After starting his legal career at Clifford Chance’s Frankfurt office, Jörg Reinshagen has since moved into the world of data centre real estate, now working with NTT Global Data Centers.
Jörg joined Clifford Chance after qualifying as a lawyer in 2014, initially considering a future in IP law, before being introduced to the Real Estate team:
“ I met the team, and it felt right - it was like love at first sight. The most important thing is that you just have a feeling whether you fit in the team or not. ”
As a newly qualified lawyer, Jörg was surprised to find there were many different approaches to negotiating with clients and took inspiration from senior Partners.
“ You learn from every Partner and every Partner has a different style… you can look at all the other styles and find your own, what fits to your personality. ”
Finding his own individual style was important to Jörg. A key factor in developing his relationships with clients was understanding them and empathising with their needs:
“ Applying the law is one thing – of course that's important - but understanding your client, what can he agree to, what are his restrictions…That, I think, is where the Real Estate department in Clifford Chance and Frankfurt was great and that's where I learned a lot. ”
Jörg advises lawyers to be open to new opportunities and not be afraid to be challenged. He recognised that during his time at Clifford Chance he was often encouraged to work outside his comfort zone but knew he would be supported by Partners.
“ You don't have group of associates who sit in a room and work, and they're only trusted enough to speak to a client after a few years. It was absolutely clear from day one that you will be taken to our meetings and meet clients directly. If you do make a mistake, the Partner will be there to help you fix it. ”
Managing stress was another key learning Jörg took away from his time at Clifford Chance – something that proved useful outside of law:
“ I think generally what you can learn in the transactional business is how to manage stress. You can learn to focus on priorities - so if your time and resources are limited, you can focus on what is really important. And I think that is great. I mean, that's great for life too - I have a family with four children now so it's all about balancing priorities! ”
Following a secondment at NTT Global Data Centers - one of the world's largest data centre providers, operating over 150 data centres in over 20 countries - Jörg knew he wanted to move on and go client-side. He took up his current role at NTT Global Data Centers in October 2020.
He is currently leading a major project converting a former US barracks into one of Europe’s largest data centre campuses — a process involving legal, strategic, and commercial decisions.
Jörg maintains strong ties with Clifford Chance alumni, especially in Germany and Italy. He continues to work with his former colleagues on complex projects, valuing the trust and understanding built during his time at the firm. He cites the relationships he made during his time at the firm and the Clifford Chance alumni networks as key to keeping in touch with his fellow alumni.
“ We also meet regularly - going to lunch, or at expos. Some of the older team members and colleagues have become like friends. ”
Jörg’s story is about making the most of opportunities, valuing people, and staying curious — qualities that serve well in law, business, and beyond.
