AKD > Luxembourg, Luxembourg > Firm Profile

AKD
40, Avenue Monterey
L-2163 LUXEMBOURG
Luxembourg

Luxembourg > Private equity Tier 2

With a willingness to ‘go the extra mile, and a solutions/client-driven mentality’, AKD has rapidly gained market share since it was established in Luxembourg in 2016, becoming a popular choice for financial sponsors and referring law firms to provide advice regarding financing and investment structures in Luxembourg for acquisitions abroad. Cedric Bless provides ‘pragmatic and thoughtful advice’ to clients both in a new money context and from a restructuring perspective. The ‘experienced and very hardworking’ Nicolas Marchand co-heads the team alongside Bless and is particularly noted for his work in the real estate space.

Practice head(s):

Cédric Bless; Nicolas Marchand

Other key lawyers:

Imède El Moudden; Benoît Charpentier; Sébastien Dauber

Testimonials

The responsive team provides outstanding advice.’ 

They have a very sensible approach to work, a willingness to help even meaning going the extra mile, and a solutions/client-driven mentality.’ 

Cédric Bless is a great lawyer and provides pragmatic and thoughtful advice.’

Nicolas Marchand is experienced and very hardworking.’

Key clients

Pictet Alternative Advisors (Europe) SA

AIMCo

Eni

Miya group

London Metric Property Plc

Peakside

Bridgepoint

Oxenwood

Roark Capital

Colony

ARB

Gates

Atilus

MNK Partners

Apax

ICAMAP

Ridgemont Equity Partners

Xerys

Blueorchard

Schroders Capital

Kronos

Work highlights

  • Advising Pictet Alternative Advisors (Europe) S.A. in various matters regarding setting up acquisition and investment structures.
  • Advising AIMCo in various matters, including the implementation of its Long-Term Asset Class strategy and forming financing and investment structures in Luxembourg for acquisitions.
  • Advising Stellex in various matters, including forming financing and investment structures in Luxembourg for acquisitions abroad.

Luxembourg > Tax Tier 3

AKD provides 'clear and concise advice and support' to investment fund clients in particular, across the life cycle of their work, from establishment and ongoing compliance through to downstream investment matters. The 'outstanding' Ayzo Van Eysinga and 'level-headed' Rutger Zaal co-head the team and are particularly accomplished at handling private equity and real estate matters.

Practice head(s):

Ayzo van Eysinga; Rutger Zaal

Other key lawyers:

Stéphanie Viot

Testimonials

‘The team provides clear and concise advice and support. This is all provided in a very commercial manner.’

‘AKD Luxembourg is a well-integrated team of lawyers that not only provides excellent advice but that gives the client the feeling of being understood. The team strives to understand the entrepreneurial aspects of the clients’ requests and is often instrumental in identifying and implementing structural solutions.’

AKD Luxembourg is able and willing to provide small to mid size clients with the same kind of attention as large corporate clients.’

‘Ayzo van Eysinga is an outstanding lawyer and entrepreneur who commits himself personally to achieving the clients’ objectives while always being friendly, constructive and good for a laugh even after long negotiations.’

‘Rutger Zaal is the rock in the storm, staying level headed and providing excellent tax advice.’

Key clients

The Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo)

Peakside Capital advisors

ARB Advisors

Cheniere

Stellex

LGT

Kadens

KGAL

Kronos

PICTET

Partners Group

Neuberger Berman

Agile

Bridgepoint

Schroders Adveq

JPMorgan

Luxembourg > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 4

The ‘client-focused’ team at AKD continues to gain traction in the market as a result of its ability to provide ‘dynamic, solutions-oriented and tailor made advice’ to borrower clients across a wide range of cross-border banking and capital markets matters. Yann Hilpert is ‘responsive and experienced’ and excels at handling acquisition and asset finance mandates. Hilpert co-heads the team alongside recently promoted partner Arnaud Barchman, who is ‘pragmatic, business oriented and very knowledgeable’ across securitisation and DCM mandates in particular. The team is rounded out a partner level by Jasper Verhoog, who specialises in financial supervision and securities law, and acts as main liaison between the firm’s Luxembourg and Dutch offices.

