Further growth for Eversheds Sutherland as firm announces latest strategic lateral partner hire

Eversheds Sutherland has invested further into its European corporate capability with the appointment of lateral partner hire, David Smith, to its Frankfurt office.

David, a Corporate and M&A partner, joins from global law firm White & Case LLP. Before joining White & Case in 2019, David spent several years at international law firm, Squire Patton Boggs.

David’s focus is on international venture capital and M&A transactions in the consumer, industrials and TMT industries. He advises European and global companies, as well as financial investors, on the buy and sell-side and carve-outs.

In addition, David works closely with startups and investors into startups on an array of equity and quasi-equity capital raises from pre-Seed to late stage, as well as secondaries/exit transactions in Germany, EMEA and North America. He also provides strategic advice to founders/startups in relation to governance, commercial and other business-critical topics.

David has established a notable reputation for his venture capital work and was named in Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers list, 2024.

Helen Thomas, European Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said:

“Since opening our Frankfurt office less than two years ago, we’ve remained committed to our strategic objectives of expanding our practice with exceptional hires and delivering our collective ambition for Europe. This latest appointment is a further testament to that. David’s arrival not only strengthens our corporate client offering, it also builds on our deliberate intention to actively create new avenues of opportunity for the firm on both a local and international footing.

“We are thrilled to welcome him. His addition marks another significant landmark in our ongoing strategic expansion and investment within our key European jurisdictions." 

Alexander Niethammer, Managing Partner, Eversheds Sutherland Germany, said:

“We’re delighted to welcome David, whose stellar reputation in M&A and venture capital significantly strengthens our German capabilities within our target markets as well as within our wider jurisdictions. As our client base grows, so too does the complexity of their needs. David’s arrival enhances our ability to tackle these challenges head-on.”

Steffen Schniepp, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said: 

“We’re thrilled to have him on board! David’s unique skill set, commercial acumen and comprehensive industry experience perfectly complement the existing competence within our team, broadening the quality of service we can offer our clients in a highly competitive German market. Such a repertoire will also enable David to play a pivotal role within Eversheds Sutherland’s global VC capability, bolstering our European offering within this dynamic group.”

David Smith, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said: 

“I’m grateful and thoroughly excited to be joining Eversheds Sutherland, particularly its Frankfurt team in this dynamic growth phase. The firm is clearly committed to innovation and investing in its legal talent and exceptional client offering within the local German, European and international markets. I’m looking forward to building-out the venture capital practice, applying my energy, experience and knowledge to further fuel this expansionary impulse and meet our strategic objectives.”

This latest senior appointment builds on the arrival of a team of 11 former KWM (China) partners, lawyers and business services colleagues to Eversheds Sutherland’s (International) Frankfurt office following the launch of the firm’s formal Cooperation Agreement with KWM (China) in July last year.

It also follows hot on the heels of the arrival of Partners Kees Westermann and Vasco Hoving, along with Principal Associate Maarten Ahsmann, who recently joined Eversheds Sutherland’s Amsterdam office.