Lovells, Sullivan & Cromwell and Travers Smith Braithwaite have all secured key partner hires in Germany this week as the battle for supremacy in Europe’s largest economy rages.

The moves see Lovells nab two of independent firm Wessing’s best-known remaining corporate partners, Sullivans secure its second German partner in as many weeks and Travers perform a highly symbolic u-turn by opening its first foreign law practice.