The Legal 500

Within Antitrust, tier 4

Noerr LLP has an excellent reputation advising on claims for damages matters, with the ‘outstanding’ Kathrin Westermann particularly noted. The team provided merger control advice for HUK-Coburg, defended Arkema against a damage claim, and continues to advise CEMEX regarding the damages claim of CDC against various cement manufacturers. SKW Stahl-Metallurgie instructed the team regarding the defence against a fine for alleged price and quote fixing. Karsten Metzlaff and Alexander Birnstiel head the team.

Within Banking and finance: Bank lending, tier 5

Torsten Fett heads the team at Noerr LLP, which recently expanded its practice into the realm of real estate finance restructurings, advising the Bank of Scotland on the restructuring of real estate and corporate loans. The firm also acted for VEM and its shareholders on the continuation of the financing of the Merckle group.

Within Banking and finance: Project finance, tier 4

Noerr LLP’s project finance team is led by Torsten Fett as overall head of the banking and finance division, and also includes the recommended figure of Sebastian Bock. The team assisted Bayern LB with various financings of solar parks in Spain and southern Europe; Globalfoundries as sponsor in the expansion of the AMD Fab 36 in Dresden; and the State of Lower Saxony on a PPP prison project in Bremervörde.

Within Capital markets , tier 4

Noerr LLP’s five-partner team, based in Frankfurt and Munich, acted for VEM as shareholder in the HeidelbergCement share placement, which generated around €2.2bn; and also for Constantin Film, the independent German production and distribution company, on its withdrawal from the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Georg Schneider and Thomas Schulz are recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A: Mid-sized deals, Noerr is a first tier firm,

Noerr LLP has emerged as one of the leading players in the distressed M&A arena, and the ‘exceptionally strong’ team attracts consistent praise. The team has good relations with insolvency administrators, key for attracting deals such as the restructuring of Escada. Highlights included advising Andritz Group on the acquisition of KMPT, Thomas Cook on its takeover of Öger Tours, and BBC Worldwide regarding a joint venture with the German production subsidiary of ALL3MEDIA Group. It also advised Spanish wind energy company Iberdrola Renovables on its acquisition of the German offshore wind energy project Ventotec Ost 2, part of the team’s busy renewables practice. Alexander Ritvay and Thomas Schulz are recommended.

Within Dispute resolution , Noerr is a second tier firm,

Noerr LLP snagged the nationwide litigation representation of Deutsche Bank, represented the insolvent German hockey team Kassel Huskies, and defended chemical producer Arkema against a damage claim. In the field of white-collar crime, the team represented Puma in a €115m fraud case. Michael Molitoris and Oliver Sieg are recommended, and Anke Meier joined from an experienced Den Haag arbitrator, boosting the team’s capabilities. Hans-Christian Kirchner is well regarded for his banking litigation expertise.

Within Employment , Noerr is a second tier firm,

Noerr LLP has gained visibility in the restructuring arena, through the team’s good relations with insolvency administrators and the strong mid-cap client base. Highlights included representing German airline dba in connection with the cessation of flight operations. The team also acted for Avon Cosmetics, Accenture and Mitsubishi Motors Germany. Marc Steffek is ‘extremely assertive’ and ‘delivers pragmatic results within short time’, while Georg Annuß is rated ‘best in class’. ‘The most reliable firm I worked with’, say clients, who value a team that is ‘more pragmatic and sensible with regard to costs than other big law firms’.

Within IP: trade marks , tier 4

Noerr LLP draws on its highly regarded media expertise, advising Michael Jackson’s will executor Europe-wide on related trade mark issues, and Ferrero regarding online advertising matters. Crocs and Sony Deutschland have been represented in litigation. Georg Jahn is singled out.

Within Information technology and outsourcing , Noerr is a first tier firm,

Noerr LLP remains one of the leading firms in the market, for both IT and outsourcing advice. Key partners Peter Bräutigam and Joachim Schrey are highly regarded in the market, leading a growing practice. Highlights included advising CCP Systems in proceedings in Germany and the US against IBM, and insurance group Talanx, on a multimillion-euro multi-sourcing project. The firm also advises Microsoft Germany. Villeroy & Boch instructed the team on the outsourcing of its data processing centre. The firm’s renowned media practice gives the team a headstart in related areas such as e-commerce.

