A&O Shearman primarily advises national and international investors with a cross-practice and cross-border approach on private equity transactions, buy-outs, platform investments and add-ons in the large and mid-cap sector, including interfacing financing and transaction tax law issues. The team offers industry expertise in the chemicals, technology, financial services and healthcare sectors. Hamburg-based practice head Nils Koffka routinely supports PE and M&A transactions and also acts as global co-head private equity; accordingly, his main focus is on cross-border mandates.

ARQIS focuses on transactions in the mid-cap segment, including the support in financing rounds, platform deals, cross-border transactions and fund structuring. Practice head Jörn-Christian Schulze is experienced in corporate law, private equity and M&A and is regularly instructed by investors and funds, which he and the team also support in IP, tax law, employment law and data protection matters thanks to the cross-practice approach. Thomas Chwalek (in addition to PE also corporate law, M&A, VC, capital markets and insurance law) was appointed to partner in January 2023.

Ashurst LLP follows a full-service approach and regularly supports clients from the infrastructure, renewable energy, healthcare and technology sectors in mid-cap transactions as well as various related topics such as company formations, financing and strategic partnerships, as well as in add-on acquisitions and exits. Benedikt von Schorlemer (PE and M&A) leads the practice.

NEON is well versed in cross-border private equity transactions thanks to the close cooperation with a best friends network. The team focuses on the mid-cap segment, where PE houses, funds and family offices are advised on platform investments, add-ons, acquisition financing and exits. Exit advice to VC-financed companies is a core focus of Till Wansleben, who was appointed to partner in January 2023. Practice head Jan-Peter Heyer covers PE as well as M&A, corporate and VC mandates and is experienced in the pharmaceuticals sector.

Clifford Chance supports national and cross-border mid- and large-cap transactions and has strong relationships with large and mid-cap PE houses. The practice’s expertise is primarily utilised in the infrastructure and healthcare sectors, whereas the industry expertise also extends to the finance and technology sectors. The regulated industries are a core focus of practice head Anselm Raddatz, who also supports private equity investments. The transaction support is complemented with the advice on related issues from the ECM, DCM, restructuring, sanctions and compliance segments, which are handled in cooperation with the experts from the respective practice areas. Sonya Pauls is well versed in fund structuring. Frederik Mühl (PE and infrastructure M&A) joined Paul Hastings LLP in June 2023.

CMS assists with large and especially mid-cap transactions, including acquisitions, exits and buy & build strategies, and also advises on interfacing tax law matters. Among the client roster are investors and companies from the technology, healthcare and energy sectors. Thanks to the cooperation with the PE team at the London location, cross-border matters are another key strength. Co-head Igor Stenzel acts from Berlin and jointly heads the team with Munich-based Jessica Mohaupt-Schneider. Florian Plagemann (M&A and start-up financing) made partner at the Frankfurt location in January 2023. In early 2024, Markus Herz and Peter Polke joined from King & Wood Mallesons; Herz previously led the corporate/private equity practice there.

Dentons‘ PE team acts from four German locations and focuses on supporting buy-out transactions. Thanks to the expertise in funds, distressed M&A and infrastructure transactions as well as employment, tax, banking and antitrust law, the team advises on the entire private equity value chain. The practice primarily assists with mid-cap transactions and is jointly led by Volker Junghanns and Robert Bastian. Cross-border matters are frequently handled in cooperation with the locations in London, Amsterdam and the US.

With a clear focus on the IT sector and technology-driven industries such as life sciences, gaming, green energy and logistics, DLA Piper primarily advises investors and their portfolio companies on mid-cap transactions, including buy-outs, M&A, public takeovers and sale-and-lease-back transactions. In May 2023, Andreas Füchsel took over practice management from Nils Krause (PE, M&A and VC), who remains part of the team. The partner roster was strengthened with the addition of Lars Jessen (restructuring, joint ventures and management participations) from Paul Hastings LLP in September 2022 as well as the appointment of Moritz von Hesberg, who is regularly instructed by portfolio companies of PE and VC funds, in May 2023.

