The Legal 500

CMS Hasche Sigle has a 100-partner practice, covering a broad range of industries, including publishing, energy, automotive and finance. Almost unrivalled in terms of number of deals, the team acted for the State of Lower Saxony on the €15.9bn merger of Volkswagen and Porsche, and for Telefonica/O2 on the €900m acquisition of HanseNet. Germany1 instructed the team on the €580m acquisition of AEG Power Solutions. Clients rate the lawyers as ‘impressive and competent’ and ‘incredibly easy to work with’. Axel Sigle heads a practice that has a strong Eastern European client base and a strong footing in the mid-cap sector; however, the recent growth in terms of deal volume has been noted. Thomas Meyding and Udo Simmat are particularly recommended.

Noerr LLP has emerged as one of the leading players in the distressed M&A arena, and the ‘exceptionally strong’ team attracts consistent praise. The team has good relations with insolvency administrators, key for attracting deals such as the restructuring of Escada. Highlights included advising Andritz Group on the acquisition of KMPT, Thomas Cook on its takeover of Öger Tours, and BBC Worldwide regarding a joint venture with the German production subsidiary of ALL3MEDIA Group. It also advised Spanish wind energy company Iberdrola Renovables on its acquisition of the German offshore wind energy project Ventotec Ost 2, part of the team’s busy renewables practice. Alexander Ritvay and Thomas Schulz are recommended.

‘Other firms make efforts as well, but Ashurst LLP goes the extra mile’; the firm has seen a steady deal flow partly thanks to work carried out for Commerzbank, which the team has advised on 10 bank sales since June 2009. New client Royal Bank of Scotland instructed the team on the sale of the German and French factoring business to GE Capital. Reinhard Eyring and Lutz Englisch are praised, and clients value Nikolaus von Jacobs’ ‘power and solution driven approach’. Claudia Junker left to work in house for Deutsche Telekom.

Baker & McKenzie advises on restructuring matters and has a noteworthy international deal record, among them acting for Abbott Laboratories on the €4.5bn acquisition of Solvay’s pharma business. Highlights included advising Mahle on the acquisition of shares in Behr Industry and Behr Group, and Deutsche Lufthansa on the acquisition of a strategic interest in SN Brussels Airlines. Aviation industry expert Sönke Becker made partner. Udo Henkel and Nikolaus Reinhuber are recommended in a team with a remarkably low leverage.

Beiten Burkhardt is noted for its network of Eastern European offices and the significant number of China-related instructions. The team, headed by Thomas Sacher and Christof Aha, advised Siemens on the disposal of its 25% stake in Drägerwerk to Dräger Medical with a volume of €250m, and acted for WAZ Media Group on its strategic sales alliance with Hubert Burda Media Group and MZV. In the distressed M&A arena, the team advised Sambonet Paderno on the acquisition of all assets of Rosenthal from its insolvency administrator. Press and publishing is a particular area of strength.

Bird & Bird LLP has teams in several offices including Munich and Düsseldorf, with the latter regarded as being particularly strong, and clients comment positively on the firm’s Eastern European practice. Highlights included advising Alcoa in seven jurisdictions on the Europe-wide restructuring and subsequent sale of its wire harness and electrical distribution business to Platinum Equity, and acting for French Eiffage on the acquisition of the railway construction division of Dutch construction company Heijmans. Stefanel instructed the team in the sale of its shares in Hallhuber. Alexander Schröder-Frerkes and Alfred Herda are both singled out.

DLA Piper was involved in several complex cross-border deals, among them advising The Associated Press New York on the sale of its German news agency business to ddp. EWE instructed the team on the €1.2bn sale of its asset of VNG to EnBW, and the team acted for Benteler Automobiletechnik on its acquisition of the automotive structures business of Norwegian Norsk Hydro. The team expanded its dedicated India group with new hire Benjamin Parameswaran from Hengeler Mueller. Christoph Papenheim heads the team.

