The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Germany > Corporate

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's broad corporate practice is headed by Matthias-Gabriel Kremer and predominantly advises large corporations and DAX 30 companies on restructuring, changes of legal form and carve-outs. Co-head of the public M&A practice Christoph Seibt is considered a reliable key contact for listed companies and also assists with corporate governance issues. Lars Meyer acts for corporations and financial investors in joint venture matters.

Linklaters assists executives, supervisory boards and leading national and international large corporations with corporate issues. The 28-partner team behind practice head Tim Johannsen-Roth advises on restructuring, changes of legal form and supervisory board-related issues among other matters, while also handling annual general meetings and acting for activist shareholders. Hans-Ulrich Wilsing and 'outstanding lawyer' Ralph Wollburg frequently advise on strategic and cross-border matters and Stephan Oppenhoff assists a range of internationally leading banks with Brexit-related issues. Staffan Illert is a 'technically outstanding and practical' key contact for stock and capital markets law and is also recommended.

Allen & Overy LLP assists large DAX and MDAX corporations with the full spectrum of important corporate matters, such as shareholder activism, corporate governance and annual general meetings, while change of legal form, restructuring and integration after successful mergers are also part of the group's expertise; in addition, the team advises on corporate aspects of capital markets compliance. The practice packs a particular punch in the financial and insurances sectors as well as in the healthcare and life sciences industries. Hans Diekmann and Christian Eichner advise on executive liability and shareholder disputes. Notably, the practice also includes experienced capital markets lawyers such as counsel Katharina Stüber.

CMS‘ 49-partner corporate practice assists a diverse client roster, ranging from family-led companies to DAX 30 corporations, with the full array of corporate matters including corporate-related compliance matters, corporate governance issues and corporate aspects of joint ventures; international restructuring and carve-outs are also part of the group's advice portfolio. The practice is headed by Maximilian Grub, Hilke Herchen and Ernst-Markus Schuberth. Furthermore, Thomas Lennarz in Stuttgart leads a team which covers shareholder and corporate disputes.

Christian Cascante and Peter Steffen Carl head Gleiss Lutz' corporate practice, which regularly advises national and international large corporations on complex restructurings and annual general meetings, while family-led companies and entrepreneurial families also belong to the client roster. The group further covers the interface between corporate law and compliance and capital markets as well as corporate disputes; in the latter, the team focuses on conflictual shareholder meetings.  

Noerr advises large German corporations on corporate core issues, such as annual general meetings and conversions as well as on cross-practice matters related to capital markets and group law; in addition, the team supports DAX 30 companies with compliance and executive liability expertise. Florian Becker in Munich und Alexander Hirsch in Düsseldorf head the practice. Oliver Sieg, also based in Düsseldorf, is key contact for and practice head of the corporate litigation team, while Lisa Guntermann, who is considered a recommended rising star, adds stock and capital markets law expertise.

SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz Rechtsanwalte AG's corporate practice advises on restructuring, conversions, annual general meetings as well as executive liability and compliance issues; the group also has deep expertise in corporation litigation. Jochem Reichert in Mannheim heads the practice and Marc Löbbe, who assists with executive and supervisory board liability, as well as Michaela Balke, who is particularly adept in renumeration issues, are also recommended.

Glade Michel Wirtz - Corporate & Competition advises clients on the full array of corporate core matters, including the assistance of executive and supervisory boards, the handling of annual general meetings, restructuring and joint ventures, as well as representing clients in corporate and post-M&A litigation. Capital markets law advice, particularly with regards to insider law, ad-hoc publicity, voting rights notification and representation before the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority are also part of the group's expertise spectrum. Arndt Michel provides advice to executives and in contentious matters and Achim Glade predominantly assists DAX 30 companies, family-led companies as well as domestic and international financial investors.

Taylor Wessing's corporate team combines experts from the capital markets, M&A, corporate litigation and tax areas. The group's corporate expertise includes mergers, restructuring and annual general meetings. Particularly noteworthy is the firm's TW China Group, which is led by Michael-Florian Ranf and advises Chinese corporations and investors; the team has specific knowledge of the Chinese automotive industry and expertise in IT and data protection matters.

