At Hengeler Mueller, the consolidation and reorganisation of the banking sector remains a key focus, which reflects in numerous recent instructions related to bank sales and acquisitions. Dirk Hermann Bliesener frequently takes the lead here, he also has expertise in financial market regulation and regulatory procedures, such as proceedings against the European Union’s Single Resolution Board pertaining to bank levies. Christian Schmies is a key contact for matters pertaining to fintech, cryptocurrencies and payment services, he also advises financial institutions on regulatory issues. The advice offering is complemented by expertise in compliance, which was further strengthened with the counsel appointment of Malte Wundenberg in January 2022.
Financial services: regulatory in Germany
Hengeler Mueller
Other key lawyers:
Dirk Hermann Bliesener; Carl-Philipp Eberlein; Christian Schmies; Sven Henrik Schneider; Stefan Krauss; Malte Wundenberg
Linklaters
Linklaters covers a wide range of regulatory matters, which, combined with the firm’s corporate and M&A expertise, is frequently utilised in transactions and reorganisations in the German financial sector. Andreas Dehio often takes the lead here, he also focuses on crisis management and compliance matters. This expertise leads to regular instructions by international banks and financial institutions pertaining to licensing procedures and market launches. Other clients at national level include numerous regional banks, which, in addition to Dehio, frequently instruct practice head Andreas Steck. Frederik Winter is a key contact for insurance supervisory matters.
Testimonials
‘Available at all times, always the right choice, even for difficult and complex issues.’
‘It is particularly important to mention the level-headed and solution-oriented professionalism with which colleagues can be reached at almost any time. All meetings lead to satisfactory results in a constructive exchange and the team members obviously have a positive relationship with each other.’
‘The multinational structure helps us as a group that has a large number of national companies throughout Europe to enable efficient processing of the mandated issues.’
Work highlights
- Advising Advent International, Centerbridge Partners and their co-investors CPPIB and Goldman Sachs on all regulatory aspects and potential regulatory proceedings in connection with the takeover bid by private equity investors for SDAX-listed Aareal Bank AG.
- Advising the funds advised by Montagu Private Equity on the acquisition of Waystone Group from several institutional and management sellers.
- After the merger with the Nets Group, the team, in cooperation with the Milan office Nexi, supports the merger of SIA S.p.A into Nexi S.p.A.
Clifford Chance
Led by Marc Benzler, Clifford Chance‘s German financial regulatory practice is among the top addresses for European clients and thus regularly advises financial institutions – frequently across practices and locations – on reorganisation and implementation planning as well as on multi-jurisdictional restructurings, joint ventures, transactions and other strategic projects. The advice offering includes cooperation agreements as well as licensing and owner control procedures. Benzler and counsel Kerstin Schaepersmann also advise on derivatives and financial market infrastructure regulation. Industry expertise in the fintech sector complements this offering.
Hogan Lovells International LLP
Hogan Lovells International LLP handles a wide array of matters, including corporate and regulatory advice to large corporations on the reorganisation of their financial units; assisting banks with new product launches or licensing matters – including licensing procedures in the payment services area -; the representation of banks in proceedings against the EU’s Single Resolution Board pertaining to bank levies, as well as advising companies on BaFin special audits and financial institutions on Brexit-related business transfers. Practice head Richard Reimer is experienced in institutional and product-specific banking supervisory law.
Testimonials
‘Against the background of his many years of experience in the banking and capital market sector, Dr. Seitz has assembled a team of top-class partners who provide expert advice on the legal and regulatory status quo and emerging trends in the FinTech space.’
‘Dr. Seitz offers precise, commercial and very useful advice in a very timely and efficient manner. Highly recommended for providing regulatory advice to virtual asset providers.’
‘Main contact is Dr. Richard Reimer; he has an excellent understanding of business needs, flexibility in “risk appetite”.’
‘The team of Dr. Reimer has been known and highly valued by our company for many years. For years we have trusted in the team’s specialist knowledge.’
