Well integrated into its global private capital and corporate practices, the private equity offering from A&O Shearman‘s offices in Germany has long-standing relationships with a number of key sector players, and has a track record in both mid-cap and large-cap deals. Astrid Krüger oversees the department and has a focus on transactions, with both German and international investors among her clients. Hendrik Röhricht and Roman Kasten both have experience assisting through the full life-cycle of PE deals, and Sebastian Remberg is the key name for clients in the healthcare and life sciences spaces.

ARQIS‘ advice to PE funds has a focus on investments in the healthcare industry, and the firm has increased its client base among companies and investors into the IT and renewable energy spaces. Jörn-Christian Schulze leads the group and is an accomplished transactions lawyer with particular strength in private equity matters. Mauritz von Einem is a capital markets lawyer with broad transactional expertise, and Thomas Chwalek is an additional private equity partner to note.

In January 2025, Ashurst LLP hired Florian Hirschmann from Goodwin to lead its private equity practice group. He joined a department well versed in assisting debt funds and alternative lenders, and with strength in the tech sector. Infrastructure, renewables, real estate, automotives, pharma, and healthcare are additional focuses. Marina Arntzen has a corporate law background and ESG expertise, and Stefan Bruder is a transactional lawyer frequently active on private equity deals.

Clifford Chance stands out in the mid-cap market for PE transactions and acts for major private equity houses, institutional investors and their portfolio shareholders. The technology, healthcare and financial services sectors are all regular features of the team’s slate of deals, and acquisitions, strategic cooperation, and GP-led secondaries are among its capabilities. Jörg Rhiel leads the department and is a specialist in exits as well as being a go-to contact for healthcare sector clients. Anselm Raddatz is a key contact for cross-border transactions and regularly supports PE and infrastructure funds. Volkmar Bruckner is well versed in representing financial and strategic investors, as well as management teams, while the more junior trio of Samuel Frommelt, Moritz Petersen, and Mark Aschenbrenner all regularly feature in PE deals.

CMS is a reliable advisor for acquisitions, exits, and buy-and-build strategies, particularly in the mid-cap segment. It has an international client base mirroring its international office offering, regularly acting for German, European and American PE houses and funds. Jessica Mohaupt-Schneider oversees transactions with M&A partner Igor Stenzel. Peter Polke is a cross-border transactions expert, and Markus Herz has strength in deals spanning the software, digital infrastructure, industrial services, healthcare and defence sectors. Hendrik Hirsch has broad transactions experience, on both acquisitions and disposals.

Dechert LLP fields a dedicated PE sponsor practice that has broad sector coverage, with recent activity in technology, life sciences, digital media, health, and e-commerce, as well as financial services and real estate. Clients undertaking cross-border transactions benefit from access to the firm’s international network. Practice head Federico Pappalardo is well versed in advice to financial investors, private equity companies and family offices on all stages of financing and acquisition transactions. Giovanni Russo and Dominik Stühler are additional transactions experts to note, and both Kai Terstiege and Carina Klaes-Staudt are regular counsel in PE deals.

Private equity transactions at Dentons in Germany have a focus on the mid-cap segment, and the practice group assists with the full investment value chain, including buy-outs, fund structuring and distressed transactions for investors. The firm leverages its global presence for cross-border transactions, and the German team is particularly collaborative with its London, Paris and US counterparts. Volker Junghanns leads the team and his strengths cover the TMT and renewables sectors. Robert Bastian departed to Squire Patton Boggs in September 2025.

Flick Gocke Schaumburg acts for financial investors and their portfolio companies on mid-cap transactions and is also equipped to assist with investments and management participations. Mathias Bülow is the key contact for both private equity and venture capital investors active in sectors from logistics and automotive to healthcare.