Flick Gocke Schaumburg‘s team primarily acts across the mid-cap segment and offers comprehensive transaction support, including related corporate and tax law aspects. Key contacts Martin Oltmanns , Mathias Bülow and Alexander Goertz as well as Matthias Heusel, who joined from SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz in July 2022, are additionally well versed in interfacing capital markets law matters.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP regularly cooperates with the locations in London, Paris and the US on cross-border matters and supports transactions in the large and mid-cap segment; Dirk Oberbracht is a key contact here. This is complemented by expertise in growth investments, particularly in the context of investments made by US clients in the technology sector. Jan Schubert frequently advises financial and strategic investors on PE and M&A transactions and is also experienced in management participations; he made partner in January 2023.

Financial investors and portfolio companies instruct Gleiss Lutz on mid- and large-cap transactions, which the team comprehensively supports along the entire investment value chain. Key topics include buy-outs, add-on acquisitions and sales, as well as exits and interfacing financings. The practice is led by Christian Cascante and Jan Balssen, who comprehensively cover the M&A and PE areas and are among the key contacts for cross-border transactions. Vanessa Rendtorff made partner in January 2023 and complements this with restructuring-related expertise. PE and M&A expert Stefan Widder joined from Latham & Watkins LLP in September 2023.

Greenberg Traurig Germany‘s mid- and large-cap transaction support is regularly requested by investors from the technology, telecoms and media sectors, whereas the support to the healthcare, pharmaceuticals, automotive and real estate sectors is a growth area. The team handles cross-border matters thanks to the cooperation with the locations in London, Warsaw and Amsterdam and is jointly led by Peter Schorling, Henrik Armah and Nicolai Lagoni, who comprehensively cover the PE and M&A area; all three are also well versed in cross-border transactions.

Hengeler Mueller is among the top German addresses for transactions in the large-cap sector and focuses on regulated industries such as finance, energy, healthcare and insurance. PE houses, start-ups and companies are frequently advised in cross-practice cooperation, thus also covering related regulatory issues as well as financings and restructurings. Christof Jäckle is well versed in matters at the M&A interface, while Oda Christiane Goetzke advises on corporate matters and made partner at the same time as Maike Hölty in January 2023. Hölty focuses on PE and growth capital investments. The transaction support is complemented by expertise in continuation funds, dual tracks – Hans-Jörg Ziegenhain is a key contact here – and fund-to-fund transactions.

Hogan Lovells International LLP supports both sellers and buyers in the mid- and large-cap segments and routinely assists founding teams, start-ups as well as financial and venture capital investors. Thanks to the cross-location cooperation, cross-border matters are also handled. In July 2023, Jörg Herwig took over management from Matthias Jaletzke, who remains part of the team; Herwig focuses on transaction support and is also experienced in restructurings, management participations and corporate law matters; Jaletzke is well versed in litigation.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP supports European and US financial investors, including private equity and real estate funds as well as sovereign wealth and pension funds, in national and cross-border transactions in the large-cap sector; the support in the mid-cap segment as well as sponsored public-to-private transactions are recent growth areas. Among the key contacts are Benjamin Leyendecker, who advises financial investors and strategists on taking-private transactions and corporate restructuring, Attila Oldag (PE, M&A, capital markets law) and Philip Goj, who advises strategists and investors on PE and M&A transactions as well as public takeovers.

Latham & Watkins LLP assists clients with mid- and large-cap transactions, where the team regularly draws on the international network in cross-border transactions. Here, practice head Burc Hesse focuses on cross-border leveraged buy-out transactions. Other key contacts are Oliver Felsenstein, who comprehensively advises private equity companies on the entire investment value chain, and Rainer Traugott, who acts at the corporate law interface. The team’s industry expertise was strengthened with the additions of Alexander Rieger (infrastructure) from Hogan Lovells International LLP in May 2023 and Carsten Loll (real estate) from Linklaters in October 2022; both joined with a team of associates. Transaction expert Stephan Hufnagel made partner in January 2023, while M&A expert Stefan Widder joined Gleiss Lutz in September 2023.

Linklaters routinely cooperates with the corporate and M&A practice, here, the key contacts are Andreas Müller and practice head as well as co-head of the global financial sponsors team Ralph Drebes. This integrated approach is utilised in the advice to investors, including long-standing client relationships, and companies on national and cross-border large and mid-cap transactions. This is complemented by expertise in the regulated industries, including energy, healthcare, (digital) infrastructure and technology, where Carl Sanders is a key contact; he made partner in May 2023.