Key clients
Concardis GmbH
Nexi Group
Corestate Bank
Daimler AG
Deutscher Derivate Verband
Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (EAA)
EURO Kartensysteme
Grover
NordLB
NRW.BANK
PAYONE
Scalable Capital
First Data
VR Payment
Work highlights
- Advising the leading online broker Scalable Capital on its expansion to France, Italy, Spain and Austria.
- Supporting the Corestate Bank in the successful application for a permit and ongoing advice on all regulatory and corporate law issues.
- Advising a US investment bank in connection with the sale of structured products and the development of a website for the offer and sale of structured products.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP ‘s regulatory advice focuses on three areas: co-head Markus Krüger regularly takes the lead in transactions in the financial sector, while co-head Axel Schiemann frequently assists with internal investigations and enforcement procedures. The third mainstay of the practice is ongoing advice to numerous banks, private equity houses and associations on regulatory issues pertaining to German branches, licensing requirements and AML compliance.
Testimonials
‘Fast, high quality, authentic.’
‘Excellent expertise, thinking outside the box, proactive.’
‘Strong, fast, efficient and humorous team.’
‘High degree of flexibility – in terms of content and time. Extremely high level of competence in explaining complex legal issues and providing appropriate and understandable advice.’
‘Professional expertise, broad spectrum of competences, experts for all relevant topics.’
‘Dr. Markus Krüger is an outstanding lawyer who covers the most important topics such as fintech, banking supervisory law, venture capital and M&A which leads him to have an almost unique overview.’
‘Dr. Markus Krüger: Outstanding expertise and client orientation.’
‘Axel Schiemann is an excellent banking regulatory expert with in-depth regulatory expertise.’
Key clients
Aareal Bank AG
Apollo Global Management, LLC
Bankhaus Lampe
Bundesverband deutscher Banken e.V. – Einlagensicherungsfonds
dwins GmbH
eToro Group Limited
Evercore
Hg Capital
La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) / General Atlantic
Work highlights
- Advising the Supervisory Board of Aareal Bank on the investment agreement with Atlantic BidCo GmbH (Atlantic BidCo), a company founded and indirectly held by financial investors Advent International Corporation and Centerbridge Partners, LP and co-investors.
- Advised the Bundesverband deutscher Banken eV and the Einlagensicherungsfonds (ESF) in relation to the compensation of depositors of Greensill Bank GmbH who deposited via Deposit Solutions (via Sutor Bank) or Raisin (partly via Raisin Bank) under a trust account or otherwise.
- Ongoing regulatory advice to Apollo Global Management, LLC in relation to Apollo’s indirect investment in Oldenburgische Landesbank AG. In this context, the Apollo team also advised on the German banking regulatory approval process for the $43 billion merger with Athene.
White & Case LLP
The partner appointments of Martin Weber and Sebastian Pitz in January 2022 and the addition of Woldemar Häring (previously counsel at Allen & Overy LLP) at the end of 2022 strengthened White & Case LLP ‘s regulatory capabilities at the intersections with dispute resolution (Weber) and M&A (Pitz and Häring). This combined expertise is reflected in the representation of banks in proceedings before the European Court of Justice against the Single Resolution Board (SRB) pertaining to bank levies and advice to financial institutions on cooperations and restructurings. The group has additional capacities at the capital markets interface, while Pitz is also a key contact for governance issues. Practice head Henning Berger is well versed in German and European regulatory matters, issues related to ECB supervision in the eurozone and Brexit-related topics. In December 2022, counsel Carsten Lösing (regulatory issues pertaining to financial and payment services) joined YPOG as associated partner.
Testimonials
‘Large international law firm with personal service.’
‘Very high level of expertise, well-functioning team, efficient, reliable, fast.’
‘Excellent coordination between the team members, very nice and reliable interaction, great value is placed on diversity, consistently high in-depth knowledge of the fintech sector at the intersection with capital markets.’
