Germany

McDermott Will & Emery is an international law firm headquartered in Chicago. The firm has a growing presence in Germany and currently operates offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich. 

Focusses / specialisms 

Banking, capital markets, M&A, private equity and restructuring are distinct areas of focus for the firm within the financial and corporate domain. 

The banking team advises the global financial services industry mainly on acquisition finance. Its clients include borrowers, issuers, sponsors and financial institutions. 

Its capital markets team advises across the full spectrum of mandates in the space. It acts as underwriter’s counsel, issuer’s counsel and transaction counsel on a mix of IPOs, rights issues and convertible bond matters. 

In M&A, the firm is active in the mid-market space and often works at the epicentre of significant transactions. The M&A team also assists clients on a wide range of general corporate work such as reorganisations, general meeting advice and cross-border joint venture agreements. The firm is visible in the German private equity space where it also typically advises on mid-market deals. 

In restructuring, the firm is especially strong in the retail sector. It has also visibly strengthened in the automotive and healthcare sectors in recent years. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Ardian, Hamburg Commercial Bank, Gimv, Ajax Health, Silverfleet Capital, Halder, VREquitypartner, EMH Partners, Investcorp, Intersnack/KP Snacks, Signa Retail, United Drug Group, CA Technologies, TransDigm Group, Bilfinger, Nagel Group, Aumann, Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, European Department Store Holding (Signa), Joh. Berenberg Gossler & Co, Baader Bank, Stifel Europe Bank, Hauck & Aufhäuser Privatbankiers, Sport1 and MBB. 

Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is an American multinational law firm founded in 1948 in New York. It is present in Germany with offices in Frankfurt and Munich. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a strong offering across several financial and corporate areas in Germany. 

In banking it has shown a capacity to advise on domestic and cross-border transactions, with a focus on acquisition finance, structured finance, syndicated lending and debt restructuring work. 

The capital markets team has vast experience handling complex cross-border equity and debt capital markets transactions on behalf of both issuers and underwriters, and in particular capital markets work with a unique US component. 

M&A is another active area for the firm, with the team possessing a unique experience in structuring and executing cross-border transactions. 

Similarly, in private equity, the firm has a strong international focus, advising private equity houses on their inbound buyouts in Germany, as well as pan-European transactions with a strong German component. The team also boasts substantial experience in significant transatlantic transactions involving major US corporates and investors. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Adevinta, Black Diamond Capital Management, Gulf Energy Development, Standard Chartered Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, BioNTech, AMS Group, MorphoSys, Medigene, Signa Group, BofA Securities, Berenberg, UBS, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, American Industrial Partners, Blackstone, Energy Infrastructure Partners, SCP Group, Kone and Coty. 

Berner Fleck Wettich is a German boutique law firm located in Düsseldorf. The firm was founded in 2014. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm specialises in assisting companies and entrepreneurs on corporate and M&A work. Its advice includes general corporate support, and support on transactions, often with cross-border elements– representing foreign companies and investors on transactions in Germany and assisting family businesses and SMEs abroad. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Apollo-Optik, LEG Immobilien, Metroand Mueller Medien. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Excellent business-oriented legal counseling with excellent knowledge of situation and industry and needs of my company.” 

Project finance 

“100% reliable, detailed, direct and solution-oriented.” 

Dr Beck & Partner is a German law firm with a narrow focus on insolvency administration. The firm has offices in multiple cities in Bavaria, namely Nuremberg, Munich, Regensburg, Ansbach, Hof, Würzburg, Augsburg and Landshut. 

Focusses / specialisms 

Over the course of its two-decade history, the firm has carved out a reputation as one of the best insolvency administrators in Germany. The firm creates value for both creditors and restructuring companies and is frequently appointed on the largest mandates in the field in Germany. 

Key clients 

The firm’s notable clients include CMS Hasche Sigle, Theopark, Anchor, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells International, Latham & Watkins and Gleiss Lutz. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Insolvency 

“Reliable, highly qualified, strong communication skills paired with an extreme persuasive power, best in class!” 

