Latham & Watkins LLP > Munich, Germany > Firm Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Germany > Antitrust Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP is one of the top addresses in antitrust law and impresses with industry expertise in technology and digitisation matters as well as a diverse national and international practice. The support in cartel damages compensation claims and market power abuse proceedings is among the mainstays, where the team regularly represents large players from the technology sector, such as digital platforms or telecommunications services providers, before the Federal Cartel Office, the European Commission and relevant courts. These capacities also include the expertise in current issues in connection with the § 19a GWB digitisation amendment. Michael Esser is experienced in the fintech, telecoms and e-commerce industries and focuses on digitised matters, where he is supported by Jan Christoph Höft, who is experienced in data protection law. The support in transaction-related antitrust law is another core focus and is regularly demonstrated in connection with German and international merger control; among the key contacts here are Sebastian Max Hauser and counsel Jana Dammann de Chapto, who are experienced in second-phase proceedings.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP offers a full-service approach and regularly advises companies, private equity funds and debt funds in addition to national and international financial institutions on private equity and M&A transactions as well as refinancing and restructuring. The team also assists with bond financing, investment grade and cross-over investment grade financing as well as private debt. Alexandra Hagelüken advises on German and English law and regularly covers cross-border matters; pertaining to the latter, the team frequently cooperates with the capital markets practice on debt capital instruments. Advising infrastructure players is among the core strengths, where Sibylle Münch is experienced in the fibre optic and energy sectors and most recently advised on various platform financings as well as investments in a European telecoms tower company. Key contact Cora Grannemann is well versed in leveraged buyouts and corporate lending matters. Kim Woggon (private equity, acquisitions and corporate finance) left the firm in April 2023.

Capital markets > Debt capital markets

Latham & Watkins LLP regularly applies its expertise in German and US law in high-yield bonds matters - particularly in the real estate sector; this is considered a particular strength of the team and frequently leads to instructions relating to the set-up of high-yield products. Here, the group primarily acts on the issuer side, but is also instructed by banks. Recent market conditions further contributed to an increasing number of restructuring-related instructions, while sustainable financing, including green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds, also frequently increase the workload. Dedicated to this range of topics, both Alexander Lentz and practice head Rüdiger Malaun focus on high-yield bonds, but are also adept at assisting with investment-grade bonds. Jan Penselin (high-yield, cross-over bonds, liability management transactions) made partner in January 2023.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP covers the full range of ECM matters based on an integrated corporate finance approach that includes transactions in relation to DCM, restructuring as well as banking and finance. The group has particular expertise in advising on alternative forms of equity financing and assisting German issuers with IPOs in the US. Practice head Oliver Seiler is experienced in IPOs, block trades and capital increases. International public takeovers, carve-outs and transactions represent David Rath's mainstays. Associate Camilla Kehler-Weiß is another key contact and covers the ECM area comprehensively.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate

Listed companies as well as family businesses, private equity investors and financial institutions across a broad range of industries instruct Latham & Watkins LLP's corporate team to advise on transactions, joint ventures and carve-outs, while the group also frequently cooperates with the firm's internal restructuring and financing practices. Since Nikolaos Paschos (general meetings and corporate governance) joined Paul Hastings LLP in February 2024, Heiko Gotsche (public takeovers, joint ventures and restructuring) has been leading the team on his own; other key contacts include Henning Schneider (focus on M&A and PE transactions) and Rainer Traugott, who assists with M&A transactions and advises executive and supervisory boards.

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences

Latham & Watkins LLP's focus in the healthcare and life sciences sector is on transaction support, where the team is regularly instructed by financial investors and industrial companies. A key strength is the support in US-related transactions, thanks to the close cooperation with the respective locations . The team is led by transaction experts Henning Schneider and Christoph Engeler; the latter also advises on regulatory issues. Associate Henrietta Ditzen is another key contact and assists with transactions and regulatory issues, thereby underlining the overall approach.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP's data protection practice is among the top German players for data privacy litigation, which the team routinely demonstrates in major disputes as well as fines and civil proceedings, including GDPR fines, before the ECJ. Tim Wybitul is a key contact here, he is among Germany's leading data protection experts. Further focus areas include the advice on transactions, financing and IPOs as well as the support to companies in connection with possible data breaches and subsequent official proceedings. The practice routinely cooperates with locations in the US, the United Kingdom, France, Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea, thereby covering cross-border matters. This expertise is a strength of Ulrich Wuermeling, who advises on European, English and German data protection law.

