The Legal 500

Clifford Chance’s highly specialised team is very well connected to major players in the market, among them Permira, and Apollo, BC Partners and Triton are noteworthy new client wins. It advised the latter on the proposed acquisition of Icelandic Group hf, exemplifying the cross-border deals in which this practice excels. The team also advised Nordic Capital on its acquisition of SiC Processing and CVC Capital Partners on the purchase of Sunrise Communication in Switzerland. Oliver Felsenstein and Christopher Kellett are leading names in the market.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s ‘very broad practice’ has been extremely busy, advising on the successful execution of two of the largest PE IPO exits in 2011. It advised Bridgepoint on its acquisition of CABB from AXA Private Equity and acted for Triton as part of its acquisition of Evonik´s carbon black business in partnership with Rhône Capital. Ludwig Leyendecker is the worldwide practice head, who leads a large team of well-established partners and emerging younger lawyers.

CMS Hasche Sigle broad practice remains one of the largest in terms of head count in the market, and is notably very active in the venture capital space. Highlights included advising Carlyle on acquiring ADA Group; a private equity investor on its purchase of 12 solar energy projects; and SLV Group during its acquisition by Cinven. Afinum and Steadfast Capital are new client wins. Karsten Heider gives ‘practical, quick responses’, and the ‘well reasoned and measured’ Martin Bell ‘never loses sight of the big picture’.

Gleiss Lutz regularly advises Blackstone, most recently on its acquisition of Jack Wolfskin from Quadriga Capital and Barclays Private Equity. It also advised RHJ International on the restructuring of Honsel Group and represented the main shareholders of Versatel during the voluntary public takeover offer by KKR. The firm’s merger with Hamburg-based Rittstieg in 2010 has allowed the team to expand its client base. ‘Superb lawyer’ Jan Bauer has ‘a prominent market position’, and Christian Cascante shows ‘outstanding legal skills’ and ‘cost-conciousness’.

Hengeler Mueller’s ‘extremely co-operative’ group advised on various large-cap transactions in 2011. Highlights included advising Advent International on the sale of Takko to Apax Partners; Cinven on its acquisition of SLV Group from HgCapital; and EQT on the sale of Kabel BW to Liberty Global. The firm is able to act on cross-border deals through its best-friends relationships abroad. Hans-Jörg Ziegenhain is recommended.

Latham & Watkins LLP’s strong cross-border team is recognised for its work for longstanding clients Apollo and BC Partners, and has recently added new clients to the portfolio, among them Nordic Capital, which the team advised on its proposed acquisition of Hyva Georg. The team also advised Capvis Equity Partners on its acquisition of Wittur Group in partnership with Triton. Jörg Kirchner does ‘a great job’, and the practice is ‘very good overall’.

Linklaters LLP enjoyed ‘an extremely strong year’, particularly on large-cap deals, where highlights included advising new client Apax Partners on its acquisition of Takko Holding; and Macquarie on the auction acquisition of Thyssengas from RWE. Triton instructed the team on its acquisition of COMPO from K+S International. Rainer Traugott, who managed to ‘attract some of the most talked about deals in 2011’, is recommended.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP’s small but very well established practice advised longstanding client Carlyle on its acquisition of Primondo Specialty Group; Loyalty Partner Holdings during its sale to American Express; and Levine Leichtman Capital Partners on its acquisition of Luminator Technology Group. Peter Memminger, Norbert Rieger and Peter Nussbaum are highly regarded.

P+P Pöllath + Partners ‘finds solutions rather than more problems’. It provides ‘amazing fund-structuring expertise’, complemented by the firm’s solid mid-cap transactional practice. The group advised Barclays Private Equity on the sale of GHD Group; Findos on its acquisition of ABIT; and Odewald on purchasing a majority stake in Polytech Ophtalmologie. ECE and Auctus are clients for fund formation. Key figure Andreas Rodin has ‘strong industry knowledge and of German tax issues pertaining to it’.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s ‘superb’ practice maintains a steady market presence, capitalising on its large base of longstanding clients, among them Apax Partners, which the team recently advised on the €920m sale of a majority stake in IFCO Systems to Brambles. It also advised AXA Private Equity on the sale of Gealan to Halder, and Quadriga Capital and Barclays Private Equity on their €600m sale of Jack Wolfskin to Blackstone. Matthias Jaletzke is recommended.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s ‘young but well established team’ has an impressive track record in mid-cap deals. Recent highlights include advising 3i on its acquisition of Amor; Cognetas on the sale of Scholz & Friends; and AXA Private Equity on the sale of CABB to Bridgepoint. The ‘extremely busy’ Mario Schmidt and the ‘very active and visible’ Stefan Jörgens are recommended, but Michael Bernhardt moved to Allen & Overy LLP.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has strong expertise in various sectors such as media, where the team regularly advises Holtzbrinck Ventures on private equity and venture capital transactions. It also advised Advent International on a large potential acquisition. Joachim Habetha heads this ‘very user-friendly’ team, which has ‘excellent business acumen’ and is ‘good value for money’.

