Baker McKenzie > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

Baker McKenzie > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 1

Baker McKenzie is considered one of the leading addresses for arbitration and boasts extensive experience in complex, often cross-border arbitration and litigation proceedings. In addition to representing clients from the healthcare, energy and infrastructure sectors, the team is also regularly instructed by automotive suppliers in post-M&A disputes. Günter Pickrahn, who acts as a party representative and arbitrator, is particularly well versed in this area, with a further focus on licensing and intellectual property issues. Pickrahn jointly heads the practice with Heiko Haller, who stands out for his expertise in international arbitration proceedings concerning construction, plant engineering, infrastructure and energy projects. Jörg Risse concentrates on corporate and post-M&A disputes, while companies from the chemical, automotive and medical industries benefit from his experience. The team also includes Markus Altenkirch, who made partner in July 2023 and has solid expertise in post-M&A arbitration proceedings as well as in disputes arising from licensing and distribution agreements.

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences

Baker McKenzie diverse advisory offering includes longstanding transaction support, regulatory expertise, which is regularly drawn on in connection with product liability issues in the pharmaceutical sector, the advice on digital healthcare apps as well as pharmaceutical advertising law. The team’s antitrust expertise is regularly requested by clients in connection with the development of novel drugs. Practice head Thilo Räpple is well versed in the pharmaceutical and medical device industry and regularly supports transactions, including regulatory aspects, and also advises on contract-related matters pertaining to the development, launch and marketing of medical devices. Martin Altschwager is a key contact for regulatory issues and most recently assisted with distribution systems and approval requirements.

Industry focus > Telecoms

Baker McKenzie focuses on regulatory, contractual and data protection issues and advises telecommunications companies, hardware developers and companies from industries with communication elements, such as the automotive sector. The team acts integrated into the firm's global practice and regularly advises on the planning, development and implementation of new business models at national and cross-border level and most recently assisted with matters pertaining to frequency regulation. Caroline Heinickel heads the team and has expertise in machine-to-machine communication. Johannes Döveling (regulatory and contract law) moved to Bird & Bird LLP in February 2024.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 1

Baker McKenzie acts integrated into the international network and offers comprehensive data protection support, including clients' representation in proceedings before supervisory authorities and the advice on European regulations such as the Data Act. The team is well versed in regulated sectors, particularly the financial industry as well as the medical device and telecoms sectors. Michael Schmidl is experienced in advising software and pharmaceutical companies and also covers matters at the interface between data protection and employment law. Schmidl jointly heads the team with Michaela Nebel, who is regularly instructed by financial institutions and technology companies on international data transfers. Florian Tannen focuses on cross-border matters and new digital business models.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 1

Baker McKenzie follows an interdisciplinary approach, which focuses on advising clients from regulated industries such as the pharmaceutical sector, and covers regulatory matters, digital platforms and distribution models as well as AI. The team is also experienced across the financial and automotive sectors, where it recently advised on issues pertaining to connected cars. Michael Schmidl is renowned for his longstanding and comprehensive expertise in data protection and IT law, which is complemented by competencies at the interface with employment law, and jointly heads the practice with Michaela Nebel, who, in addition to data protection, has particular expertise in the Digital Services Act. Florian Tannen is well versed in the introduction of digital products and software solutions.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 1

Baker McKenzie focuses on supporting cross-border transactions and outsourcing projects, with the team increasingly advising on connected cars and autonomous driving, and regularly assists with outsourcing and consolidation matters in connection with data centers. Michael Schmidl and Michaela Nebel jointly head the team; Schmidl focuses on outsourcing, while Nebel is a key contact for transactions and also covers all aspects of IT law and data protection. Simone Rieken is experienced in the drafting and negotiation of cloud-related contracts.

Media > Entertainment

Baker McKenzie routinely advises clients from the gaming and social media sectors on regulatory matters, including youth protection, content restrictions as well as advertising law and the team cooperates closely with the firm's M&A team in the course of media-related transactions. Counsel Sebastian Schwiddessen focuses on regulatory and transaction support and took over the role of practice head following the departure of e-commerce and data protection lawyer Holger Lutz, who moved to Clifford Chance in May 2023.

Public sector > Planning and environment

Baker McKenzie's environmental and planning advice primarily focuses on product-related environmental law issues and is increasingly called upon for transaction-related due diligence and the approval of new products. This is complemented by expertise in regulatory energy issues, construction law and approval procedures, which are regularly handled in cooperation with its real estate group, as well as in contaminated site procedures concerning groundwater and soil contamination and circular economy issues. Administrative lawyer and practice head Marc Gabriel retired at the end of 2024.

Public sector > Public procurement Tier 1

Baker McKenzie impresses with expertise in large procurement procedures relating to armaments and infrastructure projects, where it increasingly advises public sector actors on contracting authority side. It also assists globally operating companies with the entire spectrum of procurement issues, including funding law and negotiations with funding providers, procurement compliance including criminal law elements and review procedures. Recently, the practice further frequently acted in the context of pharmaceutical discount contract procurement. Practice head Marc Gabriel, who is experienced in procurement law restructuring issues and compliance, retired at the end of 2024.

