Mr. Gries joined K&L Gates in April 2007. From 2001 through 2007 he worked as a legal assistant to a professor at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) in the field of European and Public International Law. Mr. Gries passed his First State Exam in 2000 at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Before passing his Second State Exam in 2007 in Berlin he was awarded the Master's Degree at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Lund, Sweden. He was admitted to the Bar in 2007.