Arqis Rechtsanwälte's 16-partner practice advises on corporate aspects of transactions, joint ventures and company restructuring among other matters and also regularly assists with issues at the interface between corporate and employment law. The practice's Japan desk includes eight Japanese-speaking lawyers, who regularly assist Japanese corporations with their German ventures. In addition, the group is particularly often instructed by clients from the health sector. Jörn-Christian Schulze jointly heads the team with Shigeo Yamaguchi, who also leads the Japan Desk.

The corporate practice of Ashurst LLP  is particularly well versed in contentious corporate matters, but is also adept in advising clients on corporate day-to-day matters; the group's expertise further encompasses executive and supervisory board assistance, restructuring as well as stock corporation and capital markets law-related issues. And the team handles annual general meetings. Practice head Thomas Sacher in Munich also assists with corporate governance matters. The dispute resolution practice was recently strengthened by the arrival of Nicolas Nohlen, who joined from Hengeler Mueller.  

Dissmann Orth predominantly assists medium-sized and family-led companies with corporate issues, but also covers the interface to inheritance, employment and especially tax law. The group also acts in contentious cases as arbitrator, mediator and representative in court. Jochen Ettinger is the key contact.

Greenfort assists clients with reorganisations and restructuring as well as with annual general meetings and joint ventures. The team also covers stock corporation and company law aspects of capital issues and squeeze-outs among other matters. The five-partner practice in Frankfurt further handles corporate disputes and dispute resolution proceedings, including matters related to executive and manager liability. Daniel Röder is an 'excellent and experienced lawyer' and Ahn-Duc Cordalis has an 'eloquent manner and quick understanding'.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH's corporate lawyers assist their predominantly medium-sized client base with traditional corporate issues such as reorganisations and annual general meetings as well as with tax, energy and employment law-related corporate matters. Deep industry expertise is particularly notable in the energy and health sectors. And specific international desks, such as the Italian and Dutch desks, facilitate specialised cross-border advice. Stefan Galla heads the practice and Michael Bormann, who joined from Simmons & Simmons, has comprehensive experience in handling matters in the energy industry.

Dispute resolution is one of the central pillars of SERNETZ • SCHÄFER's corporate practice, while the team also demonstrates expertise in banking law-related issues; correspondingly, the client roster includes numerous large and regional banks. Disputes with shareholders, trustees and supervisory boards are part of the group's contentious expertise; here, Andreas Höder, Ferdinand Kruis and practice co-head Fabian Dietz-Vellmer, all based in Munich, are particularly recommended. Practice co-head Frank Schäfer is based in Düsseldorf.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's corporate capabilities are particularly visible in transactions, while the team frequently assists with post-closing matters. Corporate aspects of compliance matters as well as corporate governance are also part of the advice portfolio. Practice head Bernd Mayer covers the latter as well as corporate disputes.

Buse Heberer Fromm advises nationally and internationally operating corporations on conversions, annual general meetings, reorganisations and corporate disputes; contentious matters are handled in the Berlin, Frankfurt, Essen, Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf offices. Industry expertise exists in the energy and automotive sectors. Newly appointed practice head Peter Fissenewert often acts in compliance and restructuring-related matters. Jossip Hesse joined Hansa Partner.  

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advises clients on corporate governance, executive liability, matters pertaining to activist shareholders and reorganisations; the latter are regularly handled on cross-border level. The group additionally assists with capital markets-related issues and supports corporations in squeeze-outs and capital measures. Gabriele Apfelbacher has particular expertise in corporate governance and stock corporation law, while Thomas Kopp is considered a good contact for executive liability and compliance issues.  

Corporate governance and executive and supervisory board assistance are part of Flick Gocke Schaumburg's service offering, while the team also offers specific industry expertise in the energy, real estate, banking and insurance sectors. Additionally, advice synergies are often generated with the tax department of the firm. Michael Erkens is the key contact for compliance and liability issues and Christian Bochmann often advises on corporate succession planning.