Gleiss Lutz is a reliable choice for Germany-related PE deals across the entire investment lifecycle, from fundraising and acquisitions to exits and portfolio management. Large-cap and mid-cap transactions are covered, and the team advises on add-ons, exits and buy-outs. PE-related acquisition financing, management participations and restructuring measures are also strengths, and its client base spans portfolio companies and financial investors. The team is jointly led by Jan Balssen, who handles both sell and buy-side mandates, as well as joint ventures and minority investments; and Christian Cascante, a specialist in public takeovers, PE transactions and cross-border matters. Vanessa Rendtorff is a younger partner to note, and Stephanie Dausinger provides further support to the practice heads.

Across all phases of the PE life cycle, and for cross-border matters, Greenberg Traurig Germany remains a solid choice in the mid-cap range. The firm’s healthcare and life sciences prowess was bolstered by the February 2025 establishment of a Munich office, the firm’s second in Germany. Stephan Rau is the key corporate and M&A contact there, while the Berlin office houses practice head Nicolai Lagoni, who has particular expertise with pharmaceutical, life sciences, tech, real estate and automotive clients. Co-heads of the corporate group, Peter Schorling and Henrik Armah are additional senior contacts, while Oliver Markmann acts for a diverse range of PE and growth equity clients.

International investors can rely on the counsel of Hengeler Mueller, whose PE team has fostered good relationships with German medium-sized companies over the years. Both buy and sell-side transactions regularly feature in the team’s workload, and its expertise spans sales and acquisitions, including public takeovers, exits and public-to-private transactions. Infrastructure and energy, healthcare, and tech are among the sector strengths of the team and core sources of clients. Elisabeth Kreuzer is experienced in auction procedures, co-investments and carve-outs. January 2025 partner appointment Ingo Berner is an additional name to note. Hans-Jörg Ziegenhain retired in August 2025.

Heuking is called upon by German and North American private equity funds alike, advising them on the acquisitions and realisations of target companies, and is also increasingly active for French investors looking to enter the German market. Ariane Neubauer is particularly well versed in venture capital investments as part of her broader private equity practice; she leads the practice alongside Peter Christian Schmidt, who oversees acquisitions and divestments on behalf of his clients.

Hogan Lovells International LLP made moves to further its private equity offering in January 2025 with the hire of an eight-lawyer team from Ernst & Young, led by Jan Philipp Feigen and Maximilian Menges. They have moved to the firm’s Hamburg office, while in Frankfurt, Jörg Herwig is a senior contact with extensive experience advising private equity and infrastructure funds. Christoph Naumann is another transactions specialist to note, along with Maximilian Broermann. David Huthmacher left the firm in January 2025 for Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Large-cap transactions are the focus of Kirkland & Ellis International LLP‘s private equity offering and the firm is a trusted advisor to leading financial investors. The firm has broadened its horizons by opening a Frankfurt office in August 2024, with Tobias Larisch and Sebastian Pitz, who joined from Latham & Watkins LLP and White & Case LLP respectively, heading the new location. They complement the Munich-based team that was already firmly ingrained at the top of the market. Key contacts there include Benjamin Leyendecker, who acts for major US financial investors, mid-cap funds, and sovereign wealth funds on cross-border transactions; and Philip Goj, who has experience in a broad range of large-cap deals. Christoph Jerger is another contact to note, forging a strong practice in corporate transactions. Florian Sippel departed for Freshfields in January 2026, while Sebastian Heim joined the firm in March of the same year from Milbank.

Recommended for cross-border transactions, Latham & Watkins LLP‘s lawyers in Germany are a key component of the firm’s global offering to PE clients. Acquisitions, portfolio investments, majority participations and exits are all within the wheelhouse of the group, and its client base has notably strong representation from the tech, energy, healthcare, and life sciences sectors. Burc Hesse heads the practice and is particularly experienced in leveraged buy-outs. Oliver Felsenstein is a trusted counsel to major PE investors on national and cross-border transactions, while Rainer Traugott acts at the interface between private equity and corporate law. Stephan Hufnagel draws on his extensive experience in advising German and international companies, private equity sponsors, and infrastructure investors.

