Leading German firm Noerr Stiefenhofer Lutz has lost Russian labour law partner Nikolaj Piksin to German rival CMS Hasche Sigle Eschenlohr Peltzer Schaefer.

He is taking eight fee earners with him to launch the German firm’s first Russian practice. Noerr said Piksin was leaving “by agreement” and that the departure was due to the Russian partner’s “diverging strategic views”.