The Legal 500

Allen & Overy Luxembourg has particularly notable expertise in capital markets, cross-border M&A and investment funds. It worked on the launch of the Marguerite Fund, an €1.5bn pan-European infrastructure SIF. It also represented Deutsche Bank as arranger of a $100m convertible murabaha facility made to Gulf Finance House. The eminent Jean Schaffner leads the department, with real estate expert Jean-Luc Fisch and capital markets specialist Patrick Mischo.

Arendt & Medernach established a Luxembourg tax desk in New York in April 2010, headed by Jan Neugebauer. Recent work includes acquisitions of distressed securities by private equity houses, as well as debt restructurings and bank restructurings. Amongst a series of highlight private equity deals, the firm advised Apollo and BC Partners on their headline sale of Unity Media. Thierry Lesage and Eric Fort are distinguished figures.

Tax remains central to Bonn Schmitt Steichen’s impressive business, with Alain Steichen recognised as one of the pre-eminent figures in this sector. He is widely acknowledged for his rounded and exhaustive expertise, as well as excellent contacts with the tax administration. The financial services sector is key to the practice.

Loyens & Loeff has one of the largest practices in the jurisdiction with over 30 tax professionals. In cross-border structuring expert Simon Paul and the seasoned Jean-Pierre Winandy, it has two of the pre-eminent names in the business. It is particularly well known for structured finance, funds, M&A, VAT and tax litigation.

Elvinger, Hoss & Prussen is commended for its ‘good response times’, ‘very good value for money’ and ‘deep knowledge’, with François Felten and Dirk Richter singled out for particular praise. The firm recently advised Kokusai Europe in the setting up of an unregulated Luxembourg investment structure.

Kremer Associés & Clifford Chance is commended for banking and finance, private equity, and more recently, VAT issues. Clients highlight the firm’s response times, client focus, industry knowledge and ‘in-depth knowledge of local Luxembourg tax laws’. Counsel Christophe Clément is ‘highly technical’, ‘efficient’, and has ‘very good industry knowledge’, while François-Xavier Dujardin is ‘very smart’ and has ‘very strong knowledge’.

Linklaters LLP has an excellent global practice and is well connected to the financial services and investment funds community. One of its key recent mandates was dealing with the many tax issues relating to the giant merger between Commerzbank International and Dresdner Bank Luxembourg. Paul Tulcinsky has ‘good relationships’ with clients and the tax administration, while counsel Jean Yves Lhommel is ‘pragmatic’ and ‘innovative’.

NautaDutilh was augmented by the arrival of former Ernst & Young partner Christophe Joosen in November 2009. It has enabled a greater focus on the US market. The firm recently advised NYSE-listed Ocwen Financial Corporation on the spin-off of its real estate mortgage and default management services business. Jean-Marc Groelly is also recommended.

The ‘excellent’ tax practice at OPF & Partners is commended for its ‘good interaction’ with the firm’s corporate department. The seven-member team continues to serve the private equity community with distinction, but is also applauded for its general tax compliance and VAT work. Frédéric Feyten is ‘very knowledgeable’, ‘responsive’ and ‘commercially minded’.

DSM Di Stefano Moyse Avocats à la Cour has a solid record in corporate and M&A-related work, though the departure of Adrian Sedlo to launch SJL | Sedlo Jimenez Lunz was a blow to its finance capabilities.

M Partners’ Herman Troskie is a recognised expert in international tax planning, particularly for Luxembourg holding companies.

Vandenbulke is recommended for private equity and structured finance-related work with Laurence Jacques being ‘very efficient’ and ‘personable’.

Jean Wagener at Wagener, Rukavina & Kettenmeyer is an international tax structuring specialist, with a fine reputation.

Wildgen, Partners in Law’s Jean-Luc Dascotte is recommended by clients, and has a solid record of representing private equity, real estate and investment funds, as well as regularly advising on company reorganisations and restructurings.