The Legal 500

Within Antitrust, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Merger control matters and representations in FCO investigations are cornerstones of Latham & Watkins LLP’s practice. The team represented Schoeller Arca Systems in merger control proceedings before the FCO, and acted for key client Nestlé in the food retail investigation. It advised Tognum during its recent €3.15bn acquisition by Daimler and 
Rolls-Royce. Ulrich Börger is recommended along with Georg Weidenbach, who is ‘able to efficiently explain complex antitrust issues’.

Within Bank lending,

Latham & Watkins LLP is an excellent choice for restructuring and refinancing matters, and it also recently advised Apollo Global Management on the financing of its acquisition of Taminco, and acted for the senior lenders on EQT’s acquisition of BSN medical from Montagu Private Equity. Christina Ungeheuer ‘focuses on achieving quick and outstanding results’, Rüdiger Malaun ‘never stops until goals are achieved’, and Andreas Diem is ‘very constructive during negotiations’.

Within Capital markets, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP’s ‘very reliable’ team is ‘available 24/7’. It has exceptional high-yield bonds expertise and, on the equity side, has been advising on various cross-border matters, often with a US aspect. Highlights were advising Xella on its €300m senior secured notes offering; and J.P. Morgan and UBS on Telefónica Deutschland’s IPO. Rüdiger Malaun is ‘highly efficient’ and ‘thinks ahead’, and Roland Maass is also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP has made significant inroads in the healthcare sector, where it advised Rhön-Klinikum during takeover manoeuvres by Fresenius; and DAK on its merger with corporate health insurer BKK, which was a first-of-its-kind deal in Germany. The practice also advised photovoltaic cells manufacturer Q-Cells and its insolvency administrator on the sale of the company, capitalising on the firm’s renewable energy expertise. Henning Schneider is ‘a heavyweight both in legal terms as well as in strategy’, Stefan Widder ‘keeps cool in heated negotiations’, and Wilhelm Reinhardt ‘asserts clients’ needs and finds individual solutions’. ‘We can blindly rely on their work’, say clients.

Within Dispute resolution, Latham & Watkins LLP is a second tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP focuses on banking litigation and mass actions but also managed to expand its arbitration caseload, an area in which Sebastian Seelmann-Eggebert is well regarded. The team is representing Clerical Medical Investment Group in mass securities litigation and acting for Kemira Oyj in the first pan-European follow-on cartel damages case brought by CDC. The firm is also acting for Indorama in an investment dispute against Egypt. Ulrich Börger is a key figure.

Within Employment, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP has strong expertise in restructuring matters, where clients include Novo Nordisk, and the firm has substantial experience across the healthcare, insurance and pharmaceuticals sectors. It is advising Merck on a global HR project. Airbus Operations and HSH Nordbank are longstanding clients. The ‘very accurate’ Claudia Heins has ‘outstanding business acumen’ and is ‘a good negotiator’. Stefan Lunk is also recommended.

Within Information technology and outsourcing, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP is well known for its outsourcing practice, where clients include Deutsche Bank, as well as the data protection expertise of Ulrich Wuermeling. The team advised Stage Entertainment regarding online ticketing services contracts and, on the transactional side, advised Capgemini on the 
IT aspects of its acquisition of CS Consulting; 
and Barclays Capital on the sale of Medion to Lenovo.

Within Restructuring, Latham & Watkins LLP is a second tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP has ‘good business acumen’ and adheres to ‘very short response times’. The firm has acted on various high-profile matters recently, among them advising ING Bank as senior and mezzanine agent and Wilmington Trust as security agent in the restructuring of Primacom; and MAG Europe on its restructuring as well as the creation of a double-sided trust. The firm’s solar energy expertise attracts a number of instructions and it represented Q-Cells and its preliminary insolvency administrator in the sale process. Frank Grell is recommended along with Andreas Diem, who has ‘broad experience’ and is appreciated for his ‘good communication with banks’.

Within Press and publishing, Latham & Watkins LLP is a second tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP works closely with the firm’s media team and acts for longstanding clients such as the New York Times, which it is advising on jurisdictional issues pertaining to news articles. Another key client is publisher Spiegel, which the team has been advising on several contentious matters. Arbitrator Sebastian Seelmann-Eggebert is the key name.

Within Private equity, Latham & Watkins LLP is a first tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP’s broad practice ranges from advising large international funds to acting for mid-market investors, and the team’s industry-focused approach is proving to be popular with clients. Highlights were advising ABRY Partners on its acquisition of a minority interest in the e-shelter group, acting for Capvis on the sale of its voting rights majority in WMF, and advising investor Onex on the €600m takeover of KraussMaffei Group. Jörg Kirchner, Dirk Oberbracht and Christian Edye are recommended.

Within Real estate, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP lost figurehead Jürgen Hübner, who retired from the partnership in December 2012. However, the ‘goal-oriented’ Cord Lübke-Detring is ‘an excellent counsellor’, and the team’s ‘comprehensive advice leaves no question open’. Highlights were advising Union Investment on its acquisition of the Europa-Galerie shopping centre, and assisting J.P. Morgan Asset Management with the disposal of certain buildings.

Within Tax, Latham & Watkins LLP is a third tier firm,

Latham & Watkins LLP’s team has ‘extensive knowledge of European tax law’, and its chief strengths lie in large-scale transactions and restructuring, where the team delivers 
‘business-minded solutions’. It advised Avery Dennison on the $550m cross-border sale of its office and consumer goods business to 3M, and advised Deutsche Bank on its pan-European funds platform. Götz Wiese ‘asks the right questions’, and ‘innovative thinker’ Stefan Süss ‘understands clients’ needs and intentions’. Thomas Fox is ‘particularly strong in restructuring issues’.

Within Telecoms Other recommended firms