A&O Shearman advises global corporations, financial investors, asset managers, and real estate companies on the spectrum of corporate tax law, including cross-border transactions, litigation, and compliance, with a focus on international tax law. New team leader Florian Lechner supports international companies, banks, and investors on tax matters related to M&A, private equity, and structured finance transactions, while Gottfried Breuninger, who headed the German tax practice for over a decade, focuses on tax dispute resolution affecting financial institutions. They are supported by Heike Weber, who handles the tax aspects of structuring and executing M&A in the finance and insurance sectors, and Tim Drach, who is experienced in national and international tax matters, with an emphasis on investment funds and the tax restructuring of multinational groups.

Flick Gocke Schaumburg has extensive experience in corporate tax law, advising leading corporations in Germany and abroad, as well as HNWIs, entrepreneurs, and non-profit institutions on tax structuring in M&A transactions, tax due diligence, and value-added tax. Under the leadership of Matthias Rogall, the practice is also frequently involved in tax litigation, representing clients in tax audits and defending them in tax fraud investigations. Rogall supports family businesses, corporations, and listed companies in the energy, industrial, and real estate sectors on corporate and M&A tax law matters.

Linklaters supports clients through complex tax law issues, including investment and restructuring tax law, tax audits and judicial proceedings, as well as tax-related crisis management. Team leader Oliver Rosenberg has extensive experience in cross-border tax structuring and planning, M&A, and joint ventures, with a particular focus on investments by foreign multinational companies in Germany, especially those based in the US. He is supported by Jens Blumenberg, who is well-versed in all aspects of corporate tax and experienced in representing clients in tax audits and court proceedings; and Julian Böhmer, who focuses on tax structuring of domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, corporate reorganisations, initial public offerings and joint ventures. Key associates Kirsten Placke and Alexander Zitzl enhance the team’s expertise in tax controversies as well as in German and international VAT law.

Clifford Chance supports domestic and foreign credit institutions, companies, institutional investors, funds and asset management companies on complex tax issues and disputes with the German tax authorities, handling matters related to funds and asset management, finance tax, company taxation, as well as real estate and transaction tax. Team leader Felix Mühlhäuser advises on the structuring of financing and corporate arrangements, with a focus on M&A, financial instruments, securitisations, and restructurings. He is supported by key Dominik Engl, who is well-versed on the tax structuring of national and cross-border transactions such as acquisitions, divestments, joint ventures, and restructurings in the energy, infrastructure, industrial, and real estate sectors.

Gleiss Lutz advises international corporations, financial institutions, private equity companies, and public authorities on a wide range of national and international tax law. Team head Stefan Mayer focuses on transactional tax advice, particularly in M&A, group restructurings, real estate transactions, and the restructurings of distressed companies. He is supported by key partners Johann Wagner and Achim Dannecker, with Wagner focusing on M&A, real estate, and insolvency-related tax law, and Dannecker handling tax audits and contentious proceedings. Ocka Stumm is noted for her ability to structure tax-efficient cross-border acquisitions.

Hengeler Mueller advises on all aspects of domestic and international corporate taxation, with a strong focus on M&A, corporate reorganisations, financing transactions, as well as tax audits, disputes, and investigations by the German tax authorities. The team is jointly led by Sebastian Adam, who was made partner in January 2025, Markus Ernst, and Gunther Wagner, based in the Frankfurt office, and Matthias Scheifele, based in Munich. Adam is well-versed within business and investment tax law, Ernst assists financial institutions in tax-driven internal investigations, while Wagner and Scheifele advise on all tax aspects of mergers and acquisitions.

Milbank advises across the full spectrum of national and international tax law, including M&A and private equity tax matters, tax structuring, tax audits, and tax-related litigation. Rolf Füger, Thomas Kleinheisterkamp and Matthias Schell jointly lead the team from the Munich office. Füger covers all areas of corporate taxation in the private equity sector, with a focus on the developing and implementing innovative cross-border acquisition and financing structures. Kleinheisterkamp handles corporate restructuring and transaction-related tax matters, while Schell brings extensive experience in tax litigation and arbitration. Arne Hammerich is also a key member of the team.

Baker McKenzie has extensive experience not only in corporate and transactional tax law, but also in transfer pricing, VAT, international tax and customs law, and related dispute resolution. The team is co-led by Stephan Schnorberger, who focuses on transfer pricing, business restructuring, supply chain modelling, and high value audit defences, and Christoph Becker, who assists German and international clients in inbound and outbound tax planning. Florian Gimmler and Thomas Schänzle left the firm in June and July 2025, respectively, to join WTS.

Hogan Lovells International LLP supports clients throughout the entire tax process, from consulting and transactional advice to tax optimisation, tax audits, and related dispute resolution. Team head Ingmar Dörr handles tax and customs investigations, as well as tax audits and dispute resolution, across the pharmaceutical, life sciences, automotive and aerospace industries. He is supported by Heiko Gemmel, who advises clients in the financial services and fund sector on national and international tax issues, and Christoph Küppers, who handles corporate taxation for insurance and reinsurance companies and their subsidiaries.

