The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘dynamic’ team has ‘a strong market position’, and is ‘a leading firm’ for bank lending. Major banks and blue-chip corporations instruct this broad practice which frequently interacts with the capital markets team and has seen an increase in foreign currency financings, most recently advising Voith on a syndicated facility totalling RMB2.25bn under Chinese law. It also advised Schaeffler on a new €8bn credit agreement, and assisted SAP with obtaining financing for its acquisition of Ariba. Neil Weiand shows ‘outstanding customer commitment’ and is ‘able to explain complex legal scenarios in simple language’, and Thomas Neubaum displays ‘outstanding skills and client focus’.

Clifford Chance’s comprehensive practice has outstanding international capabilities. Recent work includes advising UniCredit Bank, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank on the refinancing of Brenntag Group; Royal Bank of Canada on financing the €2.75bn acquisition of 100% of shares in Open Grid Europe; and DZ Bank on the refinancing and sale of automotive supplier Novem to Bregal Capital. It also advised Ciech Group on its debt refinancing. Barbara Mayer-Trautmann and Bettina Steinhauer are recommended.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a ‘fantastic’ choice for borrower-side advice but also frequently acts for lenders, and recently advised a banking consortium led by Commerzbank on the restructuring of existing syndicated credit facilities for Schmolz + Bickenbach. The team also advised Liberty Global Europe on the financing of the merger of its German subsidiaries Unitymedia and Kabel BW, and acted for Linde on the $4.5bn financing of its proposed takeover of Lincare Holdings. Real estate financing has been a growth area of work for the team. Frank Laudenklos and Yorck Jetter are recommended.

Hengeler Mueller’s broad practice is particularly adept at handling restructuring-related matters and is gaining recognition for its up-and-coming lawyers. The team acts for borrowers and lenders, and recent highlights include advising Amprion on a syndicated loan; representing BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, HSBC and J.P. Morgan as lenders on the €8bn refinancing of Schaeffler; and acting for Landesbank Baden-Württemberg on the financing of Patrizia Immobilien’s acquisition of LBBW Immobilien. Johannes Tieves and Thomas Cron ‘belong among the top partners for finance in Germany’.

Linklaters LLP provides ‘exemplary service’ and ‘availability, no matter what time of the day’. It is a leading lender-side practice and excels at real estate financing. The team advised the lenders on the refinancing of Schaeffler’s existing senior facilities, and advised UBS and RBS on the debt financing of Labelux Group’s acquisition of Jimmy Choo. It also advised REpower Systems on a €750m growth financing. Marc Trinkaus is ‘technically good’, ‘calm and not easily flustered’. Eva Reudelhuber is also recommended.

Leveraged and real estate finance are key areas of Ashurst LLP’s practice, which has shown ‘fantastic development’ recently. Noteworthy instructions included advising a banking consortium on financing the planned €2.7bn acquisition of Open Grid Europe, and assisting Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, Natixis and Société Générale as lenders on the financing of an acquisition of a portfolio of residential apartments. Anne Grewlich is ‘co-operative and efficient’, and Stephan Kock shows ‘perseverance and relentless efforts to get the best deal for his client’.

Latham & Watkins LLP is an excellent choice for restructuring and refinancing matters, and it also recently advised Apollo Global Management on the financing of its acquisition of Taminco, and acted for the senior lenders on EQT’s acquisition of BSN medical from Montagu Private Equity. Christina Ungeheuer ‘focuses on achieving quick and outstanding results’, Rüdiger Malaun ‘never stops until goals are achieved’, and Andreas Diem is ‘very constructive during negotiations’.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP’s highly regarded team works as an integrated practice with the London and New York offices and recently represented Axel Springer during the refinancing of a €1.5bn revolving credit facility. It also acted for Commerzbank and LBBW as arrangers of syndicated credit facilities for Georg von Holtzbrinck. Thomas Ingenhoven and the ‘excellent’ Rainer Magold are ‘very experienced and flexible in negotiations’.

CMS’ broad practice is ‘able to complete seemingly Herculean tasks’, according to one client. It has continued to expand its client base, and recently advised a bank on the restructuring of two Danish financings pertaining to German real estate portfolios; and Allianz Real Estate on financing the acquisition of Berlin’s Gropius Passagen shopping centre. Thomas de la Motte is recommended along with Markus Pfaff, who impresses with his ‘know-how, negotiating skills and perseverance’.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP advised the Hellenic Republic during its sovereign debt restructuring, and acted for Morgan Stanley as facility and security agent on Hebei Lingyun Industrial Group’s acquisition of Kiekert. Werner Meier is ‘a dedicated expert who 
is more knowledgeable than the bank’s legal 
advisers’, according to one client, and clients 
also say that the team’s excellence is ‘worth the money’.