‘The Berlin team around Dr. Henning Berger and Dr. Martin Weber convinces with high professional competence and implementation strength.’
Key clients
Deutsche Bank AG
Bayrische Landesbank (BayernLB)
Deutsche Kreditbank AG (DKB)
Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba)
DZ BANK AG
DZ HYP AG
DVB Bank SE
Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband (DSGV)
Entschädigungseinrichtung deutscher Banken GmbH
Luko
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW)
N26 GmbH, N26 Bank GmbH
Bitpanda
Wefox
Work highlights
- Advice to the DSGV with regard to regulatory findings by the ECB and BaFin regarding the security system of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe.
- Representation of DB, BayernLB, DKB, Helaba, DZ BANK, DZ HYP and DVB Bank before the European Court of Justice and the European Court of Justice respectively against the Single Resolution Board (SRB) regarding annulment proceedings against the resolutions on the calculation of ex-ante-contributions to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF).
- Advising Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW) on the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Berlin Hyp AG from Landesbank Berlin Holding AG.
Allen & Overy LLP
Allen & Overy LLP follows an international and interdisciplinary approach in advising financial and payment service providers on transactions, outsourcing projects and business model expansions. Additionally, the group has experience in assisting banks with incorporations and subsidiaries in Germany as well as compliance. These competences correspond with the regulatory expertise of practice head Alexander Behrens, who also covers regulatory audits. Counsel Woldemar Häring (focus on M&A transactions in the financial sector) joined White & Case LLP as partner at the end of 2022.
Testimonials
‘Quiet and experienced team with a good overview.’
‘Alexander Behrens is a reliable and proactive advisor who deals with complex problems in a precise manner.’
Key clients
Banco Santander
Bank of America
Bank of New York Mellon
Deutsche Bank
Goldman Sachs
ING Bank
BlockFi
Lloyds Bank
Morgan Stanley
Nomura
SMBC Bank
SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Société Générale
Standard Chartered
Credit Suisse
Volkswagen AG
Volkswagen Financial Services and Bank
Citi Group
BNPP
Bitpanda
Banco Santander
Bank of America
Bank of New York Mellon
CMS
Due to its industry expertise in the sectors automotive and commercial vehicles, CMS was recently instructed by automotive banks and leasing institutions pertaining to the incorporation of deposit-taking banks. Co-head Joachim Kaetzler regularly takes the lead here, while co-head Andrea Munich recently assisted national and international financial services providers and securities institutions with remuneration issues in cooperation with the employment law team. Other core competencies include matters related to institutional risk management, licensing procedures, transactions and compliance as well as clients' representation in proceedings against BaFin and the Bundesbank.
Testimonials
‘Ms. München and Mr. Kaetzler have a pleasant demeanor.’
Key clients
Willis Towers Watson
Bankhaus Metzler
Edenred Deutschland
Aareal Bank
BCB-Gruppe
Greensill Bank
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
Work highlights
- Advising several national and international financial services providers and securities institutions on regulated remuneration matters.
Noerr
Noerr pursues a full-service approach and comprehensively advises banks, investors, companies and private equity houses on financial regulatory issues. In addition to transactional matters and cooperation agreements, the team regularly assists with the structuring of new business models – including those related to fintech – as well as MiFID II and AML compliance. Jens Kunz (Frankfurt) is a key contact for issues pertaining to money laundering law, where he frequently cooperates with the criminal law team. Kunz jointly heads the practice with insurance supervisory law expert Thomas Heitzer (Hamburg).
Testimonials
‘Particular experience and outstanding expertise. Very fast and reliable.’
‘They use their experience from a wide variety of mandates for their clients in a targeted manner.’
‘Extremely knowledgeable; creative solutions; readily willing to perform.’
