The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

Arendt & Medernach provides ‘extensive and in-depth’ advice to banks, funds and corporates across the spectrum of transactional and regulatory work. The team advised and assisted various banks and PFS in their establishment and authorisation process in Luxembourg. The practice has also handled a raft of acquisition finance for lenders throughout the capital structure. Philippe Dupont and Ari Gudmannsson both have an excellent reputation for structured finance matters. Founding partner Paul Mousel is also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

Arendt & Medernach advises a range of corporates, financial institutions and sponsors across the full spectrum of corporate transactions. Guy Harles has an excellent reputation on the private equity side, and recently represented a major private equity sponsor on the sale of its majority stake in a European juice maker. Jean-Marc Ueberecken is more active advising on industrial M&A transactions.

Within Dispute resolution, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

Arendt & Medernach handles a significant amount of sophisticated litigation on behalf of its ‘top-notch’ roster of corporate and banking clients. Recent highlights include achieving favourable settlements for a bank in a range of liability actions commenced for an alleged mismanagement of client monies. The team is also representing a foreign claimant in an enforcement action against a sovereign bond issuer. François Kremer handles a broad range of corporate and commercial disputes, and Christian Point specialises in real estate and construction litigation.

Within Employment, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

Arendt & Medernach represents clients from a broad array of industry sectors, although it is best known for its work on behalf of banking and industrial sector clients. The team is involved in M&A schemes and related restructuring measures, in addition to collective dismissals and social plans. Louis Berns is recommended.

Within IP and IT, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

Arendt & Medernach is very well regarded for IP litigation and also has significant capability within the IT arena. Recent litigation highlights include representing a car manufacturer in a trade mark dispute. On the non-contentious side, the firm often handles the IP elements related to M&A transactions, and also licensing work. Héloïse Bock heads the team and handles a broad spectrum of IP and IT matters.

Within Insurance, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

Arendt & Medernach has ‘good knowledge of the insurance sector’ and acts for the full spectrum of players in the field across a range of regulatory, M&A and litigation. The team recently advised a major North American group on a project for establishing its European life insurance operations in Luxembourg. Transactional insurance specialist Carine Feipel has ‘a great level of practice and knowledge’, and founding partner Paul Mousel has unrivalled experience of the financial services industry.

Within Investment funds, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

‘The best for work in the investment funds arena’, Arendt & Medernach provides a full service for the structuring and formation of regulated and unregulated funds including UCITs, real estate and private equity funds, and also acts on subsequent investments. ‘Very accomplished within the UCIT field’, the team is representing a French-based investment company in the creation of an exchange tracking fund, as well as in relation to the expansion of its range of Luxembourg UCITs. Claude Kremer, Claude Niedner, Isabelle Lebbe and regulatory specialist Michèle Eisenhuth are recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

The status quo remains largely unchanged for the leading firms in the market. Traditional independent Luxembourg firms Arendt & Medernach and Elvinger, Hoss & Prussen excel in most areas of law, while UK ‘Magic Circle’ firms Allen & Overy Luxembourg, Linklaters LLP and Kremer Associés & Clifford Chance are a natural choice on many of the more sophisticated mandates in the market, particularly those requiring a significant cross-border element. Although there has been limited disruption in the market, Bonn Schmitt Steichen split up, and two new firms were created, namely Bonn & Schmitt and Bonn Steichen & Partners.

Within Real estate, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

At Arendt & Medernach, real estate work is handled by a multidisciplinary group with lawyers deployed from the banking, investment funds, tax, administrative, and property and construction groups. The team handles a broad scope of work for domestic and international clients including structuring investment vehicles, financing, planning and litigation. The team is advising a Luxembourg-based developer on the development of a large office, residential and retail building complex. Claude Niedner and tax partner Eric Fort are recommended.

Within Tax, Arendt & Medernach is a first tier firm,

As befits a firm that benefits from very strong corporate and finance practices, a substantial amount of Arendt & Medernach’s tax work relates to the structuring of transactions, new money financings and restructurings. The team is also integral to the firm’s investment funds structuring work. Thierry Lesage and Eric Fort both have a prominent reputation in the market.