capital (Europe) Limited where he was Head of Legal (MSG Germany). He strengthens the firm's experience in the areas of structured products, securitized and other derivatives. Thomas is a member of various bank work groups.

“Thorsten Voss and Thomas Lesser complement the targeted expansion of our Banking and Finance practice. This step strengthens one of the core fields of expertise of Mayer Brown Germany and worldwide,” said Dr. Jörg Wulfken, Managing Partner of the German offices and member of the global Management Committee.

“We have followed the work of Thorsten Voss and Thomas Lesser for years with great interest and I am delighted that we are able to expand our product focused approach with these two highly respected colleagues,” said Dr. Jochen Seitz, leader of Mayer Brown’s German Banking and Finance practice.

“The international network of Mayer Brown, in particular the worldwide Financial Services Regulatory & Enforcement practice and the high-class Corporate and Banking practice in Germany are an excellent platform for strategically developing our business in a dynamic environment,” said Dr. Thorsten Voss.

Among others, Mayer Brown is advising leading investment banks on derivative programs and has advised Finanzmarktstabilisierungsanstalt on the establishment of the first German bad bank for WestLB as well as investor Lone Star on the acquisition of IKB.