Elite German firm Hengeler Mueller has elected dark horse candidates Christof Jaeckle and Matthias Blaum as its new managing partners.

The long-time German ally of London’s Slaughter and May and the US’ Davis Polk & Wardwell appointed the two new managing partners after elections held on 7 May. The vote sees M&A partner Jaeckle take over from Hendrik Haag as Frankfurt-based joint head, and corporate partner Blaum succeed Gerd Krieger in Duesseldorf.