Private equity > Transactions

Latham & Watkins LLP assists clients with mid- and large-cap transactions, where the team regularly draws on the international network in cross-border transactions. Here, practice head Burc Hesse focuses on cross-border leveraged buy-out transactions. Other key contacts are Oliver Felsenstein, who comprehensively advises private equity companies on the entire investment value chain, and Rainer Traugott, who acts at the corporate law interface. The team’s industry expertise was strengthened with the additions of Alexander Rieger (infrastructure) from Hogan Lovells International LLP in May 2023 and Carsten Loll (real estate) from Linklaters in October 2022; both joined with a team of associates. Transaction expert Stephan Hufnagel made partner in January 2023, while M&A expert Stefan Widder joined Gleiss Lutz in September 2023.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP ‘s restructuring team offers longstanding expertise in financial and operational restructuring, including cross-border matters, and has experience in insolvencies and distressed M&A; Jörn Kowalewski frequently advises distressed investors, lenders, lender groups and steering committees as well as debtors, shareholders and governing bodies. In addition to financial and operational restructuring, practice head Frank Grell also assists with insolvency-related litigation and refinancing, while Ulrich Klockenbrink primarily supports large restructurings, distressed M&A and takeovers as well as in and out-of-court enforcements. Counsel Hendrik Hauke ​​regularly advises on takeovers of distressed companies.

Banking and finance > Financial services: regulatory Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP is well known for its regulatory expertise in M&A and private equity transactions. The team also offers assistance with regulatory audits and enforcement procedures of the ECB and BaFin as well as preventative compliance issues and reporting obligations, licensing requirements for German business activities, including cryptocurrency-related matters, and the implementation of ESG strategies. The practice is led by Markus Krüger (transactions and regulatory advice) and Axel Schiemann, who recently assisted with a cross-border investigation pertaining to AML compliance and advised a global crypto platform operator on licensing matters pertaining to crypto trading and deposits.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP ‘s multidisciplinary team comprehensively advises financial institutions, investors, fintech companies and technology companies on transactions, investments in fintech companies and regulatory issues; the latter also pertains to licensing procedures regarding new business models, including crypto asset-related services. The team frequently cooperates across locations on fintech-based business models, which is complemented by expertise in enforcement procedures and litigation. The practice is led by Axel Schiemann, who covers crypto asset-related issues as well as banking and regulatory issues in connection with fintech innovations, and Markus Krüger, who is well versed in transactions and regulatory matters.

Corporate and M&A > M&A

Latham & Watkins LLP advises major German corporations from the technology, energy and infrastructure, life sciences and healthcare sectors on transatlantic transactions and is particularly experienced in public M&A, P2P deals, carve-outs as well as distressed M&A and restructuring. Since Nikolaos Paschos (general meetings and corporate governance) joined Paul Hastings LLP in February 2024, Heiko Gotsche (joint ventures, reorganisations and carve-outs) has been the sole practice head. He is supported, among others, by Tobias Larisch, who regularly assists with transactions in the energy and infrastructure sector, and Rainer Traugott, who advises international companies, private equity houses and infrastructure investors on complex transactions. M&A and private equity transaction specialist Stephan Hufnagel made partner in January 2023 and Carsten Loll, who focuses on real estate and private equity transactions, joined from Linklaters in October 2022, as did Alexander Stefan Rieger, who specialises in M&A transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors and came from Hogan Lovells International LLP in May 2023. In September 2023, Stefan Widder (cross-border transactions) joined Gleiss Lutz.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 2

