GSK Stockmann > Berlin, Germany > Firm Profile

GSK Stockmann > The Legal 500 Rankings

Real estate and construction > Project development Tier 1

Real estate and construction > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 2

GSK Stockmann ‘s construction law practice covers all aspects of construction plans and projects, including the interfaces with environmental and planning law, public procurement and state aid law as well as private construction and architectural law. Practice head Jan Kehrberg focuses on project developments as well as construction, construction contract and public procurement law. Stefan Dorn is well versed in advising contractors on all construction and planning contracts, which includes the support of general planning contracts, the drafting and negotiation of construction contracts and the procurement of construction rights under public law as well as respective financing matters. Public construction law specialist Kerstin von Staa is particularly experienced in supporting approval procedures and representing clients before administrative courts. She made partner at the end of 2020 together with Claudia Busch (planning law) and Jonas Philipp Wilkens (project management). In January 2022, the group was also strengthened with salary partner Frederic Jürgens, previously at MELCHERS Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB, who is experienced at the interface between real estate and construction law as well as project developments.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 2

GSK Stockmann offers both transactional and asset management support and advises asset managers, project developers and institutional investors. The team has an impressive track record in portfolio transactions structured by way of share and asset deals. A core strength is the combined real estate and corporate expertise in the reshaping of joint venture structures into forward share deals. The practice is managed by Dirk Brückner and Rainer Werum. Brückner specialises in advising on real estate joint ventures and complex share deals, while Werum focuses on regulatory issues relating to open-ended real estate funds. Philip Huperz is experienced in micro-living real estate project developments and Monique Franke is well versed in supporting retail and office real estate transactions. In cooperation with the Luxembourg office, the firm assists international investors with investment opportunities in the German real estate market via private equity funds and corporate structures structured in Luxembourg. Nadine Wachendorf (commercial tenancy law and real estate transactions) was promoted to local partner in January 2021. In January 2022, the team was also strengthened with new equity partner Martin Prothmann, previously at CMS, who has experience in real estate transactions, commercial tenancy law and asset management, as well as salary partner Frederic Jürgens from MELCHERS Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB, he covers the construction law interface.

Banking and finance > Financial services: regulatory Tier 3

As an established player especially in the digitization sphere, GSK Stockmann frequently advises on the implementation of digital subscription routes and the establishment of e-money-based benefit programs. These fintech-related matters are often handled by Timo Bernau, among others, who advises on various innovative financial products and jointly heads the practice with Robert Kramer, who has expertise in the funds sector. Other practice pillars include transactions, new business models development and dispute resolution, which are all regularly handled in cooperation with the Luxembourg office headed by Andreas Heinzmann.

Banking and finance > Investment funds Tier 3

GSK Stockmann is traditionally known for its expertise in advising funds investing in real estate. Due to its close cooperation with private equity and venture capital colleagues within the firm however, these two fields are among the rising areas of interest while the team recently also expanded its activity in other asset classes. These include, for example, debt funds, which the group advises in cooperation with the Luxembourg team on matters related to investment and tax law. Petra Eckl is the key contact for tax-optimised fund structuring; she jointly heads the practice with Robert Kramer, who assists with investment and regulatory aspects of fund structuring and launch and also regularly takes the lead in transactions. As part of its regulatory advice offering, the group also increasingly assists with sustainable finance matters.

Public sector > Commercial administrative law Tier 3

In addition to its focus on municipal advice, GSK Stockmann's team increasingly supports clients at state and federal level. However, national and international corporations and NGOs also appreciate the team's expertise in approval and certification matters as well as in related disputes. The practice prepares constitutional reports, has expertise in remunicipalisation and is characterised by its proximity to the political sector. The team is headed by Wolfgang Wuerfel in Munich and Jan Hennig in Berlin, both of whom advise companies and the public sector on commercial administration issues.

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 3

GSK Stockmann's team is headed by Jan Hennig in Berlin and Wolfgang Würfel in Munich, 'sets standards in both legal expertise and networking' and acts with a clear focus on planning law issues. The practice's focus lies on advice on infrastructure planning, with renowned expert Andreas Geiger as the key contact, as well as assistance with urban development projects. Matters in the latter area are frequently taken on by Hennig and Wuerfel, among others, who predominantly advise private investors and developers, as well as occasionally cities and municipalities. The practice recently also expanded its activities in the energy and transport sectors. Claudia Busch and Kerstin von Staa made local partners in January 2021.