As one of the largest professional services networks in the world, EY has offices in more than 150 countries. Formed in 2018, it currently has offices in about 20 locations within Germany, including Hamburg, out of which its private equity team services clients. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is highly active in German private equity and is typically seen advising PE funds on acquisitions of new targets, as well as add-on acquisition for existing portfolio companies. 

The team boasts vast experience in the automotive, healthcare, technology and software sectors, and is predominantly focused on mid-cap work. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Hg Capital, IK Investment Partners, H.I.G. Capital, Paguasca Holding, Daimler, Core Equity Holdings, One Equity Partners, Altor Equity Partners, OpenGate Capital,VR Equitypartnerand Sun Capital. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“The team has both very broad as well as deep knowledge in all relevant aspects of PE law. They were super-responsive, always acted like a true business partner (focusing on getting results rather than ‘lawyering’). Whenever we needed ‘out of scope’ advice, the team was either able to answer themselves or provide valuable resources from the EY network. All in all, can fully recommend!” 

Founded in Los Angeles in 1890, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher has expanded to 20 offices scattered across North and South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. In Germany, the firm operates offices in Frankfurt and Munich. 

Focusses / specialisms 

Areas of activity within the financial and corporate domains include banking, M&A and private equity. 

Its banking team has experience advising both lenders and borrowers on a plethora of leveraged finance, corporate finance, real estate finance and restructuring transactions. Its clients often feature investors, banks, financial institutions and corporates. 

Its M&A team often assists strategic investors and financial institutions on cross-border deals. Its engagements range from M&A and buyouts to investments to restructurings and bankruptcy-related takeovers. 

Private equity is an area of distinct focus for the firm, with large-cap and mid-cap transactions making up the bulk of the team’s work. With offices in the main private equity hubs in Germany, the firm is able to provide exemplary service to large PE houses such as Lone Star, One Equity Partners and Triton. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Lone Star, One Equity Partners, Triton, Platinum Equity Partners, Baupost Group, Investcorp, Gilde, Capvis, ICG, Granville Baird, The Gores Group, Aurelius Growth Investments, Triton Smaller Mid-Cap Fund, Primutec Solutions Group, Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co, Gilead Sciences, Stone Canyon Industries, Atlas Copco and Heska Corporation. 

Glade Michel Wirtz is an internationally oriented German law firm located in Düsseldorf. The firm was established in 2007. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has experience in corporate, M&A, capital markets and restructuring work. It advises on both the buy-side and sell-side, with a client list featuring large German corporates such as Daimler. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Daimler, Franz Haniel & CIe, Provinzial Rheinland Holding, Rhön-Klinikum, Etris Bank, Einkaufsbüro Deutscher Eisenhändler, Apothekerverband Nordrhein and GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Accurate and fast M&A support (negotiating & drafting), very experienced and solution oriented in negotiations, ensuring senior lawyer involvement at all times.Efficient cooperation with other professional advisers involved in the transaction.” 

“They bridge the gap between the legal technicalities and business objectives in a constructive manner, identifying issues and needs and constructively work to finding solutions. Thus, they work effectively with the client and the counterpart to progress matters. Further, although being a smaller firm, they work effectively with partners to provide a complete set of services, both partners that are long-term liaisons of theirs but also firms that the client has a history with and brings to the team. The business in which we operate is global, and in this manner GMW are capable of reaching well beyond the German jurisdiction.” 

Stuttgart-headquartered Gleiss Lutz is one the largest German law firms. The firm has six offices in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich and Stuttgart, as well as an office in Brussels and in London. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm’s banking practice, helped by its strong line-up and close integration and interdisciplinary work with other practice areas, has remained a source of strength for the firm in recent research cycles. The team can advise on both the side of lender and borrower clients. The team is strong across a wide range of loan work, including syndicated and corporate loans, leveraged buyouts and acquisition financing, promissory notes, infrastructure and real estate financing. 

The firm also advises on financial services regulatory work, where it is seen working on the side of German and foreign clients across the entire financial sector. Capitalising on the firm’s strong compliance department, the practice often assists financial institutions in complex and high-stake investigations. The team is also strong in corporate governance work and is adept at advising on outsourcing and remuneration matters. 

