From start-up to establishment

Approaching its 5th anniversary in 2021, law firm GSK Stockmann in Luxembourg reflects on its successful development. Only recently the firm significantly increased its office space in Kirchberg.

How has GSK Stockmann established itself within the Luxembourg legal market?

Marcus Peter Opened in March 2016, our office started with 3 partners, 5 associates and 1 staff member; as a result of organic growth we now have 28 lawyers, including 7 partners (with 3 promotions as of 2021), and 12 staff from more than 10 jurisdictions speaking even more languages. The ongoing growth of our team has led to the increase of our office space; we have only recently moved into our new premises although the address on Kirchberg remains the same. The generous space has been set up to offer individual offices for all our lawyers and business services. Another important aspect is our employer branding which – unlike most law firms – means that we do not impose minimum billable hours on our lawyers. Combined with our focus on culture we have top staff satisfaction and very low staff turnover helping us attract and retain top talent, and continually providing our clients with the highest quality of service.

Has the pandemic impacted your workflow?

Philipp Mössner Our entire team – including lawyers, business services and back office staff – is equipped with laptops and smartphones, enabling the entire firm to work remotely. This has been an established way of working at the firm for some time and this technological investment has proven to be crucial since day one of the Covid-19 crisis. Our team members were able to work remotely without any business disruptions to our clients. We are proud of our entire team for performing exceptionally well during the lockdown. To show our thanks we gave everyone gift vouchers. Despite the current situation, our office kept thriving throughout the last months and we expect a solid increase of turnover which actually exceeds the forecast for 2020. We are pleased that we have recently been certified as a Great Place to Work® with a trust index of 94% as a result of an anonymous employee online survey conducted by the Great Place to Work® Institute.

How does GSK Stockmann measure up when it comes to diversity?

Mathilde Ostertag Our firm is strongly committed to diversity. In terms of gender diversity, we enable flexible work solutions to promote female leadership. We promote cultural diversity, especially in our Luxembourg office. Our legal practice and international client base benefit from the diverse backgrounds of our lawyers and our staff, enabling us to speak our clients’ language and relate to their cultural background.

How do you describe your approach in relation to sustainability?

Marcel Bartnik Sustainability is a key driver for the future transformation of the EU economies and Luxembourg is well placed to support this process as a leading center for sustainable finance in the heart of Europe. In this field, we see a growing demand of investors, asset managers, corporates and institutions in the ESG sector and hence an increasing number of “green” transactions. Taking up the green movement as an employer, we have banned plastic bottles and established the use of water dispensers, within both the office and the conference rooms. We have implemented printing processes according to the latest standards to avoid unnecessary waste. Moreover, our office follows the internal firm-wide travel recommendations, e.g. to avoid plane travel where possible and set up video conferences instead. In relation to our enlarged office space, the materials used comply with modern environmental standards.

What are the main drivers for your current and future activities?

Andreas Heinzmann At the heart of the European Union, our office is ideally positioned to provide advice to national and international clients in Luxembourg, Europe and worldwide. This integrates well in GSK Stockmann’s international strategy with international desks relating to key jurisdictions around the world in order to highlight cross-border capabilities to international clients. We have managed to achieve a consolidated profile amongst our peers, in the national and international media, and as sponsors and speakers at numerous national and international conferences, although with most activities currently taking place online. Our development is increasingly considered in national and international rankings. As good corporate citizens in Luxembourg, we aim to support local activities. As corporate members of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, we have decided to address our corporate Christmas donation to the Fondation EME founded by the Philharmonie, connecting the vulnerable with music, which is more important than ever during these challenging times. We regularly offer local artists a platform to present contemporary Luxembourgish art in our premises; each exhibition is highlighted by a vernissage, which has become a regular event for many of our clients, friends and colleagues. Following a rebranding of GSK Stockmann, with a new corporate design positioning the firm even more firmly in the market, the Luxembourg office of GSK Stockmann launched its new website and new advertising approach. The new website of the Luxembourg office can be accessed .

Partners at GSK Stockmann in Luxembourg Maison Moderne

About GSK Stockmann

GSK Stockmann is a leading independent European corporate law firm with over 200 professionals across six offices in Germany and Luxembourg. In Luxembourg, GSK Stockmann is the trusted adviser of leading financial institutions, real estate companies, asset managers, private equity houses, insurance companies, corporates and FinTech companies, with both, a local and international reach. Our lawyers advice domestic and international clients in relation to Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A and Private Equity, Investment Funds, Real Estate, Regulatory and Insurance as well as Tax.