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP is a good choice for restructuring work and, on the new deal side, advised Sun European Partners on its proposed acquisition of Unterland Flexible Packaging, and acted for Gilde on a voluntary public takeover offer for Teleplan International. Volker Kullmann is ‘absolutely superb’.

SJ Berwin LLP provides ‘great advice’ on transactions and fund structuring. The team advised Corestate on its acquisition of a real estate portfolio; BayernLB Private Equity on purchasing a minority stake in Westfalia Automotive; and Silver Investment on its acquisition of PTF Group. Triton and Wellington Partners are clients on the fund formation side. Christoph Brenner has ‘very good analytical and negotiation skills’.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges frequently advises clients on acquiring distressed assets or restructuring portfolio companies. It advised Bregal Capital on its agreement to acquire German automotive component supplier Novem, and Lone Star on its acquisition of Düsseldorfer Hypothekenbank. Gerhard Schmidt is recommended.

Allen & Overy LLP grew its small team by adding Michael Bernhardt, who joined from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. Pamplona Capital Management is a key client, which the group recently advised on its acquisition of a minority stake in WEPA Industrieholding.

Ashurst LLP’s strong Munich office frequently co-operates with colleagues in London. It advised Nordic Capital on the acquisition of Britax, the team’s first buyout instruction for this client, and represented Candover Investment during the €1.2bn sale of Ontex. Nikolaus von Jacobs heads the team.

Baker & McKenzie’s small practice recently advised a private equity fund on its auction acquisition of a portfolio of German loans, and represented ILP Fund III regarding the acquisition and associated financing of MineWolf Systems. Nikolaus Reinhuber heads the team, which works with the wider practice group internationally.

Dechert LLP advised longstanding client Norma Group (a portfolio company of 3i) on its €386m IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The team is ‘very effective in negotiations’, and recently advised a Swiss investment firm on its acquisition of a leading mailroom systems manufacturer. Berthold Hummel’s industry knowledge and transaction experience ‘make things happen’, and Federico Pappalardo is also well regarded.

Heymann & Partner Rechtsanwälte’s relatively small practice capitalises on the excellent reputation of name partner Thomas Heymann, who maintains good relationships with some of Europe’s leading investors. The team advised a French private equity fund on certain acquisitions; Alpha on the sale of Etimex; and Hannover Finanz on its acquisition of Paper+Design Group.

Jones Day frequently works for US clients, and recent highlight deals include representing a private equity consortium comprising Goldman Sachs, Cerberus and Credit Suisse on the auction sale of Wittur Group to Triton Partners. It also acted for The Riverside Company on its sale of GTI Diagnostics. Andreas Jürgens heads this ‘very effective and professional’ team.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP has significant healthcare and real estate sector expertise, and recently advised Catella Real Estate on the acquisition of various health services establishments. It also advised Warburg Pincus on healthcare sector transactions. Konstantin Günther is recommended.

Noerr’s growing team is outstandingly proactive. It advised BC Partners and Synlab on the acquisition of the Czech laboratory service provider Chambon; CityDeal Europe and its shareholders on the sale to Groupon; and Veronis Suhler Stevenson and GMT Communications Partners on the disposal of its interest in Pepcom to STAR Capital. Georg Schneider’s advice is ‘always appropriate’, and Thomas Schulz ‘has come across most issues before’ and provides ‘quick, effective solutions’.

Norton Rose LLP has significant expertise in energy and infrastructure matters, with recent highlights being advising new client Impax Asset Management on its acquisition of Epuron’s German and French wind farms, and Intel Capital on financing rounds for Sulfurcell. The team also handles fund formation and restructurings. Nico Abel is recommended.

Salans LLP’s Frankfurt team is present in the mid-cap sector and in venture capital. It advised EQT Expansion Capital II on its investment in Roeser Group, and AXA Private Equity on the MBO of Strack/Phönix Group. Holger Scheer is recommended.

Shearman & Sterling LLP has good contacts to clients in the Middle East and the Frankfurt office recently advised International Chemical Investors regarding the acquisition of Genzyme’s pharmaceutical intermediates business. Corporate partner Harald Selzner is an expert in private equity transactions.

Taylor Wessing handles private equity and venture capital work. It has a strong base of longstanding clients and recently advised WHEB Partners on its acquisition of a majority stake in friedola TECH by way of an MBO, and DN Capital and Xange on a €7m growth financing of Mister Spex. Peter Hellich ‘knows the VC space and the requirements very well’.

White & Case LLP’s clients value its sector expertise and international network. Highlights included advising Cognetas on the sale of KSM Castings to CITIC, and H.I.G. European Capital Partners on its acquisition of Hanlo Group. Christoph von Einem is well regarded.