Gleiss Lutz enjoys an excellent reputation for representing borrowers, but also advises several financial institutions such as Aareal 
Bank and Helaba. The team advised Vermögensverwaltung Dr. Karl Goldschmidt on the financing of its acquisition of a metal components manufacturer. Helge Kortz has ‘broad knowledge and experience’, and is able to ‘combine pragmatic solutions with the best outcome for the client’.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has been busy with real estate mandates and has an increasing volume of instructions with US aspects. The team advised Deka Bank on the refinancing of a shopping centre in Japan; Crédit Agricole and UniCredit Bank on a €800m corporate loan to Voestalpine; and Immeo Wohnen on the refinancing of a securitised real estate portfolio. Katlen Blöcker heads the practice.

Norton Rose LLP is particularly strong in ship and project finance. It also recently advised UniCredit Bank, Bayerische Landesbank and Deutsche Pfandbriefbank on a €229m financing provided to E-shelter Group; and UniCredit Bank on its financing of a real estate portfolio. Other clients include HSBC and LBBW. Practice head Ralf Springer is ‘pragmatic and deal-oriented’, and is ‘fully aware of clients’ requirements’.

White & Case LLP has been visible in the corporate loans market and particularly in the restructuring arena. It advised Tom Tailor on its refinancing, acted for Citibank (China) on all German law aspects pertaining to Voith’s financings, and advised Gildemeister on a syndicated financing. Tom Oliver Schorling is ‘a strong communicator’ who ‘comes to agreements with the other side without involving us’. 
However, the practice suffered a blow when Sabine Schomaker and Clemens Niedner joined 
SJ Berwin LLP and the highly regarded 
Annica Lindegren moved to Jones Day in January 2013.

Baker & McKenzie again demonstrated its ability to handle large cross-border matters when it advised Chonqing Light Industry & Textile on the financing of its acquisition of the insolvent SaarGummi Group. The team also advised LBBW as lender on a senior syndicated loan facility to finance an acquisition. Oliver Socher is ‘always first choice’ and has ‘a commercial and pragmatic approach’. Matthias Eggert is also recommended.

Boutique firm Lindemann Schwennicke & Partner enjoys an excellent reputation thanks to the expertise of name partners Thomas Lindemann and Andreas Schwennicke. Recent highlights include advising the lenders on the refinancing of a DIY warehouse chain. Clients include Commerzbank and LBBW.

Mayer Brown LLP has seen an increase in real estate mandates such as advising DeWAG on the refinancing of a residential property portfolio; and Cornerstone on a retail portfolio refinancing. Jochen Seitz has ‘in-depth expertise’ and ‘a good understanding of regulatory requirements’, and Andreas Lange is ‘very good in complex refinancing transactions’. However, former practice head Manfred Heemann joined Ernst & Young Law.

Refinancing and real estate work have kept Noerr busy, and the team has expanded its banking clientele. The team advised Postbank on the refinancing of the former Saalepark Center in Leipzig; and Thomas Cook on the refinancing of an existing syndicated facility agreement. Sebastian Bock is the key name in the team, which recruited Andreas Naujoks from Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH. However, Olaf Grabowski left the firm.

Thomas Schrell heads SJ Berwin LLP’s team, which was significantly strengthened by the recruitment of Sabine Schomaker and Clemens Niedner from White & Case LLP in January 2013. Highlights included advising LBBW on loan restructurings; and Helaba on a real estate refinancing. Other clients include Deutsche Bank London and Société Générale. The team ‘understands lenders’ interests’ and gives ‘highly qualified advice’.

Shearman & Sterling LLP works closely with colleagues in London, and recently advised the banks on a $5bn credit facility for Toyota Motor Credit Corporation. The ‘experienced’ Winfried Carli is ‘commercially minded’ and ‘highly committed’, and Esther Jansen is ‘simply best-in-class’.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s Johannes Kremer excels at refinancing and restructuring. Recent highlights include advising Agravis Raiffeisen on a new €600m syndicated credit facility agreement, and providing refinancing advice to Doughty Hanson. It is also acting for Quadriga Capital on the debt restructuring of portfolio company Süddekor.

Claus Goedecke heads Taylor Wessing’s practice, which has won several new banking clients. The team recently advised Imperial Holdings on the financing of its acquisition of Lehnkering, and acted for Pramerica on the financing of Madison Real Estate’s purchase of an interest in a landmark skyscraper in Frankfurt. Hauke Bornschein has ‘very good business knowledge’ and provides ‘great service’.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges excels at debt restructuring and refinancing, and recently advised 360T Beteiligungs GmbH on obtaining financing for its purchase of a majority stake in 360 Treasury Systems. It also advised Strategic Value Partners and Oak Hill Advisors on the financial restructuring of Pfleiderer. Michael Kohl heads the finance team.