Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is establishing a special unit in Germany to deal with mass ‘dieselgate’-style claims that will entail four new office openings and potentially hundreds of new hires across the country.

The firm will open the first office in Münster in western Germany in February, with three further locations to follow, according to a spokesperson at the firm, to be populated by new staff numbering ”up to three digits”, including lawyers and business staff.