The Legal 500

‘Setting the benchmark’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer impresses through Thomas Tschentscher’s team, which excels in both the regulatory and transactional arena. Highlights included advising Liberty Global in a large scale transaction on the acquisition of Unitymedia, and advising Vodafone/D2 on all regulatory matters. The team was instructed by AT&T on the integration of Wayport’s German business, Kabel Deutschland regarding its IPO, and Saudi Telecom relating to a joint venture. The firm continues to advise Telefónica/Quam in litigation regarding the reimbursement of UMTS licensing fees, while Qwest and 1&1 receive regulatory advice. The integrated TMT team, including recommended Norbert Nolte and Michael Haidinger, comprises dedicated telecoms M&A specialists.

‘Highly visible’ boutique firm Juconomy Rechtsanwälte has an outstanding reputation for its regulatory expertise and ‘in-depth sector knowledge’. Clients value the ‘constant contact with senior partners instead of younger lawyers’ and praise the team’s ‘hands-on and solution-oriented approach’. The team regularly advises 01051/01081 Telecom, recently regarding mobile telephony termination charges, and represented eifel-net in complex litigation before the Federal Network Agency, prompting 27 similar proceedings launched by other parties. EWE TEL is a client in regulatory matters, and NetCologne sought advice on the extension of its glass fibre network. Advice on data protection is another string to the bow for the team, which includes the renowned Martin Geppert, Marc Schütze and telecoms competition expert Jens Schulze zur Wiesche.

B.B.O.R.S Kreuznacht Rechtsanwälte’s Peter Rädler is particularly noted, while the firm’s significant market visibility is mainly due to the representation of Telefónica and Tele 2. The practice frequently advises energy suppliers, recently regarding setting up fiber-to-the-building (FTTB) networks. The team’s outstanding regulatory expertise with emphasis on fixed line networks is coupled with solid telecoms contracts knowledge. Roland Bornhofen is frequently recommended. Grace Nacimiento’s move to Kleiner Rechtsanwälte however, was a blow.

Baker & McKenzie’s main features are the renowned figurehead Joachim Scherer and longstanding client Federal Network Agency, which recently instructed the team in a €8.5bn administrative litigation brought by Quam regarding the revocation of UMTS frequencies. The team further provided regulatory and frequency-related advice to Iridium Satellite, and regularly advises HanseNet on contractual and data protection law matters. The instruction by an Asian market leader in consumer technology attests to the firm’s strong international ties.

Bird & Bird LLP’s practice is thriving under leadership of Sven-Erik Heun, who joined in from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP. The team was instructed by Kabel BW on a pay TV platform development, Inquam regarding frequency-related matters, ACN on contractual matters, and Verizon regarding regulatory issues. 1&1 Internet, Kabel Deutschland, Mobilcom/Debitel, The Phone House and Google are also clients. Heun increasingly advises the firm’s IT clients on telecoms matters.

CMS Hasche Sigle has a broad practice, providing regulatory, contractual and transactional advice. The team, led by Jens Neitzel, represented Telefónica in its acquisition of Hansenet from Telecom Italia, and advised a global telecom systems manufacturer and service provider on sub-contractor agreements in connection with telecom systems and services for banks and insurance companies. Another success was the appointment to BT’s global panel, partly resulting from the team’s advice for BT Germany.

Dolde Mayen & Partner is thriving in the regulatory arena, partly thanks to Thomas Mayen and Frank Hölscher, who added prestigious client Deutsche Telekom to the firm’s portfolio when joining from Redeker Sellner Dahs in 2009. The team also acts for T-Mobile, recently regarding the allocation of mobile frequencies. Hölscher is noted for his fixed line networks expertise, while Mayen is regarded as a mobile network expert.

Hengeler Mueller’s team, including the renowned Albrecht Conrad and Wolfgang Spoerr, is mainly visible for advising longstanding client Kabel Deutschland. Noteworthy is advice on media-related regulatory matters, and, partly due to the firm’s focus on transactions, the team has been visible in telecoms transactions, such as advising Freenet on its sale of Strato to Deutsche Telekom.

Taylor Wessing’s Jan Pohle advised NetCologne on the acquisition of a portfolio of some ten thousand broadband costumers from Telecolumbus Multimedia, while Deutsche Telekom instructs the team on contractual matters. Advising on transations has been another focus, while advice provided to Google exemplifies the team’s media and telecoms cross-selling capabilities.

White & Case LLP is visible in the cable networks arena, in which Kabel BW is the team’s major client; it recently advised on the auction of digital dividend for the next generation mobile communication networks. The team further acted for Deutscher Kabelverband in a case relating to unlawful state aid, underlining the team’s visibility in the cable sector as opposed to the mobile sector. Norbert Wimmer advises on telecoms and media regulation issues, and Martin Munz has particular expertise in negotiating and drafting of contracts.

Clifford Chance has been less visible in the regulatory arena recently, but still capitalises on the firm’s outstanding reputation for transactional advice. Deutsche Telekom counts among the team’s clients, recently seeking advice on its joint venture with France Télécom. AT&T instructs the team on contract matters. Telecoms-related antitrust and IT matters are another focus. Bernd Meyer-Witting advises on technology, media and telecoms matters.

K&L Gates’ TMT practice is noted for the ‘up and coming’ Tobias Bosch, who is frequently recommended. Global Crossing instructed the team on its European restructuring and refinancing as well as regarding network and customer agreements and regulatory matters. Arcor receives ongoing advice on interconnection and fee regulation.

Ralf Weisser at McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP is well regarded for technology and media sector expertise, in which his team frequently advises TV channels such as RTL, recently on the distribution of electronic program guides via telecommunications networks. Home Shopping Europe also receives regulatory advice.

Noerr LLP capitalises on its reputation for advising on media matters, but recently managed to grow in the area of data protection and has taken on more regulatory work, creating a dedicated department within the firm. Tobias Frevert is noted in a team that advised Axel Springer Digital TV Guide, and acted for Robert Bosch on the installation of a worldwide telecommunications network.