Linklaters‘ Frankfurt office is an integral part of the firm’s international PE team, operating in close collaboration with its London counterparts, assisting clients from regulated sectors, including energy, healthcare and digital infrastructure, on mid- and large-cap PE transactions. Investments, leveraged finance transactions as well as related tax issues and exits are all within the wheelhouse of the group, which is led by Ralph Drebes. He is experienced in providing comprehensive support to PE, infrastructure and financial investors in M&A transactions. Andreas Müller advises financial and private equity investors, corporates and sponsor-backed clients, while private equity houses and financial sponsor clients can rely on Carl Sanders‘ counsel. From the pool below partner level, Julia Rupp receives praise from clients.

When requiring advice on mid-cap deals, financial and strategic investors, as well as portfolio companies, look to Mayer Brown LLP for advice on transactions across various industries. Practice head Jan Streer is a specialist in IT, life sciences and consumer goods, and has several German PE repeat clients. Fabio Borggreve draws on longstanding experience in cross-border PE transactions related to the industrial products, aviation and technology sectors, and Octávio de Sousa, who joined from Reed Smith LLP in June 2025, has broad expertise in transactional work.

Milbank‘s German offices remain ports of call for clients in mid and large-cap transactions, wherein exits, as well as the acquisition and expansion of portfolio companies, are handled. Some of the most prestigious private equity companies, sponsors and investment shareholders feature as clients, and the firm leverages its international spread in assisting with cross-border transactions, with London, Hong Kong and the US being frequent partners. Steffen Oppenländer is an additional key contact for private equity funds as well as national and international corporations, and Norbert Rieger advises on public takeovers, public-to-private transactions, and on tax matters in the context of PE mandates. Sebastian Heim left the firm in March 2026 to join Kirkland & Ellis International LLP.

As part of its expanding transactional offering, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP‘s PE team added Sebastian Dexheimer from Milbank in August 2024. The group continues to focus on the healthcare, energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors, and is overseen by the firm’s global corporate and M&A and PE head, Florian Harder. Peter Leube leads a considerable share of PE deals for the practice, and Marianne Nawroth is an equally frequent lead contact for clients in this area. Ulrich Korth and Chloé Lignier are among the additional contacts to note.

Active in both the mid and large-cap segments, Noerr makes for a strong choice of counsel in the structuring of investments, buy-outs, exits and strategic co-operations. Funds, their portfolio companies, and notable PE houses are all among the team’s client list. Among the key contacts for such clients are Christoph Thiermann, regular lead advisor to private equity funds as well as companies and management teams; M&A expert Natalie Daghles; experienced PE and VC advisor Felix Blobel; and transactions lawyer Dominik Rompza. Elevated to the partnership in January 2025, Daniel Prexler is one of the firm’s up-and-coming names in this field.

Changes to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP‘s team have seen it focus on the technology sector after the departures of Oliver Duys, Wilhelm Nolting-Hauff , and Nikita Tkatchenko  to Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP in February 2025. Christoph Brenner takes sole leadership of the practice group and is an experienced private equity lawyer with international and domestic sponsors among his clients. Sven Greulich is a contact to note for tech sector matters, while Damien Simonot is a corporate lawyer with experience assisting with PE deals. December 2025 saw the team bolstered by the arrival of Norton Rose Fulbright‘s Michael Prüßner, augmenting the team’s cross-border transactional capabilities.

Paul Hastings LLP is counsel of choice to a number of private equity, infrastructure and growth capital investors on varied mid-cap deals and has a track record in cross-border transactions. Christopher Wolff heads the practice group alongside M&A leader Nikolaos Paschos. Distressed M&A is a particular strength for Frederik Mühl, while Gerd Hegele‘s practice has a specific focus on infrastructure investments and carve-outs.