Key clients
Baader Bank AG
Dragoneer Investment Group
FlatexDEGIRO Bank AG
Frankfurter Volksbank eG
Inflexion
Kaufland
Summit Partners
Wirecard AG (Insolvenzverwalter)
Credi2 GmbH
Deutsche Bank AG
LVM Landwirtschaftlicher Versicherungsverein Münster a.G.
Work highlights
- Advising Baader Bank AG on the effects of MiFID II on various bank services, such as a new cooperation with a securities services company.
- Advised Dragoneer Investment Group on the financing round for N26 with an overall evaluation of approximately $9 billion.
- Advising Kaufland on the acquisition of the Real Digital Business. An essential part of the mandate was regulatory advice on the restructuring of the payment services obtained from the online marketplace through the spin-off and sale of the payment institute, which initially belonged to Real Digital Business, as well as the development and negotiation of a payment services package for the online marketplace with a payment service provider in Germany.
Annerton Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Annerton Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH offers an experienced practice in regulatory and payment transaction issues in the fintech sector and thus regularly advises (digital) banks, platforms and fintech companies on cooperation agreements – Susanne Grohé (Berlin) and Frank Müller (Munich) are among the key contacts here – as well as on German market entry, the launch of new payment products, license procedures and regulatory issues in the transactional sphere. Interfacing topics such as IT, data protection, compliance and money laundering law also form part of the advice offering. Anna Izzo-Wagner heads the Frankfurt office, she is well versed in banking supervisory and investment law.
Other key lawyers:
Susanne Grohé; Frank Müller; Peter Frey; Christian Walz; Matthäus Schindele; Anna Izzo-Wagner; Alireza Siadat; Nasim Jenkouk; Florian Lörsch
Testimonials
‘Always practical, results-oriented and close to the needs of the clients. The team is diverse in that an above-average number of women work as partners in the law firm.’
‘Last but not least, it should be noted that they “know what they are talking about”. One clearly notices the many years of experience of the lawyers and always feels well advised.’
‘Hands-on experience with regulators; pragmatic, yet detailed approach; timely feedback.’
Key clients
Anlagenwert Hamburg GmbH
finleap connect GmbH
FRESH VENTURES OÜ (Lendorse)
NAEV-Immo GmbH & Co. KG Geschl. InvKG
RIDE GmbH
Värdex Suisse AG
Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) Filiale Deutschland
Fireblocks
Swarm Capital
Trustody
Hyphe
Algotrader
Classic Token
Amazing Blocks AG
1inch Exchange
Decus Network GmbH
Blockchain Helix AG
New Horizon GmbH
Volksbank Mittweida eG
Prepaid Verband Deutschland e.V.
PAYONE GmbH
LAVEGO AG
Ferrari Financial Services GmbH
Accel Growth Fund V L.P.
Accel London VI. L.P.
Taylor Wessing – Provinzial
Founders Fund Trade Republic LLC
Teylor AG
Enertrag EnergieInvest GmbH
CQS (UK) LLP
Feri Trust (Luxembourg) S.A. – Niederlassung Deutschland
HIH Warburg Gruppe
Bank of Communications Co. Ltd.
Nufin GmbH
Delivery Hero SE
Mangopay
Business Service Solution GmbH
Byte Federal, Inc
PPRO Holding GmbH
Penta FinTech GmbH
Tomorrow GmbH
adorsys GmbH
FinTecSystems GmbH
October Deutschland GmbH
Capitell Vermögens-Management AG
Kuder Familypartner GmbH
Work highlights
- Advice to DZ Bank on all regulatory issues and on the use of DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) in the context of payment processing.
- Advising the largest online credit marketplace Smava on all banking and banking regulatory issues as well as trading regulations. In particular, comprehensive advice on the introduction of new products and services and new cooperation agreements with banks.
- Ongoing regulatory advice to one of the largest banks in Germany.