Practice head(s):

Yann Hilpert; Arnaud Barchman

Other key lawyers:

Jasper Verhoog; Delphine Gomes

Testimonials

‘The team provides excellent, dynamic, solutions-oriented and tailor made advice.’

‘The team at AKD is client focused. They work to understand our needs and timelines and then they deliver accordingly, which builds trust.’

‘Yann Hilpert is responsive and experienced. He provides “No fuss” efficient legal advice.’

‘Arnaud Barchman is super responsive and attentive to client needs.’

‘Arnaud Barchman is the go-to person, he is pragmatic, business oriented and very knowledgeable and agile.’

‘Strong finance credentials with a positive solution based approach.’

‘Delphine Gomes and Arnaud Barchman provide top quality advice without point scoring. They are very collaborative.’

‘AKD is a human-sized firm, with a dedicated and loyal team. Great expertise in the market, proactive and engaging staff.’

Key clients

KKR

Morgan Stanley

AIMCo

Oxenwood

International Finance Corporation

KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH

Cain International

Pictet Group

Bridgepoint

TREA ASSET MANAGEMENT S.G.I.I.C. S.A.

Reference Financial Services S.A.

Intermediate Capital Group

Morgan Stanley

Natixis

Greystar

Alaric Securities

Catalina Holdings

Baytex Energy Corp.

U.S. Bank

Unzer

Stellex Capital Management

Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale

Work highlights

  • Acted as trusted advisor to Unzer on all legal matters in Luxembourg, with a strong focus on regulatory work.
  • Assisted KKR on a securitisation transaction with PayPal for a value in excess of €40bn.
  • Assisted an aircraft manufacturer on the lease of two airliners to a Luxembourg-based airline.

Luxembourg > Investment funds Tier 4

Having enlarged its practice in recent years, both through organic growth and lateral hires, AKD is increasingly well-equipped to handle a growing amount of work from fund managers, as well as through referrals from international law firms. The 'pragmatic and commercial' Jevgeniy Nesch has extensive experience advising on the establishment of regulated and unregulated alternative investment funds, and is 'particularly strong on transactions where German law concepts and intricacies are of importance'. Virginie Leroy co-heads the team alongside Nesch and has a well-rounded perspective on the fund life cycle, including ESG-related matters.

Practice head(s):

Virginie Leroy; Jevgeniy Nesch

Other key lawyers:

Astrid Vaillant

Testimonials

‘It is a well-resourced team that is diligent and responsive.’

‘Professional hands-on approach with great technical skills – get the things done.’

‘Virginie Leroy is great to work with – she is available and attentive.’

‘Jevgeniy Nesch provides pragmatic and commercial advice. They are the standout partners we go to.’ 

‘Jevgeniy Nesch is particularly strong on transactions where German law concepts and intricacies are of importance.’

‘Jevgeniy Nesch is highly knowledgeable and responsive, well-connected and able to put clients into contact with the right people.’

Key clients

Alberta Investment Management Corp.

AECF (Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund)

Azzurra Capital Management FZE

Azzurra Capital Investments SCSp, SICAV-RAIF

Bluefield Partners LLP / Revive Solar

Green Capital Invest

Energan

Evoila

INFIBA

Interritus

Jindal Group

Lamar Developments

Nivallion

Peakside Capital Investors

Pictet Alternative Advisors (Europe) S.A.

Oxenwood

ARB Investment Partners SCSp

GreyStar Equity Partner Asia Pacific

MBaer

Work highlights

  • Assisted Azzurra Capital Investments on the structuring of a multi-compartment fund structure investing in high-quality PE.
  • Advising on the establishment of a €150m RAIF fund for Bluefield Partners LLP, dedicated to investing in solar photovoltaic, wind, hydro, and storage technologies across Western Europe and the Nordics.
  • Advised AIMCo, a large North American investment manager, on the establishment of a SIF sub-fund pursuing an opportunistic real estate investment strategy with elements of para-hotel services.

