Willkie Announces Further Expansion of Private Equity Team in Frankfurt Office

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP today announced that Dr. Andreas
Hautkappe, Rolf Huenermann and Dr. Stefan Joergens, formerly with
Clifford Chance, join the firm as National Partners in the Frankfurt
office. Associates Ole Oldenburg and Ingo Bednarz, also from Clifford
Chance, join the Willkie team in Frankfurt as well.

This latest expansion of Willkie's core deal team in Frankfurt
further enhances the firm's standing in the German transaction and
project market. The team includes M&A and private equity experts
Jochen Winter and Dr. Michael Bernhardt, who moved to Willkie from
Linklaters in February 2006, and private equity specialist Mario
Schmidt, who arrived from Clifford Chance in February 2007. Tax
experts Dr. Patrick Meiisel and Dr. Bettina Bokeloh, formerly of
PricewaterhouseCoopers, also joined Willkie's Frankfurt office in
February 2007.

Willkie Chairman Jack H. Nusbaum stated, "We are pleased that our
Frankfurt group continues to draw some of the top lawyers practicing
in Germany. Together with our existing M&A and private equity
practitioners, we have built a team that comprises a level of talent,
experience and capabilities in our areas of expertise that is
difficult to match in the German market." Mario Schmidt said, "This
move furthers our mission to continue to offer our clients the best
and most comprehensive local service." Jochen Winter added, "Andreas,
Rolf, Stefan, Ole and Ingo are great additions to our team,
professionally and personally."

Willkie's Frankfurt office has received widespread recognition for
its diverse experience handling some of the most significant M&A and
private equity transactions in Germany and internationally. The
combined team's experience includes having advised more than 20
private equity houses in high-end and mid cap deals.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is an international law firm of over
600 attorneys with offices in New York, Washington, Paris, London,
Milan, Rome, Frankfurt and Brussels. The firm is headquartered in New
York City at 787 Seventh Avenue. Tel: 212.728.8000.