Görg Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten generates a significant amount of work through the firm’s busy restructuring and insolvency practice, where the M&A group frequently advises on the sale of assets. The firm advised on the sale of various Quelle subsidiaries and assets, and the Karstadt sale to Nicolas Berggruen in the context of Arcandor’s insolvency. Wolfgang König, Helmut Balthasar and Hans-Michael Giesen are recommended.

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek has a strong standing in the mid-cap sector, ensuring a constant deal flow despite the economic downturn. Axel Springer Mediahouse instructed the team on the sale of its youth publication titles to OZ publishing group, and the team advised Geers Hörakustik on the €100m takeover of HörGut group and sale of its holding. The team, headed by Stefan Duhnkrack, has been strengthened by the arrival of Ulrich Jork from White & Case LLP. Lothar Ende and Kai Erhardt are ‘fast and competent’.

Jones Day draws on additional resources from its strong US network, and advised new client SAP on corporate matters, namely on the acquisition of TechniData. ‘Contrary to the US, in Germany it is great value for money’. Quest instructed the team on the acquisition of Völcker Informatik, and the team advised Sherwin-Williams on the acquisition of Becker Acroma Industrial Wood Coatings from Swedish AB Wilh Becker. The team also gained a number of new German-listed clients, among them Deutsche Telekom. Jürgen Reemers and the ‘customer focused’ Ansgar Rempp, who displays ‘superb negotiation skills’, are singled out.

Mayer Brown LLP had a strong year in 2009/2010 acting on major cross-border transactions, such as advising Beijing Automotive Industry (BAIC) on the closing of a technology contract with SAAB. Further highlights included advising German Special Financial Market Stabilization Fund (SoFFin) on establishing the first German bad bank for WestLB, and WEPA Group on the acquisition of the businesses of Kartogroup in Italy, Germany and France. Christof Gaudig heads the team.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP’s young team has a good reputation advising on renewable energy deals, and a strong healthcare focus at its Munich office, with Stephan Rau being ‘one of the most experienced lawyers for healthcare M&A projects’. Highlights included advising Honeywell on its $400m acquisition of RMG GROUP, and Tomorrow Focus on the acquisition of the remaining shares in EliteMedianet. Clients rate the ‘valuable combination of M&A and industry-specific advice’, and the team has been further strengthened through the hire of Carsten Böhm from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.

Norton Rose LLP has a strong client base in the energy, finance and insurance industries, with noteworthy advice to new client SEB and SEB Asset Management on the sale of SEB Investmentservice to Fondsdepot Bank. Wüstenrot Württembergische and subsidiary Wüstenrot Bausparkasse instructed the team on the acquisition of Allianz Dresdner Bauspar of former owner Commerzbank. The ‘very responsive’ Nico Abel in Frankfurt, who is ‘great to work with’, and Andreas Börner in Munich, who is a ‘great coordinator in deals’, are both rated. Clients appreciate the ‘fantastic global network’.

Relatively small Oppenhoff & Partner commands respect across the market not only for domestic deals, but also for advice on significant cross-border matters. The team’s ‘impressive development’ and growth in numbers has been noted, with Rolf Koerfer’s move from Allen & Overy LLP a particular boost for the practice. The firm advised MAN on corporate and compliance matters, and RWE Energy on the acquisition of Exxon Mobile’s German district business heating unit. Ongoing advice to Schaeffler Group still represents a major source of work. Stephan König and Harald Gesell lead the team.

P+P Pöllath + Partners has a good reputation for advising on mid-cap deals, while the focus on private equity-related matters brings in significant work. Barclays Private Equity Deutschland instructed the team on the sale of GHD, and the team also advised GSW Immobilien Management on the Management Equity Program within the proposed IPO of GSW Immobilien. Wolfgang Grobecker joined from Hengeler Mueller in an attempt to enhance corporate capability.

Taylor Wessing’s young and dynamic team has been further strengthened with five lateral hires, and it has a particular focus on the energy, life sciences and technology industries. Traditionally advising mid-cap clients, the team recently managed to make inroads into the high-value deals market, winning new clients such as Otto Group. NetCologne instructed the team on a joint venture agreement with STAWAG Stadtwerke Aachen; the firm also advised OHB Technology on the acquisition of Carlo Gavazzi Space. Peter Hellich heads a team that ‘outperformed expectations’ and represents ‘excellent value for money’.

