06. December 2022

ARQIS enhances its partnership with the addition of Dr. Astrid Seehafer and Thomas Chwalekas of January 1, 2023. Chwalek has already been a deal specialist in the law firm’s Transactions team since 2016, while Seehafer joined ARQIS in the summer of 2022 as Counsel in the Litigation department.

Dr. Astrid Seehafer joined ARQIS from Freshfields and specializes in litigation and regulatory advice, in particular on product liability, product compliance and product-related sustainability issues Dr. Astrid Seehafer thus further expands the strategically important area of litigation at ARQIS. Dr. Mirjam Boche, Head of the Risk Focus Group, commented on the appointment: “With Astrid Seehafer, we have gained a proven expert in product law, thus combining our civil and public law expertise, especially in the promising sectors of consumer goods, life sciences and tech. With her background in economics and law, she is a top addition to our team, not only professionally but also personally.”

Before joining ARQIS, Thomas Chwalek gained experience in investment banking in Frankfurt and as a lawyer and management consultant at Ernst & Young. In 2016, he joined ARQIS and continuously developed within the firm. Most recently, he was appointed Counsel in January 2021. As a transaction specialist in Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze’s focus group, he has been heavily involved in the team’s expansion and success in recent years. “Thomas Chwalek is characterized by his entrepreneurial perspective and his great economic understanding. We are excited to have him as an absolute team player and extremely active deal-maker in our team”, Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze explained the background to Chwalek’s partner appointment.

Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner of ARQIS, emphasized at the announcement of the new partners: “We are delighted to be able to further expand our partner base and thus also the competencies of our Big Law Boutique. We are thus underpinning our strength in Transactions and at the same time further expanding our expertise in Litigation.”