1. Please tell us a bit about yourself, your job and where in the world you work.
My name is Michael Zierhut and I joined the Munich Insurance team as an Associate in July 2021.2. What key industries/sectors do you work with?
I currently work in a wide range of sectors, including, of course, a lot of work with insurance companies. I am particularly active in the field of D&O insurance and advise insurance companies as well as managing directors, board members and other executives on all questions of internal and external liability as well as on questions of coverage by the insurer.
At the same time, I also do a bit of work for the Dispute Resolution Team, where I get to know all kinds of industries and sectors.
3. What do you enjoy most about your job?
What I like about my job is that it is never boring in Insurance and Dispute Resolution. You get cases from all different areas and are not tied to a specific area of law.
Even though we are particularly active in the D&O area, there are still insurance policies for all kinds of liability claims. This means that every insurance case is new and you are always learning something new. In Dispute Resolution, this is even more the case, because you are active in all areas of law, in and out of court.
Of course, I also like the pleasant working atmosphere and the nice colleagues who gave me a great welcome and got me involved from day one at DWF.
4. What makes the Munich office unique compared to other locations?
As a location, Munich is of course outstanding. After I completed my studies and my legal traineeship here, no other city came into question for me to start my career.
Munich is a beautiful city and, according to some rankings, one of the cities with the highest quality of life worldwide. Munich has several universities and is therefore especially attractive for young people. We have a distinct cultural and nightlife with many theatres, museums, festivals, bars, restaurants and clubs.
Munich also has many beautiful green areas, such as the English Garden or the Olympic Park, where you can go jogging, walking or simply relax. The Isar also runs through the middle of Munich, which is always a good place for a swim in the summer. Since the Alps are not far away, you can also go hiking or skiing very easily.
So there is something for everyone, you won't get bored.
5. What piece of advice would you give to a YP looking to work in Munich?
Most people in Munich have a good work-life balance, so I would advise anyone to make the most of this. Ensure you get out and about, explore as much as you can and make the most of the culture and surroundings whilst there.
6. If a YP from another country was coming to visit you, where would you take them?
If someone would visit Munich in the last two weeks of September, I would of course take them to the Oktoberfest! Unfortunately, it couldn't take place this year and last year, but it is planned again for 2022, so feel free to come and visit!
But of course, there are many other things to see and do in Munich: The English Garden, which is a large public park in the centre of Munich, stretching from the city centre to the north-eastern city limits.
In the centre of Munich, there is the Marienplatz and the Viktualienmarkt. The Marienplatz is the citys main square and famous for its tourist attraction clock, the "Glockenspiel". The Viktualienmarkt is a daily food market in the center of Munich. It developed from an original farmers' market to a popular market for gourmets.
If you are interested in technology, you should go to the Deutsches Museum. The Deutsches Museum is the world's largest museum of science and technology, with about 28,000 exhibited objects from 50 different fields. It is almost impossible to see all the exhibits in one day.
If you are interested in art, you can visit the Alte Pinakothek, which is one of the oldest galleries in the world and houses a significant collection of Old Master paintings. If you like palaces, you should visit the the Munich Residenz or the Nymphenburg Palace.
And to finish the day, a trip to one of the famous beer halls such as the Hofbräuhaus is a must.
7. If you could work anywhere else in the world where would it be?
If I could work anywhere in the world, I'd probably pick a southern country like Italy, Spain, Portugal where it's warm, has good food, good beaches, etc.
And if I could choose an office there, it would probably be the corner office of Harvey Specter from Suits!!
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