In capital markets, the firm is visible in both debt and equity on the side of issuers and underwriting banks. Helped by its close-knit ties with US and European law firms, the capital markets practice can support complex cross-border work. 

The investment funds team provides advice across practically all aspects of funds work including formation, distribution, regulatory and supervisory matters and fund financing. It has a particular focus on compliance and regulatory advice, corporate governance and transactional activity in the asset management industry. 

In M&A and private equity, the firm has the capacity to support the full life cycle of complex, landmark acquisitions, divestitures, investments, joint ventures and distressed M&A. 

The firm’s projects team can handle all development and implementation issues of projects in Germany. The team possesses expertise in plant construction, especially in connection to power plant projects, and is active in project financing work, where it advises both financing banks and investors on the purchase of property and project developments. 

Restructuring and insolvency is a strong area for the firm, as the team is often seen on some of the complex cases in the markets. The firm is highly capable in assisting on financial restructurings and has strong expertise in highly complex insolvency work and innovative restructuring options. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Bosch, Henkel, Linde Group, Deutsche Telekom, Infineon Technologies, KKR, Triton, Apax, Blackstone, LEG Immobilien, Delivery Hero, AlzChem Group, Invesco Real Estate and NAS Invest. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Gleiss Lutz is one of the leading law firms in Germany, providing services on the highest level one can expect. For me, the restructuring & insolvency practice group is benchmark in Germany.” 

“They are highly client-focussed and competent, thus pragmatic and highly performant.” 

GLNS is a Munich-based boutique law firm. The firm was founded in 2012. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has an active M&A practice. Its focus is on mid-cap work, often with international dimensions–nearly 50% of its client base is international and the firm represents clients from foreign countries such as the US, Spain, UK, Austria, the Netherlands and Sweden. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Zooplus, Allianz, Audi, Zalando, MorphoSys, Hello Fresh, Adidas, BSH, Delivery Hero Holding, CGS, EMERAM Capital, FSN Capital, Egeria Capital and Paragon Partners. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Leveraged finance 

“GLNS offers highly customer-centric, quality service with sound commercial advice and attention to detail.” 

M&A 

“Just an outstanding firm! Super knowledgeable, extremely hardworking, 100% reliable, great people who are fun to work with.” 

Founded in Miami in 1967, Greenberg Traurig has expanded to 40 offices located in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia. The firm’s German office is based in Berlin. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a credible M&A offering in Germany. It advises on both the buy-side and sell-side on private M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. 

The team is particularly strong in the TMT sector but has also recently represented clients in sectors such as automotive, life sciences, healthcare, chemicals and environmental. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Digital Turbine, ALS Global, KKR, Gilde Healthcare, Tuscan Holdings, Röhlig Deutschland, Nvidia, Best Western International, Eltel, IFA Group, CCC, GlobalLogic, Black Dragon Capital, Inpixon, BC Partners, Quilvest Capital Partners and Obvious Ventures. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Bank lending 

“Legally good and quick advice, good recommendations for action, advice also on topics outside the legal advice in the transaction process.” 

Hengeler Mueller is a leading German law firm with an international reach. It was established in 1990. The firm’s locations in Germany are in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich, with international offices based in Brussels and London. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is active across most financial and corporate domains and excels in banking, capital markets, regulatory, M&A and private equity. 

The firm’s banking practice is market leading and covers bank-side work and advice to borrowers across the full extent of lending products. It frequently acts for large corporates including several DAX30 companies. 

The firm is active in equity capital markets, where it typically does landmark issuer-side work on a share of the largest transactions in Germany. In debt, the firm is equally strong, with sound expertise possessed in both bonds and structured finance. 

In the financial services regulatory space, the firm advises both institutions and investors, public and private, across the European banking and finance sector. The firm advises international and German banks on regulatory questions, with consolidation of the European banking industry remaining a key focus for the firm. 

In M&A and private equity the firm is extremely strong, regularly seen advising on the lion’s share of the largest transactions in Germany. 

