Today Secretariat announced the firm has expanded its global reach with the launch of offices in Hamburg and Munich, Germany. As part of the strategic growth, three new leaders join Secretariat’s roster of experts led by Alexander Demuth and joined by Directors Dr. Björn Brand and Christian Gruschwitz. Together, the team will lead Secretariat’s efforts to grow client relationships and new business opportunities across Mainland Europe with a specific focus on Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

“Throughout our history, Europe has been home to some of Secretariat’s most important matters and esteemed clients. But as the size of projects and inherent risks involved continues to grow, having a team based in the region has become more imperative,” says Secretariat Managing Director Don Harvey. “This is why I am so proud to welcome the world-class team in Alexander, Björn, and Christian. They represent an important step in our growth as we continue to add the best talent in the industry.”

Alexander Demuth, a recognized international arbitration expert with more than 25 years of experience, works with Secretariat. He regularly advises clients in commercial and investor-state arbitrations, litigation, and settlements with a focus on post-merger and commercial disputes. Mr. Demuth is experienced in the quantification of damages, valuations, business modelling, transaction services, accounting, and auditing. His experience includes giving evidence in more than 30 hearings, including in arbitrations under AAA, DIS, HKIAC, ICC, SCC, SIAC, VIAC and ICSID rules. Mr. Demuth is recognized as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Who’s Who Legal’s Arbitration Expert Witnesses 2023.

Dr. Björn Brand is a seasoned expert and project leader who has led engagements assessing purchase price adjustments, lost profits resulting from contract breaches, and expropriations. He also has worked on projects with a focus on financial, economic, forensic, and accounting-related analyses in the context of valuations, financial and economic modelling, and transactions. A Director based in Munich, Dr. Brand earned his PhD in Economics with a focus on Industrial Organization from the University of Graz.

Christian Gruschwitz is a Director based in Munich. He has more than 15 years of experience in company valuation, business modeling and transaction services. He advises clients on arbitration, litigation, and settlements with particular depth in post-merger disputes, commercial disputes and shareholder disputes. He regularly advises stakeholders on matters relating to corporate transactions, commercial, and corporate law.

Mr. Demuth added, “Secretariat’s global experience and platform are unparalleled in the world of international disputes and arbitration. We are delighted to join such an excellent group of senior experts and we are very much looking forward to building out the firm’s presence in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.”