Jasmin Fichte, Managing Partner of Fichte & Co, shares her views on client expectations, market change and the firm’s continued development in response to a shifting legal landscape.

1) What do you see as the main points that differentiate Fichte & Co from your competitors?

I would say what differentiates Fichte & Co is the combination of our regional experience, our focused work across key sectors, and the fact that we are an independent firm. That combination allows us to give clients practical legal advice that is tailored to their specific needs and informed by the wider commercial and regulatory environment in which they operate. This is especially important on matters involving multiple jurisdictions or commercially sensitive issues, where clients value advice that is clear, responsive and grounded in the realities of the market.

2) Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Marine insurance, shipping disputes and sanctions-related advisory are likely to see continued growth over the next 12 months. Why? Because shipping businesses are operating in a more difficult risk environment than they were a

few years ago. Sanctions exposure is becoming a more active issue, not only from a compliance perspective, but also in relation to insurance cover, charterparty performance, payments and vessel trading decisions. At the same time, geopolitical tensions and wider operational disruption are creating more pressure points across the sector, which naturally increases the likelihood of disputes and coverage issues arising together.

3) What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

An important part of how we have continued to develop the firm has been in the way we structure client mandates, particularly in terms of pricing, reporting and ongoing support. As matters become more complex, especially in litigation and multi-party disputes, clients often need not only strong legal advice, but also clarity around how a matter will be managed and how costs will be structured. We have sought to reflect that through tailored fee arrangements, including fixed pricing for certain transactional work, hybrid retainer models and success-based elements where appropriate, as well as clear reporting across ongoing matters. That has been beneficial for clients because it provides greater predictability and a framework that is better aligned with the nature of the mandate.

4) Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, absolutely. Technology is changing both the way we interact with clients and the way we deliver legal services. Clients increasingly expect communication to be faster, reporting to be clearer and access to information to be more immediate, and technology plays an important role in meeting those expectations. It also helps us manage documents, filings, coordination and ongoing reporting more efficiently, which in turn allows us to deliver a more responsive and transparent service. At the same time, technology is a tool rather than a substitute for legal judgement. It improves efficiency and visibility, but the real value still lies in the quality of the legal advice itself.

5) Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

One example that comes to mind is a matter involving a client in the steel sector whose cargo became tied up in a dispute higher up the contractual chain, even though the client had already fulfilled its own obligations. It would have been easy for the matter to develop into a long and expensive legal battle, but our focus was on finding a solution that genuinely served the client’s wider interests. We moved quickly to secure the client’s position and combined legal pressure with focused negotiations to bring the matter to a practical resolution. That approach helped preserve value, avoid unnecessary disruption and prevent the issue from escalating further. For me, that is often where a law firm adds the most value, not simply by taking a legal point, but by helping the client reach the right outcome for the business overall.

6) Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Certainly. In a more complex and fast-moving environment, clients are looking for advisers who can do more than answer the immediate legal issue; they want people who can anticipate how risk is evolving, understand the wider commercial picture and help them think ahead. In three years, I see Fichte & Co continuing to strengthen its core strengths, while growing in a way that remains closely aligned with the market we serve. The ambition is to remain a firm that clients rely on for sound judgement, consistency and advice that reflects the realities of the sectors in which they operate.