In addition to international arbitration proceedings, which often involve global shareholder disputes, Latham & Watkins LLP routinely acts for PE houses and their portfolio companies in commercial and investment arbitration proceedings as well as in post-M&A disputes; practice head Christoph Baus is one of the key contacts for commercial disputes, while Alena McCorkle and Anne Löhner are particularly experienced in complex economic and post-M&A disputes. Sebastian Seelmann-Eggebert left the firm in April 2023 and now is an of counsel at HANEFELD.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP's in-depth dispute resolution experience spans complex commercial disputes, mass litigation and data protection conflicts as well as insolvency and antitrust damages proceedings and contentious post-M&A issues - an area in which Alena McCorkle is particularly well versed - and is reflected in numerous instructions from high-profile international companies from the technology, financial services and automotive sectors. Practice head Christoph Baus is experienced in commercial litigation, while counsel Stefan Patzer's expertise covers litigation as well as of ​​out-of-court dispute resolution; Anne Löhner excels in complex, often cross-border commercial disputes, mass proceedings as well as post-M&A and shareholder disputes.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP routinely supports IT transactions, including carve-outs and the sale of software platforms thanks to the cooperation with the M&A experts. The practice also regularly assists with outsourcing projects in the financial sector, including related regulatory matters. Interfacing data protection issues are handled by Wolf-Tassilo Böhm and Joachim Grittmann. Susan Kempe-Müller's and Thies Deike's expertise in contract drafting and IP matters is frequently requested in a transactional context with a focus on software and data.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Latham & Watkins LLP's transaction-related expertise is mirrored in the practice management, where Tobias Larisch routinely advises investors and project developers as well as energy and industrial companies on national and cross-border transactions in the gas, oil, nuclear power, hydrogen and renewable energy sectors as well as battery storage. This focus was further strengthened in May 2023 with the addition of M&A expert Alexander Stefan Rieger from Hogan Lovells International LLP. Related regulatory and conflict-related issues are handled across practices.

Germany > Tax Tier 3

Compliance Tier 4

Latham & Watkins LLP's compliance team closely cooperates with its transaction practice and is experienced in transaction-related compliance due diligence, as well as supporting DAX and MDAX companies in matters pertaining to whistleblower systems, corporate governance and supply chain management. Thomas Grützner (white-collar criminal law and investigations), Tim Wybitul (data protection and administrative procedures) and Tobias Larisch (corporate law and corporate governance) jointly head the practice. Wolf-Tassilo Böhm (data protection) was appointed to counsel in January 2023.

Compliance > Internal investigations Tier 4

Latham & Watkins LLP routinely advises on due diligence matters in the transaction sphere and is also instructed by German and international companies on internal investigations pertaining to antitrust law, sanctions and embargoes, banking supervisory and employment law as well as data protection, this also includes cross-border investigations. Thomas Grützner (human rights and misconduct investigations), Tobias Larisch (corporate law and corporate governance) and Tim Wybitul (data protection and whistleblower systems) jointly head the practice. Wolf-Tassilo Böhm, who was appointed to counsel in January 2023, advises on data protection and cybersecurity.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 4

Latham & Watkins LLP is traditionally strong in transaction support, which is also evident in the real estate segment, where the team routinely supports large-scale transactions as well as related financing matters; this was recently demonstrated in advising Apollo on a €1 billion investment in a Vonovia portfolio. This approach was further strengthened in October 2022 with the arrival of real estate transaction expert Carsten Loll from Linklaters. He advises on asset and share deals as well as portfolio transactions covering all asset classes; he jointly heads the team with Otto von Gruben, who also focuses on transaction support.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 5

Latham & Watkins LLP's IT competencies include the support in transactions and outsourcing projects as well as regulatory and data protection issues. In the latter area, a recent focus was on litigation, where Tim Wybitul's team assisted with numerous GDPR fine proceedings before the authorities and the ECJ.

Germany > Employment Tier 6

Latham & Watkins LLP's employment practice has restructuring measures, including insolvency-related restructuring, at its heart, which is not least due to the close cooperation with its M&A and private equity teams. In addition to cross-practice cooperation, its employment advice is often characterised by cross-location and cross-border support. Practice head Tobias Leder usually leads on these matter, and also represents companies in litigation before employment and civil courts. The industry focus lies on healthcare and life sciences.