KWM elects new EUME senior partner

King & Wood Mallesons has appointed Frankfurt partner Michael Cziesla senior partner for Europe and Middle East, according to a statement.

Cziesla, who counts secondaries among his specialties, takes up the position with immediate effect and for a term of three years. He takes over the new role from former EUME senior partner Stephen Kon.

Cziesla ran against Dubai-based litigation lawyer Tim Taylor for the position and is the first partner based outside of London to be elected, according to the statement.

Cziesla joined the firm as a corporate lawyer in 2003. He specializes in multi-jurisdictional and cross-border M&A, private equity investments, secondaries, leveraged buyouts, divestments, joint ventures and restructurings. Cziesla also serves as the managing partner for KWM Germany.

Cziesla advises both German and international clients across a range of sectors. He is a long-standing corporate partner of the firm and has worked across all of the firm’s EUME offices, including a six month secondment to the London office, the firm said.

In his new role, Cziesla will work alongside Tim Bednall, who was elected as managing partner for EUME at the beginning of October, to lead the firm’s strategic operations in the EUME region.

Bednall took over the role from William Boss, who resigned in January after less than a year, to concentrate on his real estate practice, as previously reported by Secondaries Investor sister title pfm.