Restructuring has strengthened in past research cycles, gaining a high market share of the country’s complex mandates. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Waterland, BlackFin, Trill Impact, Tencent, Skaylink, HAL Investments, Deutsche Lufthansa, Glencore, Siemens, Deutsche Börse, Schneider Electric, 3i, Apollo, Bain, Blackstone, Oaktree, Rothschild, KKR, Adidas, Robert Bosch, Thyssenkrupp, KION, Covestro, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, ABN AMRO and Goldman Sachs. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“HM transfers well the knowledge about our company, set-up and business to the legal world. HM is always on top of issues and has an almost 24/7 availability.” 

Private equity 

“Fast, complete, accurate, friendly, responsive, good involvement of senior people on complicated topics rather than too-junior staff.” 

The American-British headquartered international law firm Hogan Lovells has operations in 40 countries on all continents. The firm’s German offices are located in the cities of Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg. 

Focusses / specialisms 

Areas of activity for the firm’s banking team include acquisition finance, syndicated loans, corporate finance, debt restructuring, real estate finance, project finance, trade and export finance and promissory notes. The firm’s work for non-bank lenders has intensified in the recent past, whilst it also continues to regularly advise national and international banks on various aspects of banking law, as well as large corporate groups on international cash-pooling arrangements. 

The firm has an able financial services regulatory practice, whose work ranges from advice on all aspects of legal banking supervisory requirements, financial market stabilisation measures and contractual trust agreements to assistance on BaFin licence applications and security regulatory law. 

In capital markets, the firm is especially well recognised in structured finance and securitisation work, where it is among the market leaders for fintech and startup securitisations and retail structured products, but also has credible equity and debt offerings. 

The M&A practice group, bolstered by the firm’s global profile, has a strong market penetration. The firm has improved its share of work for DAX30 companies in recent years and has made significant strides in infrastructure M&A, where the team increasingly works on complex and high-profile matters. 

Key clients 

Key recent clients include AkquiVest, BayernLB, Commerzbank, Bundesrepublik Deutschland -Finanzagentur, Daimler Group, Marex Financial, Voxeljet, Dana Incorporated, OMV, Boston Consulting Group and Gilead Sciences. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Capital markets: Debt 

“Extremely responsive, knowledgeable and competent. They demonstrate high levels of expertise, work efficiently to deadlines and are a pleasure to work with.” 

Capital markets: Structured finance and securitisation 

“Solution-focused and with the ability to solve tricky negotiation issues by providing clear and solid opinions. Quick response times.” 

Berlin and Frankfurt-based Kallan was founded in 2016. The core of the team formerly formed the German offices of the Scandinavian law firm Mannheimer Swartling. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm provides a comprehensive M&A and corporate offering to a client list that ranges from owner-managed “Mittelstand” companies to international groups. It advises on national and cross-border transactions that include acquisitions and divestments of shares and assets, mergers and joint ventures. 

Key clients 

Key recent clients include Hemsö Tyskland Fastigheter, Langley Holdings, DC Druck Chemie and Beijer Ref. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Very good knowledge and advice. Great support and easy to work with. Adaptable to changing situations.” 

“Knowledgeable and experienced in cross-border M&A, strong communicators, pragmatic and balanced.” 

Headquartered in Atlanta, the international law firm King & Spalding has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. In Germany the firm advises clients out of Frankfurt. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm’s German team is active in the banking space. It is part of an integrated global finance group that advises a wide spectrum of clients on the full range of secured and unsecured financing transactions. 

The team has experience in handling complex national and cross-border transactions in the financial services, real estate and funds industry. Its client list features prominent national and international banks, funds, asset managers and institutional investors. 

Key clients 

The firm’s key clients include Deka Bank Deutsche Girozentrale, AEW Invest, Barings Real Estate Advisers, HANSAINVEST Hanseatische Investment, BeOS, Principal Real Estate Europe (fka Internos Global Investors), 2IP Institutional Investment Partners, Universal Investment, BMO Real Estate Partners and Proprium Capital Management (UK).

Founded by a merger in 2012, King & Wood Mallesons is a multinational law firm headquartered in Hong Kong. The firm’s German team advises clients from an office in Frankfurt. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is visible in M&A, private equity and restructuring work in Germany. 