Gleiss Lutz
The team at Gleiss Lutz regularly combines its regulatory expertise with capacities at the corporate law and M&A interface. In addition to this cross-practice approach, the firm also strengthened its ties with firms from the European network thanks to the opening of the London location in January 2022. Recently, the team was intructed by clients from the fintech and startup sector, where the group frequently assisted foreign players with German market entry. Practice head Maximilian von Rom routinely advises German and international banks, financial service providers as well as companies.
Key clients
Aareal Bank AG
American Express
ATU
Binance, Ripple und Revolut
Circle Internet Financial Limited
Coatue Management, L.L.C.
Global Payments Inc.
HELABA Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale
Kistefos AS
Landschaftsverband Rheinland
Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG
Morgan Stanley
MecArthur Holding GmbH
Oddo BHF Asset Management
Oquendo
Provinzial Asset Management GmbH
Provinzial Rheinland Holding AöR
Paladin Asset Management Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesesllschaftsv.
Pareto Securities
RoboMarkets Deutschland GmbH
Stifel Europe Bank AG
Scope Ratings GmbH
Targobank AG
Transcontinental Fund Administration, Ltd.
ThyssenKrupp
Union Asset Management
Union IT-Services GmbH
Willis Towers Watson
Zalando SE
ZBI GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising Coatue Management on regulatory matters pertaining to an investment in N26 Bank’s Series E financing round.
- Advising Scope Ratings on regulatory issues.
- Advising HELABA Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale on efficiency increase regarding the savings bank business and on a potential acquisition of Berlin Hyp AG.
GSK Stockmann
GSK Stockmann frequently advises on digital and innovative financial products, including BaFin licensing procedures and cooperation agreements. The Munich-based team regularly cooperates with the firm’s Luxembourg location headed by Andreas Heinzmann when assisting with the structuring of new financing platforms and investment matters. In Germany, Robert Kramer is a key contact for funds matters and transactions, while Timo Patrick Bernau covers the fintech intersection. Kramer and Bernau jointly head the team, which also advises on compliance, ESG as well as institutional remuneration issues.
Testimonials
‘Two-way proactive communication. Sound knowledge. Access to relevant decision makers.’
‘GSK Stockmann combines a high level of technical expertise with a very good overview of what is customary in the market. GSK always responds to the needs of the client and offers advice taking into account the individual circumstances.’
‘The good teamwork and the exchange within GSK Stockmann is remarkable.’
‘The precision with which every topic is examined in a timely, thorough and comprehensive manner. In addition, the contact persons can always be reached promptly and can provide initial information quickly if necessary.’
‘Topics are passed on without delay. One of the lawyers always takes on the questions. Good accessibility.’
‘The law firm responds to the needs of the clients and also offers a financially tailored solution if it is not part of a major assignment. Adherence to deadlines is also a priority.’
‘Philippe Lorenz and Patrick Bernau are outstanding specialists in crowd investing platforms and the new ECSP ordinance.’
‘Dr. Timo Bernau is a very pleasant advisor. Always available. Reliable advice. Legally very sound.’
Key clients
Red Partners LLC., Chicago
ABLV Bank AS
BECKEN Holding GmbH
Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., Zweigniederlassung Frankfurt RaboDirect Deutschland
Immutable Insight GmbH
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gGmbH
Frankfurt School Financial Services GmbH
Gothaer Versicherungsgruppe
Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank AG
IFS Independent Financial Services AG
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg
Lux Kapitalmarkt Management AG
portagon GmbH (vormals CrowdDesk GmbH)
solarisBank AG
Zinsbaustein GmbH
Work highlights
- Legal, regulatory and contractual advice on the planning and implementation of mobile payment concepts with digital payment cards for Apple Pay and on HCE platforms for a large German banking group.
- Advising SolarisBank AG on a number of different new collaborations with other regulated and non-regulated players, including crypto trading and lending, direct lending models, payment solutions and e-money products.
