1989: the year the Iron Curtain fell, heralding a new era. And the year in which the two founders of Hölters & Elsing joined together to benefit from the historical spirit of political and economic optimism and change. Dr. Wolfgang Hölters and Prof. Dr. Siegfried H. Elsing quickly recognized the vast potential offered by this breakthrough of contemporary events for the globalisation of the world economy – and also their own personal futures.

Both Dr. Wolfgang Hölters and Prof. Dr. Siegfried H. Elsing were already established and well-respected lawyers, having previously developed formidable reputations at their respective law firms.  They recognized the opportunities which would be offered with the combination of their talents. The conditions were ideal: in addition to complementing each other with their entrepreneurial potential, they both shared a passion for complex legal challenges and were inspired by the idea of an independent operation.

From the outset, with their distinctive entrepreneurial personalities, both founders gained distinction as legal advisors who work alongside clients. Hölters & Elsing’s insistence on maintaining the very highest standards caused it to soon achieve a leading position among German firms.

A key factor in the firm’s rise was the founders’ ability to gather together a group of high-performing partners – each sharing their same sense of commercial dynamism. Since then, the management of the firm has also been transferred to these partners, allowing the two founders to increasingly dedicate their time “as equals amongst equals” to their first-rate clients.

As the culmination of its 20 years of success, Hölters & Elsing combined in 2008 with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. As a result, the German operation, Orrick Hölters & Elsing, combines the best of two worlds: international expertise and local strength in Germany.

Dr. Wolfgang Hölters was the leading advisor in some of the largest German corporate transactions in recent years including, for example, advising Deutsche Post AG during their acquisition of DHL, Deutsche Postbank and the DSL Bank. He advised the Federal Republic of Germany in several matters with respect to Deutsche Bahn AG (German Rail), especially in connection with privatization. Additionally, he is editor and co-author of the Handbook on Acquiring Corporations and Shares (Handbuch Unternehmenskauf), which is recognized as the standard work in professional circles, and also of a commentary on the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz) and various other publications.

Prof. Dr. Siegfried H. Elsing, LL.M., was born in Essen in 1950. His career focuses on the international aspects of law. He studied at the Universities of Freiburg, Münster, Lausanne (Switzerland) and Yale (United States), and gained additional professional experience in New York. He specialises in M&A, corporate law and arbitration and, according to JUVE, is part of a select group of internationally sought-after arbitrators, as well as one of the most prominent names in arbitration proceedings when representing clients. He is an honorary professor at the Düsseldorf Heinrich Heine University, and has had over 50 articles published in specialist legal journals and textbooks.