The Legal 500

Schultze & Braun remains one of the leading names for insolvency, with a vast geographical spread and offices in every major German city. The team has recently been involved in several significant cases, including the administration of watch manufacturer Erich Lacher, Lapport Group, ERMO, Schneider department store and RF Rochus Fisches. Edgar Grönda and Volker Böhm are recommended. Insolvency administrator Thomas Kind sadly passed away.

White & Case LLP’s team has significantly strengthened following the arrival of Germany’s most active insolvency administrator Christoph Schulte-Kaubrügger. Biner Bähr and Sven-Holger Undritz are also recommended. The team has been involved as administrators in insolvency cases for Elixia, Mustek, HMH Hamburger Medien Haus and Sphairon Access Systems. The large-scale insolvency of Hertie and subsidiary Hertie Warenhandel in 2008 is still a considerable source of work for the firm.

Görg Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten counts among the leading firms for insolvency administration in Germany, and has been in the spotlight for administrating the insolvency of Arcandor, a major source of work for the team. The practice has been involved in several additional mandates, among them the insolvencies of Orcatech, Dala-Group and Gierlich. Klaus Görg, Hans-Gerd Jauch and Jörg Nerlich are noted.

HWW Wienberg Wilhelm maintains a strong presence in Berlin and Hamburg, with noted name partners Rüdiger Wienberg and Jan Wilhelm. The 10-partner firm saw a significant increase in work in 2010. Highlights included administrating the insolvencies of Adform, HAW Linings, Cargofresh, Akson-Group and SKM.

Jaffé Rechtsanwälte Insolvenzverwalter is noted for its focus on highly complex insolvency cases. Highlights included Qimonda Holding and Qimonda Solar, Hama-Trucks and Cinterion Wireless Modules. Name partner Michael Jaffé remains the driving force of the practice, however, the addition of two insolvency administrators at the Nürnberg office has brought more breadth to the practice.

Pluta Rechtsanwälte GmbH added several offices to extend its nationwide coverage in 2010. Michael Pluta and Martin Prager are recognised in a team which recently acted on the insolvency cases of C-Real, Nowotech, Dystar, and Lima Clean. The firm is particularly strong in the South of Germany, however, the team also takes on cross-border instructions. In addition, the firm maintains a presence in Spain and Italy.

Wellensiek Rechtsanwälte – Partnerschaftsgesellschaft receives praise for its ‘extremely high-quality work’, with particularly Christopher Seagon singled out. Noteworthy instructions included the insolvency administration for UNCCB Conference Center, Blanke-Group, SMI Hyundai Europe, Ventus and Comparex.

CMS Hasche Sigle is noted for the highly regarded Michael Frege, who built up banking insolvency expertise advising on the Lehman Brothers insolvency, a case that still keeps the practice busy. Further matters included insolvency administration for Prometa Treuhand, Sportive and DBVI.

Bruno Kübler remains the face of Kübler, with the sizeable team of 20 administrators less visible. Through the insolvency of Happich-Group, the team has been involved in cross-border work; further instructions included the insolvencies of ice hockey club Kassel Huskies, Weka Touristik and LBR-Logistik.

Leonhardt remained surprisingly unaffected by the firm’s split from Westhelle & Partner in July 2010. The ten remaining partners, among them Rolf Rattunde and Christian Köhler-Ma, provide ‘outstanding and quick advice’ and ‘always keep an eye on costs’. Significant instructions came from shopping centre A10, I-D Media and Medical Enzymes.

Piepenburg – Gerling Rechtsanwälte features the recognised Horst Piepenburg and Peter Minuth, part of a strong team of lawyers forming the backbone of a team able to take on more complex and large mandates. Instructions included the insolvencies of D.R.A.I. Eduard Beishuizen, VVA Vereinigte Verlagsanstalten and WRW Wohnungswirtschaft.

Brinkmann & Partner maintains a steady workflow that is increasingly managed by some of the younger partners. Berthold Brinkmann heads a team that acted on the insolvencies of Prime Time Entertainment, Orthoclin-Group and SSV Reutlingen.

Kebekus et Zimmermann has a fantastic reputation for its speed and efficiency, with head of team Frank Kebekus particularly well regarded. Blue Wings, Paragon Automotive and Olympia Flexgroup Zeitarbeit are clients.