- Advising an IT service provider, which belongs to the corporation of a fund issuing house, in the BaFin licensing procedure for acquiring a license as crypto securities registrar according to the German Banking Act (KWG), including the creation of technical documentation as well as internal and external compliance documentation.
Mayer Brown LLP
The regulatory practice at Mayer Brown LLP closely cooperates with the capital markets team and thus frequently advises on interfacing matters such as derivatives regulation (EMIR), securities sales and issues pertaining to benchmarks as well as transactions. The team is regularly instructed by banks and associations on current market developments, such as Brexit and changes to LIBOR. Practice head Patrick Scholl and his team recently assisted the Association of German Banks (Bundesverband deutscher Banken) with the implementation of EMIR-related new standards pertaining to initial margin security.
Other key lawyers:
Marcel Hörauf; Alexei Döhl
Testimonials
‘Proactive, solution-oriented, pragmatic, quick to implement and always pleasant to work with – everything a client could wish for.’
‘The law firm MB delivers what it promises at a very high level!’
‘The colleagues in the team (both partners and associates) are technically extremely competent and at the same time super friendly. At the same time, what distinguishes the team is that the approach is always very solution-oriented and pragmatic – without ignoring or downplaying legal risks.’
‘The exchange of content is fun, as an in-house lawyer one is not treated differently, discussions are on a par.’
‘Patrick Scholl: Technically one of the smartest people I know, at the same time very pragmatic and solution-oriented. In addition, incredibly likeable, so that the exchange is always fun on an interpersonal level. The other team members are also very competent, reliable and super friendly.’
‘The many years of cooperation with Patrick Scholl and his team are a guarantee for us of in-depth analyzes of our legal problems and these are answered professionally and very competently. We also appreciate the cooperation on a personal level.’
Key clients
J.P. Morgan AG
DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale
Hamburg Commercial Bank
Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank
Deutscher Derivate Verband e.V. (DDV)
Bundesverband deutscher Banken e.V. (BdB)
SERNETZ • SCHÄFER
SERNETZ • SCHÄFER impresses with relevant litigation expertise with frequent instructions from national and international banks, where practice head Frank Schäfer and Helge Großerichter are among the key contacts. The team also advises companies and associations on the payment services supervision law (ZAG), insurance supervisory law and various general banking and banking supervisory issues.
Other key lawyers:
Jörg Mimberg; Thomas Eckhold; Ferdinand Kruis; Helge Großerichter; Thomas Klanten
Testimonials
‘Long-established law firm with strong mandates in the banking industry.’
‘High-level legal expertise combined with extensive practical experience in and out of court.’
‘Innovative, practice-oriented, solution-oriented.’
‘The Sernetz Schäfer team is characterized by outstanding specialist knowledge in the field of general civil law, credit agreement law and banking supervision.’
‘The lawyers do not shy away from conducting their own detailed research as part of the investigation of the facts. Only top marks can be awarded in terms of the planning and conduct of proceedings.’
‘Very profound knowledge of banking supervisory law combined with a strong practical and solution-oriented approach, good understanding of some complex banking transactions, very professional representation of the client before the supervisory authorities.’
‘Prof. Dr Frank Schäfer: Experienced expert who always comes up with a practical solution.’
‘Prof. Schäfer is an expert in financial market supervisory law. Quick and clear advice. Highly recommended.’
Key clients
Bayern LB
Bundesverband Deutscher Banken, BdB
Deutsche Pfandbriefbank
ProSiebenSat1 SE
UniCredit Bank AG
WealthCap
Wirecard Bank AG
Work highlights
- Advice to Wirecard Bank as a result of the Wirecard scandal, in particular on the (completely new) regulatory liquidation of the institute in close coordination with BaFin.
- Advising Hypo Real Estate in model proceedings in disputes under capital markets law with a dispute value of billions due to allegedly false ad hoc reports before the financial crisis (after referral by the Federal Court now back before the Munich Higher Regional Court).
