Hotz & Partner, a mid-sized German firm with over 40 years of experience, exemplifies the qualities of an ideal BOKS International member—expertise, ambition, and a commitment to global collaboration. Since joining the alliance, the firm has embraced new opportunities, expanding its international reach while remaining deeply rooted in its local market.
Managing Partner Andreas Forrai shares insights into how Hotz & Partner’s journey aligns with BOKS International’s vision, the mutual benefits of membership, and how their active participation strengthens both the alliance and their own firm’s future.
I’m Andreas Forrai, one of the managing partners at Hotz & Partner. My professional journey began at a Big Four firm in Stuttgart, where I later became a Tax Director at a Next10 firm before joining Hotz & Partner in 2021. Our firm has around 50 professionals across two offices in southern Germany.
Being part of BOKS International has brought significant value to both our firm and our clients. Many are surprised that we can provide global services through the alliance, which has become a powerful marketing tool for us.
While most of our clients are local firms, we are expanding our reach internationally through the BOKS alliance. We are in the process of transforming our firm from a provider of “classic” services into a specialised international tax, audit, and legal consultancy. This is just the beginning of our journey.
We were recently approached by BOKS Netherlands regarding a client potentially affected by German transfer pricing regulations. We provided insights that helped them navigate the issue—and who knows, this Dutch client may eventually become one of ours in Germany.
In another case, we are currently providing professional services to another Dutch company together with the Dutch BOKS team regarding potential cross-border issues regarding VAT. Very exciting since not only tax aspects need to be considered but also legal aspects. And we as a full service company can cover all services here.
Our clients now know that we can support them in cross-border projects, which broadens their perspective and encourages them to explore international business opportunities.
Absolutely. Simply being able to tell a client that we can connect them with a trusted professional in almost any country with just a phone call is invaluable.
Our clients appreciate that we have personal relationships with fellow BOKS members through conferences. This encourages trust and often leads to referrals from clients who share their positive experiences with others.
Through BOKS, we’ve gained valuable insights, such as how firms in Asia are handling the return to office work post-pandemic. We’ve shared these perspectives internally and with clients, helping them consider alternative approaches.
Both BOKS and our firm are in a phase of transformation. As a relatively new alliance, BOKS is growing alongside us, and we see opportunities to support each other as we take the next steps forward.
Being part of a global alliance opens doors to new opportunities and enhances credibility. However, the real value comes from actively engaging—building relationships, exchanging knowledge, and integrating the alliance into your firm’s long-term vision. BOKS International is the perfect example of how an alliance can provide genuine value, offering not just worldwide connections but also a collaborative and supportive environment that helps firms grow, adapt, and thrive in an increasingly globalised market.
