Baker Donelson Expands Global Business Practice's German Team

"The addition of Messrs. Meis and Faerber marks a significant expansion of and capabilities for our team serving German-speaking clients," said Michael H. Johnson, a member of Baker Donelson's Global Business Team and the Honorary Consul of Germany for Alabama. "Their experience and client base adds to our already dynamic practice grounded in language ability, familiarity with the legal culture and business context of our German-speaking clients, which are tremendous advantages for our successful representation and counsel to new and existing clients. We're very excited to welcome them to our team."

The Austria, Germany and Switzerland practice of Baker Donelson's Global Business Team offers a broad array of cross-border services to German-speaking clients geared specifically to expand their businesses in the U.S. The group counsels Austrian, German and Swiss clients across a full range of legal areas, including trade and commercial transactions, direct investment in the U.S., corporate, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, real estate, immigration, labor and employment, intellectual property and federal public policy. Existing clients operate in a wide variety of industries, from automotive, aviation, aerospace and advanced machinery manufacturing to real estate, energy resources, health care, medical devices, drug, life sciences, technology information services, franchising and distribution.

Mr. Meis joins Baker Donelson's Atlanta office as a shareholder. As an attorney licensed in Germany and the U.S., Mr. Meis advises companies in corporate matters, particularly in the formation and restructuring of corporations and partnerships both in Germany and the U.S. Mr. Meis has represented German investment funds in corporate, tax and bank regulatory matters in connection with real estate, as well as oil and gas investments in the U.S. In addition, he has advised investors on the acquisition of businesses and restructuring of investments. He has extensive experience in advising companies, as well as individuals, in the U.S. and Germany on complex visa issues and related international tax matters. Mr. Meis is a member of the Munich Bar Association and is fluent in German.

Mr. Faerber, who joins as an attorney in the Atlanta office, represents domestic and international companies in areas including corporate and partnership law, cross-border transactions, mergers, acquisitions, foreign direct investment and intellectual property. As a native German, Mr. Faerber has extensive experience counseling German businesses expanding into the United States. He also assists U.S. and foreign companies in connection with the negotiation and drafting of distribution, manufacturing, employment and agency agreements.

Baker Donelson's Global Business Team helps clients achieve success wherever their business takes them in the world. From the Firm's 24 offices located in key markets throughout the Southeastern United States and in Washington, D.C. and London and with the assistance of an extensive global network of local counsel and other professionals, the Global Business Team has helped U.S. and non-U.S. clients take advantage of global opportunities in more than 90 countries spanning six continents. The more than 75 members of the Global Business Team routinely work with U.S. clients in China, Japan, the United Kingdom, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America. The group's cross-border attorneys are fluent in more than 15 languages, including German, Japanese, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, French and Portuguese. The team also regularly assists non-U.S. businesses and individuals in connection with their activities in the United States.