The corporate practice of Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner predominantly advises medium-sized companies on company foundations, corporate housekeeping and corporate governance. In addition, the group assists family-led companies with succession planning and inheritance law matters. The practice has particular expertise in the health sector. Barbara Mayer and Gerhard Manz in Freiburg jointly head the practice with Arnt Göppert  in Cologne.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP assists private as well as listed companies with the preparation and implementation of annual general and shareholder meetings, executive liability, corporate governance as well as with conversions. The client base ranges from automotive, chemical and energy clients to the financial services and TMT sectors. The group regularly cooperates with the firm's compliance practice. Ferdinand Fromholzer advises at the interface to capital markets law.

GSK Stockmann has particular expertise in the automotive, real estate, technology and health industries as well as in the financial, energy and public sectors. The team advises on post-M&A disputes, company restructuring, reorganisations, start-up investment rounds as well as on corporate aspects of transactions and is further active in restructuring and compliance-related matters. Max Wilmanns in Hamburg, who also assists with private equity and venture capital issues, heads the practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills GmbH regularly advises clients from the energy, telecommunications, infrastructure and real estate sectors on corporate matters, which often includes assisting with cross-border aspects. Nico Abel, practice head and managing partner of the firm's German offices, acts for financial investors and institutions among others. Steffen Hörner, who came from Hengeler Mueller, handles tax-related corporate matters. Markus Lauer joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

K&L Gates LLP advises on corporate aspects of transactions as well as post-M&A disputes among other matters. Additionally, the team assists with capital markets-related corporate issues and the firm's international network further allows for seamless cross-border advice. Thomas Lappe in Berlin, who is particularly adept in carve-out matters, heads the practice.

Oppenhoff & Partner reorganises company structures and advises on mergers, changes of legal form and liability issues as well as on preparation and conduct of annual general meetings; the team is also often active in capital markets-related matters. The client base includes numerous medium-sized and large companies. Harald Gesell, an expert in national and international conversions, jointly heads the practice group with Stephan König,  who has particular industry expertise in the automotive, mechanical engineering and retail sectors.

Corporate housekeeping and reorganisation measures as well as complex corporate issues are all part of Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte's advice spectrum; the team is additionally adept in executive and supervisory board assistance, shareholder disputes as well as other contentious corporate matters. The client base is composed of medium-sized companies and listed stock corporations. Christian Gunßer also handles corporate financing matters and Felix Born frequently acts in stock corporation law-related cases.

Orth Kluth Rechtsanwälte assists clients with corporate governance, reorganisations, executive liability matters and corporate disputes, but has also longstanding experience in assisting with corporate aspects of joint ventures, compliance and investment rounds. The five-partner group in Düsseldorf particularly often handles corporate matters in the medical sector. Marc Henze frequently advises on conversions and Kai-Michael König is the key contact for executive liability.

P+P Pöllath + Partners assists private and listed companies with general annual meetings and changes of legal form as well as with corporate disputes; in addition, the group has particular expertise in compliance and executive liability matters. Eva Nase is the key contact at the Munich office. Former practice head Wolfgang Grobecker left to found corporate boutique offering Martius.

PwC Legal (PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft) is instructed with complex international reorganisations, carve-outs and changes of legal form among other matters, for which the team regularly cooperates across offices and practices. The Stuttgart team behind managing partner Steffen Schniepp is adept in complex structuring issues, and the Frankfurt group behind Simon Dürr is instructed by DAX companies among others. The Essen team, which includes Patrick Nordhues, also assists executives and supervisory boards and advises clients on SE structures and corporate aspects of transactions. In January 2020 former practice co-head Robert Manger in Düsseldorf left the firm for Ernst & Young Law.

Hamburg-based corporate boutique offering Raschke | von Knobelsdorff | Heiser has expertise in both contentious and traditional corporate matters. The group advises on annual general and shareholder meetings, structural measures, executive liability issues and complex corporate matters. The group further covers corporate aspects of other legal areas, such as tax, banking and capital markets law as well as international contract and trade law. Further expertise includes corporate aspects of transactions. Name partners Thorsten Raschke and Gilbert Tassilo von Knobelsdorff are recommended.