The Legal 500

Within Bank lending, tier 4

Thomas Schrell heads SJ Berwin LLP’s ‘very professional and experienced’ team, which has been busy advising on restructurings as well as acting for BHF Bank on the financing of Aheim Capital’s acquisition of Zeiss. It also advised Invesco Real Estate on financing to acquire several hotels.

Within Mid-sized deals, SJ Berwin LLP is a third tier firm,

SJ Berwin LLP enjoys a good reputation for M&A with US aspects. It advised Invesco Real Estate on the acquisition of a hotel portfolio; Lutz Mieschke on the sale of his participation in Mieschke + Hoffmann; and FAIST ChemTec on the acquisition of a business division from Aksys. Julian Lemor is ‘very committed’ and ‘a good negotiator’, and Christoph Brenner is ‘always able to adjust to the situation and his counterparts’.

Within Private equity , SJ Berwin LLP is a third tier firm,

SJ Berwin LLP provides ‘great advice’ on transactions and fund structuring. The team advised Corestate on its acquisition of a real estate portfolio; BayernLB Private Equity on purchasing a minority stake in Westfalia Automotive; and Silver Investment on its acquisition of PTF Group. Triton and Wellington Partners are clients on the fund formation side. Christoph Brenner has ‘very good analytical and negotiation skills’.

Within Real estate Other recommended firms

Within Tax , tier 4

SJ Berwin LLP gives ‘very business-minded analysis’ and adopts ‘a solutions-oriented approach’. The team frequently employs its private equity and fund structuring expertise, and recently advised AXA Private Equity on acquiring Strack/Phönix Group, and acted for 3i on its acquisition of Armor Group and its sale of MWM Group. Andreas Söffing is recommended.