Hengeler Mueller operates primarily on the corporate side and offers clients extensive expertise, including capital increases and IPOs. In addition, the group acts for banking consortia in dual-track procedures and provides comprehensive advice on cross-border transactions. Due to its broad capital market practice, the team is also able to cover corporate- as well as DCM-related issues, such as debt-to-equity swap structures. Key contacts include Reinhold Ernst (IPOs, public takeovers, restructuring) and Alexander Rang (IPOs, capital increases, share placements).

Latham & Watkins LLP covers the full range of ECM matters based on an integrated corporate finance approach that includes transactions in relation to DCM, restructuring as well as banking and finance. The group has particular expertise in advising on alternative forms of equity financing and assisting German issuers with IPOs in the US. Practice head Oliver Seiler is experienced in IPOs, block trades and capital increases. International public takeovers, carve-outs and transactions represent David Rath's mainstays. Associate Camilla Kehler-Weiß is another key contact and covers the ECM area comprehensively.

Linklaters‘ capital markets practice has continued to be involved in the largest transactions of recent times; symbolic of this was its advice to Porsche and Volkswagen on the IPO of Porsche AG. In addition to IPOs, the group also assists with spin-offs, capital increases and block trades, among other matters, and acts on both the bank and issuer side. Practice head Marco Carbonare particularly impresses in international transactions, for instance in relation to Scandinavia, Austria and the US, and is also experienced in corporate and M&A. Alexander Schlee‘s mainstays include IPOs and subscription rights capital increases.

Thanks to its integrated approach, Clifford Chance seamlessly advises clients on matters touching on both ECM and DCM and further impresses with close cooperation with its private equity practice. The team acts for both issuers and underwriters across various transactions, such as dual track IPOs, SPACs and capital increases as well as private placements and hybrid bonds. George Hacket has special knowledge of US securities law, which he often applies in the context of international securities transactions, and is an ECM key contact; as is Axel Wittmann, whose range of experience includes IPOs, convertible bonds and compliance issues.

Cross-border transactions, especially those with a US connection, represent a central pillar of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's capital markets practice, which therefore often cooperates with its US offices, but also houses separate US securities law expertise in Frankfurt. In addition to classic IPOs and secondary placements, the German team's everyday business also includes SPACs and dual track financing. Practice head Stephan Hutter handles capital markets as well as compliance- and M&A-related issues. Counsels Lukas Greilich and Caspar Schmelzer both have extensive ECM expertise and therefore regularly assist with IPOs and capital increases.

Recently, A&O Shearman primarily focused on rights issues, convertible bonds and capital increases, and continues to act for both issuers and banks. Knut Sauer leads the team and demonstrates particular expertise in matters touching on both ECM and corporate, while head of the German US corporate finance practice Marc Plepelits places an emphasis on US-related transactions, while his geographical focus also includes the DACH region.

CMS assists issuers and supporting banks with various capital market transactions, including IPOs, capital increases, takeovers and stock dividends, complemented by expertise in segment changes and capital markets compliance. Due to its strengths in the ​​renewable energy sector, the group also advises on ESG-related transactions and issues. Andreas Zanner is experienced not only in capital markets but also in corporate and takeover law; he jointly heads the practice with Philipp Melzer, whose expertise spans both DCM and ECM.

Gleiss Lutz predominantly focuses on advising issuers in the ECM area, while its client portfolio also includes medium-sized companies as well as large international corporations. The group has expertise in capital increases, stock dividends, IPOs as well as M&A and restructuring issues and is also well equipped to assist with cross-border transactions thanks to its close cooperation with international law firms and the London office, which opened in 2022. Practice head Stephan Aubel possesses comprehensive capital markets and corporate expertise, while Hoimar von Ditfurth (capital markets and corporate law) retired in 2023.

Hogan Lovells International LLP impresses with its close cooperation between capital markets and corporate practices and also has particular expertise in ​​scrip dividend transactions. Acting on both the bank and issuer side, the team covers matters such as capital increases and IPOs and assists clients with the implementation of stock dividends. Practice head Michael Schlitt is experienced across numerous facets of capital markets law, including block trade transactions and hybrid bonds.

In addition to IPOs, Noerr's capital markets expertise also includes capital increases and subscription rights issues; the practice recently saw an increase in instructions on the banking side, but nonetheless still has numerous companies among its clients. Holger Alfes is experienced in ECM as well as in M&A and financing transactions and jointly leads the practice with Julian Schulze De la Cruz, who advises shareholders, banks and listed companies. Philip Schmoll is another key contact, particularly for corporate- and compliance-related matters.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on both sides of the capital market and has expertise in IPOs and capital increases as well as in stock corporation law and public M&A-related matters. The practice acts for issuers and banks in ongoing corporate and securities law issues and can also seamlessly handle cross-border matters involving its offices in London and the US. Practice heads Frank Regelin and Benedikt Gillessen both have extensive experience in stock corporation and capital markets law.

White & Case LLP covers the entire ECM spectrum and can draw on additional expertise in related areas such as DCM and restructuring if necessary. The firm's wide global network also enables it to seamlessly advise on cross-border transactions, even though its German teams handle transactions in accordance with English and US law as well; key contacts for US-related matters include Rebecca Emory and Gernot Wagner, both of whom are admitted in New York and comprehensively assist with ECM and DCM matters, including high yield bonds.

Under the leadership of Matthias von Oppen, who excels in corporate and capital markets law as well as in China-related matters, Ashurst LLP advises shareholders, issuers and banks on all domestic and cross-border transactions. Its legal expertise is complemented with competencies in the real estate, technology, digital economy and renewable energy sectors.

In close cooperation with its US teams, DLA Piper covers a wide range of ECM matters and is therefore a popular address for both German and international clients. Roland Maaß is a key contact and advises on IPOs, capital increases and SPACs, among other matters. Kerstin Schnabel complements this with expertise in capital market compliance.

Heuking primarily focuses on assisting medium-sized companies with various capital market transactions, including routine capital increases and IPOs. Mirko Sickinger (corporate law, IPOs, compliance) and Anne de Boer (IPOs, financing) jointly head the practice.

Based on its combined capital market and corporate skills, Taylor Wessing assists clients across a broad ECM spectrum, which includes ongoing advice on stock corporation law as well as the preparation of IPOs. This also mirrors practice head Marc-Oliver Kurth's expertise, which includes public takeovers, bond issues and capital increases.