KMLZ focuses on advising national and international clients on VAT, customs, and excises taxation. Both Thomas Küffner and Thomas Streit are well-versed in national and international VAT law matters, with Küffner representing clients before tax authorities and tax courts, the Federal Fiscal Court and the European Court of Justice.

Noerr handles a comprehensive range of tax-focused matters, covering transactions and investments, financing, corporate tax, reorganisations, dispute resolution, as well as succession, wealth and foundation planning. Georg Edelmann and Carsten Heinz jointly lead the team. Edelmann focuses on tax issues related to M&A transactions, the restructuring of national and international companies, and digital businesses, while Heinz supports family businesses and their shareholders in special tax situations.

POELLATH advises clients in industries such as private equity, venture capital and real estate, as well as HNWIs and family businesses, on tax planning and structuring, corporate tax, tax compliance and litigation, and international tax law. The team is jointly led by Hardy Fischer, who handles national and international tax law, especially in the real estate sector, and Maximilian Haag, who covers the establishment, restructuring, and dissolution of family-owned businesses, alongside matrimonial property and inheritance law.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has extensive experience in handling cross-border transactions and international tax issues, advising clients on complex tax matters related to M&A, internal restructuring transactions, spin-offs, disposals and joint ventures. Team leader Johannes Frey represents clients, including multinational companies, in a wide range of tax controversy proceedings, including audits, administrative appeals, and judicial proceedings. He is supported by Frank-M. Schwarz, who focuses on German and international corporate tax law.

CMS supports clients on all aspects of national and international tax law, offering comprehensive support across M&A transactions, tax-driven reorganisations and restructurings, tax compliance, as well as representing clients in disputes with tax authorities and in litigation before German courts. The team is co-led by Thomas Gerdel and Martin Mohr, with Gerdel specialising in the tax structuring of corporate and real estate transactions, and Mohr focusing on tax and accounting law in the context of M&A transactions, venture capital investments, restructurings, and refinancings. To further strengthen the team, Andreas Eggert joined in January 2025 from Hogan Lovells International LLP.

DLA Piper supports clients in a broad spectrum of national and international tax matters, with particular expertise in real estate taxation, tax audits and controversies, and transfer pricing. Team leader Marie-Theres Rämer focuses on the tax aspects of financing, including structured finance, and leasing transactions, as well as the structuring of real estate investments, including portfolio and non-performing loan transactions. Konrad Rohde and Ulf Anderson are further key members of the team.

Part of the firm's wider transaction practice, Latham & Watkins LLP's tax group is sought after for its expertise across private equity, restructuring, and fund structuring. Jointly led by Stefan Süss and Verena Seevers, the team also acts on behalf of financial institutions in bond transactions or financing structures.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH offers advice on investment fund and asset management taxes, corporate and transactional taxes, energy tax, tax compliance and proceedings, as well as succession planning for family businesses, foundations, and family offices. The firm's sector focuses include energy, healthcare, IT, telecoms and logistics. Team leader Bela Jansen advises German and international clients on regulatory and investment tax matters in the context of asset management and fund investments.

YPOG advises venture capital and private equity funds, family businesses and offices, as well as HNWIs on a broad range of tax matters, including tax controversies such as contentious audits, tax criminal cases and proceedings before fiscal courts. Team head Andreas Kortendick advises private clients, family offices and medium to large-sized companies on all ongoing and structural tax matters, with extensive experience in tax controversies.

GSK Stockmann advises on tax aspects of fund structuring, real estate and corporate transactions, as well as renewables, ESG and green taxes. The practice has recently expanded its focus to private clients, particularly HNWIs, providing guidance on cross-border succession planning, inheritances, and gifts. Team leader Petra Eckl has extensive experience across a wide range of tax matters, advising investors on the structuring of open- and closed-ended funds and the tax optimisation of cross-border arrangements. Dirk Koch left the firm in January 2025.

Heuking

Kantenwein Zimmermann Spatscheck & Partner advises on a wide range of tax matters, representing clients before tax authorities and German fiscal courts, including cases involving tax-related damages from incorrect advice and professional liability claims. Practice head Gerhard Widmayer focuses on taxation of reorganisations and M&A transactions. The firm also brings expertise in criminal tax law, with Rainer Spatscheck as the primary contact.

Oppenhoff advises German and international clients on tax matters, including M&A transactions and restructurings, and represents them in tax disputes with authorities, both during tax audits and in proceedings before tax courts. Team head Gunnar Knorr specialises in M&A and corporate financing taxation, frequently advising on cross-border transactions involving corporate group structuring and restructuring. Axel Bödefeld is a key contact for matters related to the taxation of international groups.

Led by Tobias Geerling, the tax team at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises on all aspects of tax structuring and optimisation for private equity and M&A transactions, including management participations, restructurings and insolvency proceedings, as well as the structuring of closed-end funds. Geerling is well-versed in the tax-efficient structuring of M&A and private equity transactions, corporate reorganisations, and restructurings. Carolin Vettermann is also a key member of the team.