Its M&A team specialises in advising clients on cross-border deals with a specific focus on Sino-German transactions. An area of strength for the team is in transactions related to foreign investment control proceedings in accordance with the German Foreign Investment Act. 

In private equity, the firm focuses on advising on both the buy-side and sell-side of deals in the German and European mid-cap market. The team has a distinct focus on the technology and healthcare industries. 

The restructuring team’s focus on distressed financings and distressed M&A complements well the other practices of private equity, M&A and finance. The team has also recently been engaged in assisting German companies in connection with securing state aid financing. 

Key clients 

Key clients include Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC), Compo Investco/Kingenta, Fawer Automotive Parts, Jinzhou Halla Electrical Equipment/Wonder Auto Group, Ninestar Corporation, BIP Capital Partners, Silver Investment Partners, LEA Partners and LANDWEHR Group. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Most practical and to the point, they have impressive market knowledge.” 

“Pragmatic, impressive market knowledge, to the point, easy to work with.” 

The multinational law firm Latham & Watkins is among the largest and most profitable in the world. It was established in 1934 in Los Angeles. In Germany, the firm serves clients from the country’s major commercial hubs–Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm’s financial and corporate coverage is broad, with banking, capital markets, private equity and restructuring being among the firm’s strengths. 

Working in close cooperation with the firm’s capital markets and restructuring teams, the banking practice is especially strong in corporate finance work. The team is among the market’s best and frequently assists both borrowers and lenders on complex and impactful transactions. 

Within capital markets the firm is particularly well recognised in equity capital markets, where it is often seen serving clients on IPOs across the German and other European stock exchanges. The firm is also active in the debt capital markets domain, where it has a strong foothold in the European and German market for high-yield bond offerings. 

An area of strength for the firm in the financial services regulatory domain is advising global financial institutions on complex issues, such as the provision of support in relation to supervisory measures of the ECB. 

In M&A, the firm has a focus on technology and healthcare, where it has completed a plethora of landmark transactions recently, but also advises clients on complex deals in other industries such as financial services, manufacturing and infrastructure. 

The firm has been consistently competitive in the private equity space, where it advises on a share of the market’s landmark transactions, but also regularly completes a high volume of mid-market deals. 

In restructuring, the firm’s offering is also impressive, with the firm often advising on some of the most challenging restructurings, insolvencies and distressed transactions in Germany. 

Key clients 

The firm’s key clients include Adesso, Allgeier, Atai Life Sciences, Atotech,Berenberg,Air Berlin, Barings, Commerzbank, 3i Group, Ardian, Banco Santander, BlackRock, BNP Paribas, Allianz Capital Partners, Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking, Brookfield, Temasek, Carlyle Group, Siemens Healthineers, JP Morgan, Citi and Deutsche Bank. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Restructuring 

“What I appreciate is the very business-oriented, progressive and holistic approach of the Latham restructuring team in Germany. With three partners and about 15 team members, there is no other restructuring team in the German market with such fire power.” 

“Very forward thinking, proactive and full service oriented.” 

Leo Schmidt-Hollburg Witte & Frank is a German boutique law firm with a narrow focus on M&A and intellectual property/information technology work. The firm is located in Hamburg and Frankfurt. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm advises on a wide spectrum of corporate and M&A transactions such as acquisitions, investments and investment rounds. It is seen on both the buy-side and sell-side and has distinct strengths in the transportation, food and beverages, technology, media, software, finance, professional services and real estate sectors. 

Key clients 

Key recent clients for the firm include Zertus, DSV Group, FFG Finanzcheck Finanzportale, Nordic Alpha Partners, Oyster Bay Venture Capital, Vivum, FMS Friedrich Meyer’s Sohn and COR Therapeutikum WestFehmarn. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Very knowledgeable, target-focused and pragmatic.” 

Private equity 

“Very clear, structured and innovative.” 

The large international law firm Mayer Brown boasts a global presence with office locations across the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In Germany the firm fields large legal teams located in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is active across several financial and corporate areas. 

In banking, it is broadly active in loan work and is often seen on real estate finance, acquisition finance, syndicated corporate loans and asset-backed finance transactions. 

