Wolf-Dietrich Freiherr von Fircks-Burgstaller prefers his long name to be abbreviated to Wolf-D. v. Fircks. He has been an Senior Expert Counsel at LGP since the beginning of September 2017. The German lawyer, who was formerly Head of the University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna, advises the firm and its clients on issues of university law, the integration and spinning-off of university research institutes and the development of business concepts for spin-offs. In Wolf-Dietrich Fircks, LGP has gained an experienced university manager who has successfully handled a series of restructuring projects during his more than 30 years spent working in the education sector. Wolf-D. v. Fircks played a part in the creation of comprehensive universities in North-Rhine Westphalia (Comprehensive University of Wuppertal, 1976 – 1985). He was also involved in the State Chancellery of North-Rhine Westphalia as an advisor to MP Johannes Rau. He held the post of Chancellor at the University of Hildesheim (1985–1991) and the University of Oldenburg (1991–1997), as well as at the Free University of Berlin (1997–2001). He primarily dealt with issues relating to the establishment, organisation and financing of universities, and the creation of universities’ profiles, with the aim of giving them full legal capacity. In the field of public-private partnerships, he turned a research institute into a joint-stock company (Mologen), which he successfully listed on the stock market. He also founded 10 limited liability companies in which the University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna (VetmetUni) invested via its holding company, VetWiDi. The restructuring of universities with the aim of giving them autonomy (Universities Act 2002) ultimately took him to Vienna, where he was Head of the University of Veterinary Medicine of Vienna and enlisted the support of the Messerli Private Foundation for Animal Protection (Zurich), which is endowed with approx. 30 million euros. Wolf-Dietrich Freiherr von Fircks-Burgstaller is a trained lawyer (Göttingen, Freiburg and Kiel), and holds additional qualifications in psychology, medicine and business administration. Languages: German, English, French. Hobbies: archaeology, circus, surfing.