- Comprehensive strategic advice to the banking association as well as to building societies and various banks on the Federal Court’s Postbank judgment, which had far-reaching consequences for banks.
Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH frequently assists banks– and to a lesser extent companies – with project work across several jurisdictions. The advice offering includes licensing procedures, cooperation agreements, ownership control procedures and product launches as well as various regulatory matters, including remuneration. Supervisory law expert Mathias Hanten heads the practice, which welcomed Arne Wittig (previously group general counsel at thyssenkrupp) in August 2021; he has extensive experience in banking law and corporate governance.
Key clients
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
DKV EURO SERVICE GmbH + Co. KG
GENO Broker GmbH (DZ Bank Group)
Sodexo Pass GmbH
InterCard AG (Verifone Group)
KAR Auction Services, Inc.
LeasePlan Deutschland GmbH
Reisebank AG (DZ Bank Group)
Sparkasse Rhein-Nahe AöR
Rothschild & Co. Gruppe
GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB
GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB advises banks and companies on banking regulatory issues, including licensing and BaFin procedures, and recently increased its case load in the financial litigation space. Practice head Yorick Ruland, who is experienced in the savings bank sector, regularly takes the lead here, while Matthias Terlau is a key contact for two further mainstays of the practice: matters pertaining to the payment services supervision law (ZAG) and fintech.
Testimonials
‘The practice is able to respond to client requests at short notice and adapt very dynamically to changing situations.’
‘Very good cooperation, short response times, outstanding expertise.’
‘The Görg team is very competent and can be recommended without reservation, especially in the area of payment transactions, ZAG and the associated regulatory issues. An end-to-end examination was conducted well and we also sought advice on data protection issues and tax law.’
‘Very pragmatic, business-oriented advice and support combined with the highest level of legal expertise.’
‘Dr. Matthias Terlau: High professional competence in banking law.’
‘Especially Dr. Matthias Terlau is recommended as an expert in the field of payment transactions. In this context, the networking of Dr. Terlau with the relevant supervisory authorities deserves special mention, as does his in-depth knowledge of future changes in the law.’
‘Dr. Terlau is open and friendly. He is very competent and also has an eye for unconventional solutions.’
Key clients
ABN Amro Bank
BNP Paribas
Deutsche Kreditbank AG
Finanzholding der Sparkasse Bremen
GENO Broker GmbH
ING
KfW
Oakley Capital
OC Payment GmbH
paydirekt GmbH
PSD Bank
Samsung Electronics GmbH
Sparkasse Köln Bonn
Kreissparkasse Köln
Sparkasse Essen
Sparkasse Neuss
Work highlights
- Representation of investment funds in proceedings against Bayer AG due to incorrect capital market information, among other things in connection with the omitted ad hoc announcements on the takeover of Monsanto.
- Comprehensive advice in connection with claims totaling around €900 million against Wirecard AG, the governing bodies (board of directors and supervisory board) and the auditing firm EY.
- Representation of Sparkasse Köln-Bonn in model proceedings against the Federation of German Consumer Organizations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband – vzbv) in connection with bank charges pertaining to the amendment clause to the general terms and conditions.
Lindenpartners
Lindenpartners routinely advises lending associations, banks and asset managers on banking regulatory matters. The practice experienced a recent increase in project work in the sustainable finance and digitisation space, where practice head Lars Röh regularly takes the lead. Additionally, Nils Ipsen represents clients before German and European supervisory authorities. This advice offering is complemented by payment transaction law expertise with frequent instructions from fintech companies.
Other key lawyers:
Nina Scherber; Nils Ipsen
Testimonials
‘Lindenpartners is a very approachable and reliable law firm with experienced advisors from the areas of fintech, banking and finance law.’
‘We have been working with the team for a number of years and the broad coverage of supervisory law, contract law, IT and data protection law coupled with an always goal-oriented, pragmatic and also economically oriented approach have helped us in various legal matters.’
