A&O Shearman‘s team is led by Olaf Meisen and comprehensively advises on large-volume transaction with frequent cross-border ties; the expertise covers all aspects of real estate financing, such as gap financing, mezzanine financing, preferred equity financing and distressed investments. Traditionally, the practice assists on the lender side, including banks as well as German and international asset and investment managers, insurance companies and funds. Stefan Kuhm is well versed in financing instruments such as mortgage loans and also covers structured financing and restructuring; the latter saw a recent increase in support. Regulatory capacities pertaining to real estate funds and ESG-related matters were strengthened with the addition of Dorothee Atwell from Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB in May 2023.

Clifford Chance is instructed by both lenders and borrowers, which benefit from the close cooperation with the real estate team as well as capacities at the intersections with banking, capital markets and tax law. The team's mainstays include cross-border financing, structured finance transactions, which are often handled by Beda Wortmann and practice head Tobias Schulten, as well as refinancing, bonds and securitisations and, increasingly, alternative financing.

Greenberg Traurig Germany comprehensively advises on acquisition and development financing as well as financial restructuring, covering all real estate sectors, including office, retail and industrial. The team is instructed by both borrowers and lenders, which the team assists with bond agreements, refinancing, mezzanine structures and overall loan financing and also benefit from the firm's international network in cross-border transactions. Both Anika Mitzkait and practice head Claudia Hard boast similar competencies; Hard also has expertise in bond financing and distressed investments, while Mitzkait is well versed in real estate law.

Ashurst LLP focuses on advising banks, debt funds and private equity houses on mezzanine financing structures, practice head Filip Kurkowski regularly takes the lead here; his team also comprehensively covers the entire spectrum of traditional financing instruments, including mortgage financing, as well as structured financing, such as senior structures and bonds. The latter areas are among the competencies of Derk Opitz, who has additional expertise in interfacing project financing matters; this expertise was recently increasingly called upon in connection with project developments. The practice covers all asset classes, including office, residential and commercial properties.

CMS advises debt funds, insurance companies, real estate funds and banks on syndicated loan agreements, mezzanine capital, portfolio financing and in connection with project developments, including interfacing tax law matters. Advising on real estate financing in the project development context is a particular strength of the team. Recently, ESG topics such as key performance indicators (KPIs) and advice on financing restructuring matters have also played an increasingly important role. André Frischemeier is a key contact for the latter, he jointly heads the team with Kerstin Block (acquisition, project and asset financing).

Noerr focuses on acquisition financing in connection with ESG-related performance indicators and is regularly instructed by banks, sponsors and other financial institutions. Most recently, the team advised on senior, mezzanine and bridge financing as well as refinancing and joint ventures in the real estate sector, frequently in connection with the construction of logistics centers, although the team covers various asset classes. Practice head Andreas Naujoks routinely assists with national and international financing transactions and has experience in corporate financing and restructuring. Counsel Doreen Pape (real estate and acquisition financing, corporate finance) is another key contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright's real estate finance team is integrated into the real estate practice led by Maren Stölting and thus comprehensively advises both lenders and borrowers on financing-related issues, such as real estate, tax and environmental law; clients also benefit from the frequent cross-location cooperation thanks to the international network. Andrea Spellerberg comprehensively covers credit financing matters, while Stefan Schramm is well versed in structured financing.

Taylor Wessing's team cooperates closely with the firm's other practices, including real estate, tax and investment law, and assists both lenders and borrowers with acquisition financing and refinancing. The practice is led by Clemens Niedner (acquisition financing and restructuring) and also advises on project developments across all asset classes; this is complemented by expertise in cross-border matters. Salary partner Jennifer Maiworm is another key contact and comprehensively advises on national and international banking and finance law.

White & Case LLP 's real estate finance team routinely cooperates with other locations and advises banks and financial institutions as well as real estate investors on cross-border financing; advising at the interface with capital markets law is a core strength. Key contacts include Thomas Flatten (real estate, acquisition and project financing), leveraged finance transactions and structured finance transaction expert Andreas Lischka and Sébastien Seele, who is experienced in mortgage-secured real estate loans, loan and bond financing as well as structured financing.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner‘s real estate finance practice significantly increased its visibility in the real estate financing market since the arrival of Frank Schwem (real estate acquisition financing and construction project financing), Torsten Pokropp (real estate acquisitions) and ESG expert Martin Wilmsen from DLA Piper in 2022. The client roster includes banks, pension funds, insurance companies and debt funds, which the team advises on national and cross-border financing transactions, such as acquisition financing across all asset classes and financing in the project development context.

Gleiss Lutz's finance team is integrated into the firm's wider real estate transaction team and thus covers interfacing corporate real estate, real estate finance and real estate tax matters; among the client roster are real estate investors and funds. Burkhard Jäkel (project and real estate financing) and Helge Kortz (banking, finance and capital markets law) frequently take the lead.

GSK Stockmann advises both banks and investors on acquisition and project development financing; the team is experienced in the asset classes commercial and hotel as well as nursing home properties. Core competencies include the advice on mezzanine structures and joint venture agreements as well as internal banking requirements. Practice head Alma Franke is well versed in the financing of special properties such as hotels and shopping centers; Stefan Koser complements this with expertise in financing restructuring.

Hogan Lovells International LLP's real estate financing team is integrated into the firm's wider corporate & finance practice, thus covering various interfaces, including topics such as green finance and restructuring. The practice is jointly led by Katlen Blocker (banking and financial law), Dirk Debald (real estate transactions and financing) as well as Carla Luh (project financing) and advises banks, investment companies and debt funds on acquisition financing and refinancing, including mezzanine and senior financing as well as project development financing.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP advises on senior, mezzanine and alternative debt capital structures and also has expertise in project development financing and leasehold transactions. Practice head Oliver Lieth and his team primarily advise borrowers, but are also instructed by lenders pertaining to financing across all asset classes, including residential and commercial.