POELLATH is one of the standout destinations in the market for fund formation advice, equipped to provide the full suite of advice on fund structuring, including tax and regulatory issues, as well as assisting with fund participation. On the transactional side, the practice has a notable presence in the mid-cap market, with clients including PE houses, independent investment companies and target companies in a variety of sectors. The group is co-led by Jens Hörmann and Tim Kaufhold, and Benedikt Hohaus assists private equity funds and managers with PE, tax, and corporate law. Raised to the partnership in January 2025, Verena Stenzel has a focus on PE deals.

As part of its broad transactional offering, Sidley Austin LLP assists PE sponsors, international investors and portfolio companies with their deals, focusing primarily on the mid-cap segment. From financial services, real estate, and insurance, to life sciences, healthcare, and technology, the team has considerable experience in a number of the German market’s key sectors. Christian Zuleger leads the practice group, and Volker Kullmann is an another significant figure at the Munich office, where Björn Holland is managing partner and also has involvement in private equity deals. Nicole Janssen is an additional contact to note, forging a strong and broad transactions practice.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP fields an offering in private equity transactions that has notable breadth in sectorial coverage and maintains a position at large and mid-cap level. Steady growth from within and without in recent years has been overseen by practice head Jan Bauer, who has vast experience in complex transactions and joint ventures in the private equity space. US corporations and investors are among the client base and cross-border deals are a strength; Matthias Schudlo is forging new connections for the PE team in the domestic market. Rüdiger Schmidt-Bendun frequently takes charge of complex sell-side auction processes, often involving intricate seller reinvestment structures. The team’s deep bench includes Alexander Hoeffler, who is focused on various PE matters.

Taylor Wessing‘s team assists with every legal and commercial aspect of a transaction, from fund formation and portfolio financing, to property structuring and management incentives. Advice on exits is a core pillar of the offering, and the team has also advised on buy-and-build strategies for a number of clients. The practice is jointly led by Maria Weiers, who advises shareholders, investors and companies on all aspects of corporate law; and Michael Stein, a specialist transactions lawyer with expertise in the healthcare, life sciences and technology sectors. Sven Schweneke has several private equity funds and their portfolio companies as clients, and Peter Hellich is another transaction expert with significant involvement in PE deals.

High-profile private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, and pension funds, along with family offices and other equity investors all look to Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, whose team is equipped to cover the full range of PE deals. Advisors on both mid and large-cap transactions, the group is led by Gerhard Schmidt, who is best known for his work in buy-outs and distressed situations. Christian Tappeiner specialises in tech sector deals, while healthcare, infrastructure, tech and e-commerce are all central areas in Barbara Jagersberger‘s PE practice. M&A partner Manuel-Peter Fringer is an additional key name, active on a number of PE transactions.

White & Case LLP‘s German offices are well regarded by private equity portfolio companies across the range of transactions, being well versed in both large and mid-cap deals. The wider firm’s international network, and the interconnectivity of its adjacent departments, including corporate and M&A, tax, employment law, IP, tech, and finance, are advantages for the client base, which includes investors, portfolio companies and technology and healthcare sector players. Key figures in the team include Stefan Koch, a regular advisor to major PE firms on domestic and cross-border matters, and tech transaction expert Jan Ole Eichstädt. Albrecht Schaefer, Tomislav Vrabec, and Eojin Lie are additional lawyers involved in PE work.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP made moves to bolster its offering for private equity transactions, hiring David Huthmacher from Hogan Lovells International LLP in February 2025. He joins a team that has in recent years expanded its client portfolio of mid and large-cap sponsors. The group is jointly led by Georg Linde, a go-to lawyer for large-cap funds and expert across a range of transactional matters, and Kamyar Abrar, who is also very well versed in PE deals. Nils Röver has expertise spanning distressed M&A and growth investments, and at a more junior level, Jacob Ahme stands out from a deep pool of talent.