‘Above all, we appreciate the cooperation at eye level, the ability to quickly translate the requirements of us non-lawyers into contracts and the goal-oriented advice at all times – even in very complex situations.’
Key clients
Berliner Sparkasse
Berliner Volksbank
Bundesverband der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken
DKM Darlehenskasse Münster eG
Deutscher Derivate Verband (DDV)
Deutscher Sparkassen- und Giroverband (DSGV)
Deutsche WertpapierService Bank (dwpbank)
Fidor Bank
Liqid Investment
Hamburger Sparkasse AG
Weberbank
Work highlights
- Advising the Deutsche WertpapierService Bank on a bitcoin custody offer for retail customers.
- Advising the Bundesverband der Deutschen Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken on the implementation of sustainable finance regulation into digitised securities operations.
- Advising the Deutsche Derivate Verband on the implementation of the project sustainable finance.
Waldeck Rechtsanwälte PartmbB
Waldeck Rechtsanwälte PartmbB focuses on the two central pillars fintech and crypto. The team advises on the trade of crypto assets, issuance of tokens, outsourcing, compliance and, increasingly, on banking litigation. Additionally, companies, banks and other financial service providers benefit from ongoing advice on supervisory regimes for securities institutions (WpIG), licensing procedures and transactions. Jan Liepe and Hendrik Pielka jointly head the practice and are well versed in the crypto sector. Lucas Paolazzi (banking and securities supervisory law) made partner in January 2023.
Testimonials
‘Well-established team that also works in an uncomplicated and effective manner with the other practices. Very flexible, solution- and practice-oriented with excellent knowledge of the market.’
‘Very knowledgeable and effective. All team members are very confident in their fields.’
‘Approachable, experienced and spirited!’
‘Very professional and always available at short notice. Client requests excellently implemented; The complexity of the matter was recognized immediately and therefore direct and exclusive cooperation with partners.’
‘Jan Liepe and Hendrik Pielka are strategically good, clever, team players and meticulous – and completely unpretentious at the same time.’
‘Hendrik Pielka, Jan Liepe: Very experienced and competent advisors with a good overview of the market. In-depth market and industry knowledge and very high level of expertise in the regulatory environment.’
‘Pielka and Liepe are technically excellent and also fierce, even with highly complex and unusual issues; tactical thinking also in political matters.’
Key clients
Athelios Vermögensatelier SE
Austen Morris Associates
Bankhaus Scheich AG Wertpapierspezialist
BCA AG
BfV Bank für Vermögen
BMCE Euroservices S.A.
Development Company for Israel (Europe) GmbH
DLT Finance Holding AG
EUWAX Aktiengesellschaft
Hellwig Wertpapierhandelsbank GmbH
ING
İşbank AG
Lang & Schwarz AG
lemon.markets GmbH
mwb fairtrade Wertpapierhandelsbank AG
National Westminster Bank Plc
Renell Wertpapierhandelsbank AG
SE TradeCom Finanzinvest
Sparda-Bank Berlin eG
SRH AlsterResearch AG
tick Trading Software AG
Tradias GmbH
UmweltBank AG
Unicâmbio – Instituição de Pagamento, S.A.
Ucambio Exchange & Money Transfer GmbH
Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH
Verband der Wertpapierfirmen e.V. (bwf)
vwd TransactionSolutions AG
Walter Ludwig GmbH Wertpapierhandelsbank
Work highlights
- Advising and representing Tradias GmbH in connection with the conception and sale of tokenized bonds, in particular in the real estate sector, as well as tokenized bonds and participation rights that are issued by cooperation partners of Tradias GmbH as issuers and which are traded as market makers on the trading platform operated by Tradias with Bankhaus Scheich Wertpapierspezialist AG.
- Advising Bankhaus Scheich Wertpapierspezialist AG on the placement of convertible bonds issued by Artec technologies AG as crypto securities in accordance with the new eWpG, as well as the handling of the subscription right.