Mayer Brown LLP acts across all sectors in the mid-cap segment but focuses on IT, life sciences and consumer goods. Among the client roster are founders, family offices, venture capital funds and national and international PE investors, which benefit from the expertise at the finance, corporate, tax and real estate interfaces as well as the cross-locational support via the London and US locations in cross-border matters. Jan Streer is experienced in both PE and VC and took on practice leadership due to the departure of former practice head Julian Lemor (PE and M&A) to Noerr in May 2023. In September 2023, the team was strengthened with the addition of PE and M&A expert Fabio Borggreve from Squire Patton Boggs.

Private equity houses, companies, owners and management teams from the plant construction, automotive, chemicals, logistics and finance sectors regularly call upon McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP‘s transaction expertise in the mid-cap sector. The team experienced several recent changes, including the departure of Nadine Hartung (healthcare sector) to Raue in February 2023; in December 2022, Tobias Koppmann (PE, VC, M&A) joined PwC Legal (PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft), while Norman Wasse (PE, M&A, capital markets) moved to Squire Patton Boggs in September 2023. Hanno Witt is experienced in the healthcare sector as well as the industrial, infrastructure, consumer goods and technology sectors (also management participations) and joined from Latham & Watkins LLP in March 2023 and Holger Ebersberger (digital economy, life sciences, TMT, healthcare). , Industry) simultaneously arrived from Noerr. The latter and Michael Cziesla jointly head the team, which also covers all interfaces thanks to cross-practice cooperation.

Milbank is well versed in large-cap transactions and is renowned for its extensive private equity competencies. The team supports investors and companies in the establishment of private equity funds, the acquisition and expansion of portfolio companies as well as in recaps and exits. This diverse offering also draws on the areas corporate law, M&A as well as financing and tax law thanks to cross-practice cooperation. This apporach is also mirrored within the team: Michael Bernhardt is experienced in public-to-private, LBOs and MBOs; Martin Erhardt and Sebastian Heim are well versed in restructuring, while Markus Muhs focuses on supporting transactions in the infrastructure sector as well as investments in technology-driven companies. Steffen Oppenländer complements the industry expertise with experience in the regulated industries. Leopold Riedl regularly assists with transactions, joint ventures, spin-offs and asset deals and also covers the corporate law intersection; global chair of the corporate practice Norbert Rieger has additional tax law expertise and assists with transactions and takeovers.

Noerr focuses on the upper-middle and large-cap segment and regularly supports cross-border transactions. The team offers industry expertise in the digital, healthcare and technology sectors, which is complemented with cross-practice cooperation in the structuring of acquisitions and assets as well as financing and the development of MEP models; related contentious matters are frequently handled by Georg Schneider. Another mainstay is the advice on restructuring to PE investors which specialise in crisis-related matters, where Christian Pleister is a key contact. A growth area is the support in fund structuring and secondary transactions. Holger Ebersberger (sector focus on digital economy, life sciences, TMT, healthcare, industry) left the practice and joined McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP in March 2023; Markus Braun (PE, M&A, Corporate, VC) joined the team shortly afterwards from Gleiss Lutz and Julian Lemor (PE and M&A) arrived from Mayer Brown LLP. At the turn of the year 2023/2024, Schneider and Pleister handed over the practice management to Christoph Thiermann and Felix Blobel (focus on VC).

Norton Rose Fulbright regularly advises private equity investors on national and international mid-cap transactions with industry expertise in the technology, digitisation, fintech, financial services and healthcare sectors. The team is experienced in dealing with supervisory authorities in the regulated industries and clients also benefit from the cross-practice cooperation on matters pertaining to employment, antitrust, corporate and tax law as well as data protection and IT. The practice is led by Frank Henkel (PE, VC, corporate, M&A, fintech as well as investment and banking supervisory law) and Nils Rahlf (PE, VC, corporate, M&A and capital markets law). In September 2022, Michael Prüßner and Sven Schweneke (both PE, VC, corporate, M&A, investment funds), joined the team from Eversheds Sutherland, while Philipp Grzimek (PE and M&A) moved to GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in March 2023.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP supports national and international private equity houses, companies and fund managers in national and cross-border transactions in the mid-cap segment. The group is led by Christoph Brenner, who advises on takeovers, management-buy-outs and growth financing, and Oliver Duys, who specialises in corporate and real estate portfolio transactions as well as joint ventures. The team was strengthened with the addition of Damien Simonot (M&A transactions) from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in July 2022 and Werner Brickwedde (focus on the energy sector) from Eversheds Sutherland in April 2023.

