We are saddened to announce the death of our longtime colleague and partner, Dieter G. Lange. Mr. Lange passed away on July 15, 2010 at age 67.

Mr. Lange began his legal career 40 years ago as the first German lawyer in our firm in Washington DC, where he worked closely with Lloyd N. Cutler, one of the firm’s founders. He was first introduced to Mr. Cutler when working as a young lawyer in the United States. Years later, after opening Wilmer Cutler Pickering’s first new office in London in 1972, Mr. Lange led our expansion to Europe with the addition of offices in Brussels, Berlin and Frankfurt. In every case, he was the leader of the move and the person most identified with the firm’s growth throughout Europe.

Mr. Lange was a partner in the firm’s Regulatory and Government Affairs Department, a member of the Aviation Practice Group and the European Regulatory Group, and a former member of the firm’s Management and Executive Committees. His engaging personality, varied interests, tireless commitment and high professional reputation enabled him to gain the confidence of important leaders in economics, politics and the arts.

We have lost a great lawyer, a wise mentor and a wonderful friend, who, in his almost 40 years with the firm, had a strong impact on everyone at WilmerHale. We owe Dieter G. Lange an enormous debt of gratitude and will continue to build on the strong foundation he helped create.