Dennis received his law degree from the Goethe University Frankfurt. He subsequently completed his legal clerkship at the Regional Court of Frankfurt and worked in the Corporate/ M&A department of a leading British law firm in their Frankfurt and London offices before joining Weil.

The Weil team spoke with Dennis about his journey to Weil, his role in our Frankfurt office, and how his experience training for several long- distance athletic competitions helped shape his professional approach and redefine his sense of ambition.

Weil: How did you know that you wanted to become an attorney?

DS: I cannot say I always dreamed of becoming an attorney, but I believe all the foundational elements were there. In high school, I had a strong interest in economics and politics, but no concrete plan of how to pursue those passions. At university, I sat in on some lectures and some of what the professors were talking about in regards to the study

of law really resonated with me, and I decided the legal profession was the path forward that made the most sense. Growing up, I was always attracted to complex logical problems – how to solve them or carve out solutions to address them. Although I would not consider myself destined to become an attorney, I think my mindset and natural interests drew me to this profession.

Weil: What appealed to you about your specific practice area?

DS: I am a part of the Corporate Department at Weil with a focus on private equity. While in university, I took some corporate law courses. I also worked for an insolvency practitioner in Germany for a couple of years, which gave me my first insight into corporate law. Her practice specialized in insolvent building contractors – among other things – and this was particularly exciting for me because insolvency proceedings in this sector often involved major frauds being repeatedly discovered and needing to be dealt with from a legal perspective. However, working on these matters made me realize that I wanted to advise clients in larger companies with active business. So, I started working for an international law firm, in their corporate department based in Frankfurt. I stayed with that first firm for about five years – first as a legal clerk and later as an associate – before taking on my next challenge.

Weil: It seems like the next step for you was broadening your horizons. How did you find yourself at Weil?

DS: Working for the same firm for an extended period of time during COVID-19 was incredibly beneficial, as it enabled me to strengthen my relationships with colleagues and simultaneously participate in a variety of projects. I also completed parts of my clerkship in London and I learned a lot during those years. After I took my second state examination – a necessary part of becoming a lawyer in Germany – I started working as an associate, however, the firm I worked for at the time was making cuts at the junior level and I took this a sign to broaden my search for my next professional endeavor. I knew I wanted my practice to focus on private equity cases, and that is when I knocked on Weil’s door. I knew of a few people who had previously worked for the Firm, so I was excited at the possibility of solidifying the next phase of my career at Weil. I have been here since August and it has been incredible.

Weil: What are some of the highlights of your work? Are there any interesting matters you want to share with us?

DS: When I joined, I jumped right into the team’s work on the Galeria deal. Galeria is the largest department store chain in Germany, with brick-and-mortar locations in numerous German cities. They recently had gone into insolvency and we were representing NRDC in buying them out of insolvency. This was a very big case when I started, and Christian Tappeiner – a partner in Weil’s Corporate Department – made sure that from my first day with the Firm, I was up to speed and took an active part in the matter. This was the best start of my journey at Weil, as he enabled me to dive right into the work and get to know the other team members working on this deal. Recently, I participated in my first deal from the very start of the transaction, and was able to lead significant parts of the process. I had not had a chance to do so earlier in my career because I either began working on a deal while it was already underway, or I left the team before it closed. So having that experience was invaluable and again, Christian made sure I was able to be very hands-on in every aspect of the transaction. The projects I worked on in my previous position often took a great deal of time to finalize. I have been loving the faster pace of private equity, and the learnings that come with it.

Weil: You have taken this fast-paced environment in stride. Can you tell us more about the dynamic of being part of a Weil team?

DS: I think our team dynamic is directly correlated to the wider office dynamic. The Frankfurt office is a fairly smaller unit with about only 20 attorneys. Everyone is very friendly, we regularly have lunch together, we knock on each other’s doors to ask about anything from the latest on a deal to upcoming weekend plans. We also know what each of the partners is working on, because there is transparency and communication within the teams and this makes for a growth-oriented and positive work environment. Because everyone sits on the same floor, we all collaborate very efficiently and very cohesively no matter the age or title. We all enjoy the work we do and what we bring to the table, and thus are productive, efficient and always willing to lend a hand. It is a very collaborative environment.