WilmerHale features the ‘well-established’ Rüdiger Herrmann, who is highly regarded for his expertise in life sciences deals. Two years after its opening, the Frankfurt office has emerged as pivotal to the firm’s German inbound business. Highlights included advising Coop on the sale of business units in Germany and the subsequent refinancing, and EnBW instructed the team on the sale of share holding GESO to TWD. Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland receives ongoing advice in connection with M&A transactions in Germany, and MAN instructs the team in compliance matters. Roland Steinmeyer is recommended.

With a leading tax practice, Flick Gocke Schaumburg is a good choice for M&A deals with a tax angle, and attracts a significant amount of restructuring work. The firm advised Corpus Sireo on the sale of Sony Centre. Stefan Simon is highly regarded.

GSK Stockmann + Kollegen enhanced its international capabilities by opening up a Singapore office, and the practice attracted a number of international clients, among them Dassault Aviation, which the team advised on the acquisition of a substantial part of Thales. Ansaldo Energia and Brookfield Europe are also clients. Gregor Seikel and Andreas Bauer are recommended.

Gibson Dunn has a steady flow of US mandates and focuses on restructuring matters. Highlights included advising Siemens Enterprise Communications on restructuring and divestiture of the sales and services business and the formation of distribution partnerships in 27 countries, and acting for BCBG Max Azria Group on the bid for the acquisition of Karstadt out of insolvency. Philip Martinius and Benno Schwarz are recommended.

Heisse Kursawe Eversheds capitalises on the Eversheds LLP network, and saw a steady flow of restructuring mandates. Bavaria Industriekapital instructed the team on the acquisition of Alcoa’s aluminium foil factory in Spain, and the team advised Experian on the acquisition of United Mail Solutions. Sybille Flindt and Christophe Samson were promoted to partner in a team headed by the ‘very creative’ Matthias Heisse, who ‘gets the best deal for his client’.

Heymann & Partner Rechtsanwälte is renowned for its private equity expertise, and has seen major instructions involving debt-equity-swaps. The comparatively small practice, led by Thomas Heymann, attracts high-value instructions, among them advising SEB on the sale of SEB Card Service, and the Federal Ministry of Finance on the acquisition of Bundesdruckerei Group.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH advised Schlecker on taking over a series of branches from insolvent Woolworth, and Vorwerk Group on entering the Indian market with its cosmetics line Jafra through a joint venture. Head of team Jörg Rodewald displays ‘high customer orientation’, and clients value Markus Schackmann’s ‘pragmatic approach and feasible proposals’.

Drawing on its tax and finance expertise, Orrick Hölters & Elsing advised Findos on the sale of Sterntaler to Bitburger, and Nobilia on the acquisition of a 30% stake in FBD-Group. Wolfgang Hölters is noted, as are several of the younger, promising partners.

SJ Berwin LLP has a pool of up and coming young lawyers. Highlights for the team included advising ATC on its joint venture with Aalborg Industries, Roche Pharma on the acquisition of Innovatis, and Swoodoo on its sale to Kayak Software. Frank Vogel and Julian Lemor are recognised.

Simmons & Simmons LLP is renowned for its energy sector expertise in its Düsseldorf office, and managed to attract new Middle East clients. The team advised China Solar on the acquisition of photovoltaic projects in Italy, and Alcatel-Lucent on the sale of Dunkermoten. NRW Bank and Axa Immobilien are further clients. Ulrich Brauer and Jan Wildberger are recommended.

SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz Rechtsanwalts AG is recommended for both M&A and corporate advice, with key clients Mannheimer Holding and Renolit; the latter instructing the team on the partial sale of a joint venture with Evonik. It also advised Fermentas on its sale to Thermo Fischer Scientific, and IBH Engineering on its sale to Cimtas. The Frankfurt office has been strengthened through the arrival of Max Hirschberger from Beiten Burkhardt. Jochem Reichert is recommended.