Luxembourg > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 5

AKD‘s corporate team regularly works alongside its tax team to provide ‘solutions-oriented’ advice to funds and corporates on Luxembourg law structuring associated with cross-border M&A activity. Cédric Bless provides ‘pragmatic and thoughtful advice’ to private equity firms and co-heads the team alongside Nicolas Marchand, who is ‘very experienced in Luxembourg corporate law,’ particularly in the context of the real estate market.

Practice head(s):

Cédric Bless; Nicolas Marchand

Other key lawyers:

Imède El Moudden; Benoît Charpentier; Sébastien Dauber

Testimonials

‘AKD’s corporate practice is well regarded in the market as being competent, efficient and very reactive.’

‘They have a very sensible approach to work, a willingness to go the extra mile, and a solutions-oriented approach.’

‘Nicolas Marchand is hard-working, very experienced in Luxembourg corporate law and is a pleasure to work with. He is also reliable and available to his clients.’

‘Nicolas Marchand is responsive, technical and pragmatic approach.’

‘Cedric Bless is attentive to client needs and expectations and solutions oriented. We value his responsiveness and pragmatic and thoughtful advice.’

‘AKD is a very experienced law firm, very attentive to clients’ needs and expectations, flexible and diverse in terms of expertise.’

‘Nicolas Marchand provides high level corporate law advice and is always available and ready to help.’

‘The team is enjoyable to work with and very responsive.’

Key clients

Pictet Alternative Advisors (Europe) SA

AIMCo

Eni

Miya group

London Metric Property Plc

Peakside

Bridgepoint

Oxenwood

Roark Capital

Colony

ARB

Gates

Atilus

MNK Partners

Apax

ICAMAP

Ridgemont Equity Partners

Xerys

Blueorchard

Schroders Capital

Bunge

Work highlights

  • Advised Bridgepoint on various matters, including forming financing and investment structures in Luxembourg for acquisitions made abroad.
  • Advised Pictet Alternative Advisors (Europe) S.A. on various matters, including setting up acquisition and investment structures.
  • Advised Peakside Capital Advisors in various matters, including setting up acquisition and investment structures.

Customer satisfaction is at the heart of our Luxembourg office’s philosophy and of our firm in general, with all clients being given the same high level of dedication. From mid-size businesses to large private equity firms, all are given the same undivided attention from the team. Clients value the Luxembourg team’s responsiveness, in-depth knowledge of the financial markets and constant dedication to achieving their commercial objectives.

Luxembourg has for long been at the forefront of the trends and evolutions relating to the financial markets and structured finance environment. It grew to become a well-established financial centre in Europe with worldwide recognition, known as one of the world’s safest and business friendly environment.

Our Luxembourg office consists of a highly experienced team of lawyers and tax specialists, top-level service, and its strong emphasis on customer care.

In Luxembourg, we cooperate with many US and UK international firms who do not have a footprint in Luxembourg. Luxembourg’s famously diverse population is reflected in AKD’s multilingual and multinational staff.

Department Name Email Telephone
Banking & Finance Yann Hilpert yhilpert@akd.eu +352 26 75 82 301
Banking & Finance Jasper Verhoog jverhoog@akd.eu +31 6 55 39 58 04
Corporate/M&A Cédric Bless cbless@akd.eu +352 6 91 55 88 56
Corporate/M&A Nicolas Marchand nmarchand@akd.eu +352 6 91 55 88 13
Investment management Jevgeniy Nesch jnesch@akd.eu +352 6 91 55 80 72
Investment management Virginie Leroy vleroy@akd.eu +352 6 91 55 88 98
Tax Ayzo van Eysinga avaneysinga@akd.eu +352 6 91 55 88 33
Tax Rutger Zaal rzaal@akd.eu +352 6 91 55 88 38
Tax Stéphanie Viot sviot@akd.eu +352 26 75 82 334
Number of lawyers : 270
Other offices : Amsterdam
Other offices : Breda
Other offices : Brussels
Other offices : Eindhoven
Other offices : Rotterdam

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