In Frankfurt, we also host numerous events that allow us to get to know one another on a more personal level. Just
a couple of weeks ago, we all gathered at a restaurant to enjoy cheese fondue and discuss recent events. We also have a weekly running club led by Lothar and Nicole Leder – two very successful German triathletes – which gives us the opportunity to train together as colleagues and get to know each other on a more personal level. I believe that is something quite unique about this team, we work on some incredibly high-level, often high-pressure matters, but are also able to enjoy these types of moments together. This has been essential in building community and collaboration within our office.

Weil: Besides Christian Tappeiner, who you previously mentioned, do you have other mentors that you look up to? Are you mentoring any junior attorneys yourself?

DS: I have also worked with Matthias Eiden, a Restructuring partner, on a very interesting matter where I was the only German Corporate attorney on a restructuring deal. This was another fantastic learning experience for me, because it showed me there could be constant new experiences and learning within this field. In Frankfurt, we all approach the work with a “one team” mentality, where everyone takes care of each other. Just like how Matthias brought me on this matter to expand my growth, I regularly check in with our law clerks and make sure they are having similar learning experiences.

My path so far has taught me that corporate law is an unpredictable landscape, but as long as you are constantly learning, you will meet positive results. You can only see how far something will go if you are willing to see how far it can go. 

Weil: This is a very interesting philosophy. Did you approach your recent Ironman Triathlon with a similar mindset?

DS: I completed my first long- distance Ironman challenge in June 2022. The entire challenge consists of a 3.8-km swim, a 180.2-km bike ride, and a 42.2-km run, the equivalent of a marathon run. I was not a lawyer yet when I started training for my first challenge, but I still approach any fitness challenge in the same way. For some background, I have been into sports since a young age. I got into running first, and then cycling and swimming became large parts of my routine in later years. I slowly progressed from there, eventually signing up for a half-marathon – seeking that thrill, but also appreciating the rigor and discipline needed to sustain those kinds of trainings. After I completed my first marathon, I still was not sure I could compete in an Ironman Triathlon. I just kept signing on for longer and longer challenges, reaching farther and farther distances until the next natural step was signing up for an Ironman.

I started training while I was completing my legal clerkship in Germany, so I was rotating between a court, an attorney’s office and an office with the local public administration. The training was intense and very time consuming. At the end of the two years of clerkship, I took the necessary examination to be able to practice law. Prior to that, however, I had ample amounts of time to dedicate to a rigorous training schedule, all while studying. Balancing the two is what really helped me stay sane while preparing for the exam.

Since then, I have tried to stick to running one or two marathons a year. Last year, I completed the ones in Paris and Frankfurt. I also started incorporating heights into my challenges to tackle more high-altitude trainings. I recently ran a half marathon with a roughly 900 meters altitude incline and I am excited for what lies ahead as well. For my birthday this year, my fiancée gifted me a 31-kilometer trail run with a 2,325 meters altitude incline that I am training for this summer. We are going to do that together, and will run a marathon shortly after as well – both in the Austrian/Swiss Alps.

Weil: That is simply incredible and we wish you the best of luck! How has this training influenced your approach to your legal work?

DS: Exercising in nature will always be my preferred way to stay healthy and offset stress. However, my training for athletic competitions has also come with important lessons that I carry with me in my day-to-day as a lawyer. The work we do is very demanding, and often high-pressure. Training has helped me build character and define my ambitions. Once you have set your mind to a challenge, prepared for it and finally complete it, this puts all other challenges and goals into perspective. Maybe something initially seems impossible, but with a plan in place, it becomes possible.

This mindset has absolutely carried me through a lot of the work I do. I enthusiastically look forward to future competitions and continued growth, on both a professional and personal level. I just strive to give my best here at Weil, and make progress in my personal growth as well. I will continue to challenge myself to reach new heights, one challenge at a time!