POELLATH combines the experience in large and mid-cap transaction with expertise in related areas, such as financing, distressed M&A, insolvency and restructuring as well as tax structuring and design. The team – and Benedikt Hohaus in particular – is well known for the advice to management teams on management participations. Amos Veith routinely assists fund managers and investors with fund structuring and investment as well as with fund secondaries and GP-led transactions. The team is led by Jens Hörmann (M&A and PE in the infrastructure and healthcare sectors) and Tim Kaufhold (PE, M&A and corporate law; advice to management teams), who took over co-management from Eva Nase (corporate law, corporate governance) during the reporting period. The team acts across various sectors although a recent focus was on the e-commerce, fintech, healthcare, energy and technology industries.

Thanks to the cooperation with the corporate and tax teams, RENZENBRINK & PARTNER ‘s transaction support also covers related financing rounds, tax law issues as well as return and management participations. The team focuses on cross-border transactions in the small and mid-cap segment and regularly supports private equity companies and their portfolio companies. The practice is led by founding partners Ulf Renzenbrink and Dennis Schlottmann, who both comprehensively cover the PE, M&A and corporate areas. Bernd Egbers (LBOs and acquisition financing) joined Astera Legal Egbers Hitzer Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in January 2023.

Sidley Austin LLP primarily focuses on the mid-cap segment and, through cross-practice cooperation, regularly covers relevant topics such as LBOs, growth capital investments, financing and restructuring. Private equity houses, strategic investors and their portfolio companies request this expertise, which also encompasses coss-border matters, thanks to the firm’s international network. Accordingly, German practice head Christian Zuleger (PE, M&A and restructuring) also co-heads the European corporate and private equity group.

The private equity team at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP supports German and global companies and investors in national and cross-border mid- and large-cap transactions. Practice head Jan Bauer complements the transactional capacities with relevant expertise in corporate restructuring and capital markets law matters.

Taylor Wessing primarily supports transactions in the mid-cap segment and frequently acts across the technology, healthcare and life sciences sectors. Private equity houses and their portfolio companies are regularly advised across locations and practices; cross-border matters are routinely handled with the location in London. The transactional support is complemented by the advice on buy-and-build strategies and management participations. Maria Weiers heads the team since Walter Henle’s retirement in September 2022; Weiers is well versed in buy-outs and exits. Michael Lamsa moved to Gowling WLG in April 2023, where he co-leads the M&A, PE and VC practices.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises on traditional private equity transactions, add-ons, secondary buy-outs, distressed transactions and sell-side transactions within the large and mid-cap segment, including cross-border matters. Among the client roster are PE houses and investors with a particular focus on the financial services, payment systems, automotive  and healthcare sectors. The team is led by Gerhard Schmidt, who is experienced in buy-outs and distressed transactions.

Thanks to the international network, White & Case LLP specialises in cross-border private equity support. In cooperation with the locations in Europe, the US and Asia, the team routinely handles transactions in the mid-cap segment, while investors and companies also request assistance in the large-cap sector. The practice recently increasingly advised international technology funds and fast growth companies on fast growth transactions. Practice head Stefan Koch‘s expertise corresponds with the overall aproach, he advises on both German and New York law. In November 2022, Albrecht Schaefer (PE, M&A and corporate) joined from Linklaters as local partner.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP  supports private equity houses and portfolio companies in both the mid-cap and large-cap segment, with cross-border transactions being a particular strength. The team is also well versed in advising managements and routinely covers the intersections to VC and financing. Georg Linde heads the practice and focuses on high-tech sectors such as aerospace, IT, chemicals and renewable energy. Linde and Matthias Schudlo comprehensively cover the PE, M&A and corporate areas. Schudlo complements this with expertise in capital markets law; he made partner in January 2023.