PricewaterhouseCoopers’ tied legal practice in Germany, PwC Veltins, is to re-brand under the global umbrella of its Landwell network in a symbolic move for the accountancy giant’s legal ambitions.

Thomas Kerkhoff, the German firm’s new managing partner, said PwC Veltins was poised to be re-named as Landwell, a step that will allay earlier fears that the practice would sever links with the big four accountants entirely.