The firm’s financial services regulatory team is highly capable. It regularly advises leading banks on various aspects of European and German banking supervisory law. A strong focus for the practice relates to the regulation of securities trading, financial market infrastructure and the regulation and clearing of derivatives. 

The firm is visible in capital markets–both in debt and structured finance on the side of both issuers and banks. 

In M&A, the firm has broad experience in venture capital, where its client base ranges from founders to family offices and venture capital funds. 

In the private equity space, the firm advises clients on all product groups, including infrastructure assets. 

The firm’s restructuring team advises clients on financial restructurings of loan financings, real estate and corporate restructuring, distressed M&A and defence against rescission actions. 

Key clients 

Key clients for the firm include Lear Corporation, Volpi Capital, DBAG, Borromin Capital, Triton Partners, Eurazeo, Invision Capital, Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank, Sixth Street Partners, AaviGen, TUI, Goodyear Group, Mitsubishi Corporation, DekaBank, LBBW, UniCredit and Bank Julius Bär. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Banking and finance 

“Good (cross-jurisdictional/product) network, responsiveness, industry focus, competitive prices, reliable business relationship.” 

Capital markets: Debt 

“Professionalism of the entire team, dedication and commitment for the client, in-depth expertise, taking the client's perspective.” 

Milbank is an international law firm headquartered in New York. With roots tracing back to 1866, the firm has expanded to 12 office locations around the world. The firm’s German presence dates back to 2001 when it opened its Frankfurt office, followed by a Munich office two years later. 

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has an active and able banking and finance practice which advises financial institutions, private equity funds, underwriters and corporate clients. Its work spans the full range of financing transactions, with particular strengths possessed in cross-border Term Loan B financings, where the firm is among the market’s leaders. 

The firm’s German capital markets practice advises issuers, management and shareholders, as well as syndicate banks and investors, whilst working in collaboration with the firm’s New York and London offices. 

Its M&A team represents public and private companies and financial sponsors and investors on a broad range of transactions and corporate reorganisations. 

Private equity is a key focus area for the firm in Germany. Fully integrated with the firm’s international offices, the team advises large- and mid-market investors, and often works on complex transactions. 

Working with other practice areas and offices, the firm’s restructuring team provides complex solutions on cross-border mandates. It advises on both the creditor and borrower side. 

Key clients 

The firm’s key clients list includes such names as Advent International, Allianz X, Ardian, Axel Springer, EQT, CVC Capital Partners, Deutsche Beteiligungs, Carlyle Group, Blackstone Group, General Atlantic, Auto1 Group, Cerberus, Pemberton, Signal Capital Partners, Aviva and ProSiebenSat.1. 

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A 

“Very skilled lawyers, but I guess what they are doing better than competitors is the service approach. Their advice is always on time, always thought through.” 

Restructuring 

“Service oriented, out-of-the-box thinking, high technical knowledge.” 

The Munich headquartered, pan-European law firm Noerr was formed in 1950. The firm has 15 locations across Europe and the US, including German offices in Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg. 

Focusses / specialisms 

In banking, the firm is especially strong in advising on financing work for German “Mittelstand” businesses, as well as large real estate transactions. The firm has recently bolstered its relationships on both the lender and borrower side, which enables it to work on higher volume and more challenging transactions. 

The firm’s capital markets practice, spread across several of the firm’s offices in Germany, covers both the classic equity and debt transactions, as well as all aspects of public takeovers, reorganisations of listed companies, squeeze-outs and de-listings. The practice also provides financial markets regulatory advice to underwriters, issuers and selling shareholders relating to capital markets transactions. 

In M&A, the firm is known for its cross-border work and is seen acting as lead counsel on international acquisitions and investments. The firm also advises on joint ventures and domestic and international restructuring mandates. 

Key clients 

The firm’s recent client list features such names as Apollo, Aviva, Capital 4, Carlyle, Cerberus, Cellnex Telecom, Deutsche Finanzagentur, Flughafen (Airport) Berlin Brandenburg, Kaufland Stiftung & Co, Rocket Internet, Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, IGN, Postbank, UniCredit, Fresenius Medical Care and HelloFresh.