Within Insolvency and restructuring: Restructuring, Noerr is a second tier firm,

Noerr LLP’s dynamic practice had a solid 2010, and features young lawyers who are increasingly recognised. The team delivers ‘great quality work’, advising Qimonda and its insolvency administrator on the sale of the chip maker’s patent portfolio, and Thomas Cook Group regarding its release from the collapse of majority shareholder Arcandor. A number of partners come in for praise, underlining the breadth of the practice, including Christian Pleister, Eckhard Martin, Thomas Hoffmann and Christoph Schotte.

Within Media: Entertainment, Noerr is a first tier firm,

Noerr LLP counts among the leading firms in the media arena, fully utilising its international capabilities. The team excels at linking its broad practice with other areas within the firm, opening up cross-selling opportunities. It represented MDR, WDR, Sat.1, and Bavaria Media in copyright proceedings, BBC Worldwide instructed the team on its joint venture with All3Media, and Studio Hamburg and Pinewood-Shepperton on its joint venture Pinewood Studio Berlin. The team also advised Barefoot Films on contracual matters regarding a Hollywood remake, and represents Michael Jackson’s testamentary executor in Germany. Martin Diesbach, Ulrich Michel and the ‘outstanding’ Johannes Kreile are particularly singled out in a team of lawyers who ‘know their stuff’.

Within Media: Press and publishing Other recommended firms

Within Private equity , tier 4

Noerr LLP has longstanding experience in handling distressed assets and restructuring transactions, and acted on a remarkable number of deals in 2010. It advised the principal shareholders in the Pepcom cable company, Veronis Suhler Stevenson and GMT Communications Partners, on the sale of their interests to STAR Capital Partners; and French private equity house Argos Soditic on the takeover of insolvent musical instrument manufacturer Schreiber & Keilwerth. Georg Schneider and Thomas Schultz are recommended.

Within Public sector , Noerr is a second tier firm,

Noerr LLP combines practice areas with affinity to public law in a newly established regulatory and governmental affairs group. The team acted for US mining company Minera on the only German copper mining project in Brandenburg and Saxony, and for the European Fertilizer Manufacturers Association regarding the allocation of carbon allowances for the chemical industry under the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. It also advised several neighbouring communities on legal proceedings regarding the expansion of Frankfurt Airport, and the German Railway Industry Association on potential amendments of the General Rail Act intended by the German government. Holger Schmitz and Alexander Birnstiel head the group, which was joined by Florian Bentele from Hengeler Mueller.

Within Real estate and construction: Construction, Noerr is a third tier firm,

Noerr LLP is recommended for its project development expertise and managed to win new client Accor, which has been advised on the construction and modernisation of numerous hotel and conference buildings. The firm advised Iberdrola on wind energy projects, and Lidl on the construction of solar collectors in various countries. Stefan Weise and Ulrich Berger are recommended.

Within Real estate and construction: Real estate, Noerr is a third tier firm,

Competitors comment on Noerr LLP’s ‘positive development’ after an internal restructuring, with Dirk Lentfer and Otto Stolberg-Stolberg, who previously headed the civil law department, jointly leading the commercial and real estate group, comprising distribution, franchising and real estate transactions. Highlights included advising Deutsche Telekom on the sale of an eight-hectare site in Munich, and CA Immo and its subsidiary Vivico Real Estate on the management and structuring of the portfolio Leo II. On the financing side, the team advised Nationwide Building Society on a real estate portfolio restructuring.

Within Tax , tier 4

Jointly headed by Georg Edelmann and Lutz Schmidt, Noerr LLP has sought to expand its transactional and structuring tax capabilities throughout its newer German offices. The team acted for Veronis Suhler Stevenson and GMT Communications Partners on the sale of their interests in Pepcom, the large cable TV operator, to STAR Capital Partners. It also advised Kennametal, the engineering components supplier, on its tax audit, and assisted Lidl on tax matters relating to a takeover in Eastern Europe.

Within Telecoms , tier 4

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.