Public sector > Public procurement Tier 3

Acting at a 'high professional level', GSK Stockmann's team focuses on procurement law advice in the context of project developments and complex construction and real estate projects, while the team is particularly expanding its advice on partnering models in construction contracts. IT and healthcare awards are other central components of the advice offering. With the arrival of Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann and his team in 2020, the team's profile has tangibly sharpened with regards to traffic and infrastructure issues. Jenny Mehlitz has 'excellent expertise' and jointly heads the practice with Hausmann in Berlin.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 4

GSK Stockmann typically advises on issues requiring supervisory law, IT and data protection expertise, which results in instructions pertaining to  the structuring of digitized financing platforms, the establishment of digital and e-money-based products, digital identities or electronic signatures; supervisory law expert Timo Patrick Bernau  routinely leads on these matters.

Banking and finance > Real estate finance Tier 4

In addition to acquisition financing – most recently particularly in relation to the retail, residential and office sectors – GSK Stockmann routinely handles project financing, which also mirrors the specialisation of practice heads Alma Franke and Stefan Koser. Asset managers, capital management companies and real estate investment companies form the backbone of its client base alongside financial institutions and developers, who also benefit from the group's expertise in investment law-related matters as well as from its close cooperation with the Luxembourg office.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 4

GSK Stockmann ‘s corporate practice focuses on M&A transactions, compliance and corporate governance issues, corporate disputes and executive bodies' disputes as well as restructuring. Due to the close cooperation with the financial practice, the group is regularly instructed by banks, institutional investors, investment trusts, payment providers and FinTech companies. The team is also experienced in the healthcare, energy infrastructure and real estate sectors. Markus Söhnchen heads the group and advises on the drafting of contracts.

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 4

In 2020, GSK Stockmann successfully expanded its transaction and project development practice by attracting several new investors, including in the segments care properties and assisted living. The venture capital practice advises startups and investors from the healthcare, biotechnology and medical technology sectors. The firm’s traditional strength in real estate law was evident in mandates pertaining to medical centers, care centers and clinics. The interface with public law, especially in the clinical area, as well as compliance advice are further core topics. Markus Söhnchen (Frankfurt), Philip Huperz (Berlin) and of counsel Maritheres Palichleb (Frankfurt) head the practice.

Public sector > State aid Tier 4

GSK Stockmann's state aid team is jointly led by the Munich-based Wolfgang Würfel, who has experience in municipal projects, and Arne Gniechwitz in Hamburg; the latter has particular expertise in matters relating to seaport infrastructure. The practice includes state aid advice on the financing of public infrastructure, especially in the transport sector, as well as a wide range of advice to the public sector and its companies. Advice to municipalities and state aid classification of concept awards represents another growth area for the practice. Many instructions entail public procurement aspects; the group's expertise in this regard was strengthened by the arrival of Friedrich Hausmann from PwC Legal (PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft) in July 2020.

Compliance Tier 5

GSK Stockmann focuses on the healthcare, mobility and the public sector and primarily supports medium-sized companies in preventive issues, compliance management systems (CMS) and risk analyses. Legal tech tools are used to detect money laundering risks and also in the context of business partner due diligence. The team is headed by Eric Mayer, who, in addition to his in-house experience, also has expertise in CMS and transaction-related due diligence. Another key contact is Gerhard Gündel, he frequently advises corproate bodies on liability issues.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 5

At GSK Stockmann, Jörg Kahler and Katy Ritzmann jointly head the firm's deeply embedded data protection and IT practices. The team focuses on advising industrial clients as well as the public sector – with both sectors having significantly gained importance for the firm in 2021 – as well as innovative technology start-ups, fintech companies and aviation industry clients. Data protection advice is often rendered in relation to compliance matters, transactions and outsourcing. The team's forensic activity is also notable.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 6

In accordance with the firm's specialisation in real estate, banking, supervisory and public law, GSK Stockmann's restructuring team is particularly active at the interfaces to those practice areas. In real estate-related matters, the group advises landlords whose tenants are insolvent or face the threat of insolvency. Okko Hendrik Behrends is adept at assisting with bank insolvency matters as well as at advising funds on restructuring law. Andreas Dimmling and Raoul Kreide head the team.

Germany > Tax Tier 6

With a firm-wide focus on the real estate industry, GSK Stockmann's tax transaction advice is tailored to this sector, but also addresses corporate transactions. A significant proportion of the group's fund tax assistance, another core competence, also stems from the real estate sector. Here, clients further benefit from the close cooperation with the firm's Luxembourg office and from the investment tax law expertise of Heiko Stoll, who joined from Simmons & Simmons at the end of 2020. The expertise of practice heads Petra Eckl and Dirk Koch reflects the team's focus.

Corporate and M&A > M&A: smaller deals (-€100m)

GSK Stockmann is an established address for medium-sized companies, which are active in the financial services, energy, healthcare, mobility and technology sectors. In addition to this broad industry expertise, the team also routinely assists with transactions at the interface with VC, often in close cooperation with the respective team. Practice head Markus Söhnchen also acts at this interface. His team also includes the two automotive sector specialists Andreas Bauer and Michael Stobbe

Private equity > Venture capital