Trade and distribution > Foreign trade law Tier 1

Baker McKenzie's foreign trade law expertise is regularly requested in foreign trade audits and related administrative and criminal investigations, including the support in interfacing trade law and ESG compliance matters. Other mainstays are the investment control support in connection with large-scale transactions, the advice on export control as well as Russia and Iran sanctions; recent instructions increasingly pertain to foreign subsidies regulation. The team advises various international blue chip clients and is led by Anahita Thoms, who is well versed in human rights issues. Associate Kimberley Fischer primarily advises on trade compliance, export control and sustainability issues.

Trade and distribution > Trade, distribution and logistics Tier 1

Baker McKenzie advises on domestic and cross-border issues across the automotive, technology, consumer goods, fashion and logistics sectors, including the trade and distribution law support to various clients from the finance industry. The mainstays include the advice on digitised issues, such as e-commerce, the implementation and restructuring of distribution systems – a key strength of practice head Ulf Wauschkuhn – as well as distribution, supply and cooperation agreements and trade and distribution law disputes. Counsel Philipp Schütt is well versed in the latter area, with particularly expertise in arbitration. Katharina Spenner complements this with capacities in commercial and distribution antitrust law, which are frequently called upon in the context of online distribution and selective distribution systems.

Compliance Tier 2

Baker McKenzie offers a full-service approach in preventive compliance and advises global corporations and DAX40 companies from the automotive, construction, consumer goods, logistics, energy, chemical, IT and financial sectors on corporate governance, ESG, anti-corruption, money laundering and data protection as well as sanctions and export control. This is complemented by expertise at the interface with antitrust, criminal tax and employment law as well as experience in cybersecurity, fraud prevention and product compliance; the latter three segments are core strengths of Nicolai Behr, who co-leads with Anika Schürmann, who is experienced in compliance audits and risk assessments. Schürmann took over the role of co-head from Andreas Lohner (D&O liability and anti-corruption), the latter retired in July 2024.

Compliance > Internal investigations Tier 2

Baker McKenzie offers a full-service approach in advising DAX40 companies and global corporations on investigations pertaining to anti-corruption, corporate compliance, sanctions, export control, ESG and supply chain issues. Another focus is the assistance with allegations of money laundering and antitrust, data protection and criminal tax matters. Nicolai Behr (corruption, fraud and workplace investigations) and Anika Schürmann (corruption, AML and antitrust investigations) jointly lead the practice. Schürmann took over the co-management role from Andreas Lohner in mid 2024; the latter retired at the same time.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 2

Baker McKenzie's dispute resolution team stands out for its particular expertise in insolvency, antitrust and corporate disputes, including post-M&A conflicts, and is also well versed in contentious construction and plant engineering matters. The practice is regularly instructed by companies in the healthcare, infrastructure, automotive and energy sectors. In the latter area, Heiko Haller, who jointly heads the team with Günter Pickrahn, is considered the key contact for disputes relating to large energy projects, while he also focuses on assisting pharmaceutical companies with contractual conflicts. Pickrahn primarily concentrates on post-M&A disputes as well as licensing and intellectual property issues, while Tobias Höfling has extensive experience in corporate and commercial disputes as well as those relating to infrastructure and construction projects. Max Oehm, who made partner in July 2024, is particularly well versed in IT-related matters as well as professional liability cases and energy and infrastructure-related disputes.

Capital markets > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 3

Baker McKenzie has recently been instructed by corporates and banks to securitise leasing, credit and trade receivables and to restructure them, which frequently entails cross-border elements. Under the leadership of Sandra Wittinghofer, the group has also increasingly handled matters pertaining to buy now pay later (BNPL). Here, the practice acts for large payment service providers as part of their external refinancing. Wittinghofer complements this with banking supervisory expertise, allowing for regulatory advice on financing platforms to be another part of her portfolio.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 3

Leading German companies, including DAX corporations, rely on Baker McKenzie's comprehensive corporate expertise, which includes corporate governance as well as issues related to capital markets, stock corporation, tax and employment law. This bundled expertise leads to a steady flow of instructions both concerning general meetings, management and supervisory board matters as well as restructurings, conversions, including SE conversions, and post-M&A issues. Christian Atzler and Berthold Hummel jointly head the M&A and corporate practice and focus on M&A and PE transaction work. The core team also includes Christian Vocke, who operates across the entire corporate spectrum, and Katharina Stüber, who frequently acts on the interface of stock corporation and capital markets law. Michael Bartosch (corporate, M&A, PE, VC) joined Jones Day in December 2023.

Corporate and M&A > M&A

Baker McKenzie counts multinational companies and German corporations, including various DAX40 companies, among its client base and advises them on large and medium-sized transactions, including carve-outs, share sales, strategic partnerships and, most recently, Russia exits. Its sectoral focus is on the technology industry, although its case load also covers other areas. The practice is headed by Christian Atzler, who regularly advises clients on M&A transactions, joint ventures and direct investment projects in China, and Berthold Hummel, who frequently applies its M&A and PE expertise in the biotechnology and life sciences sectors. In January 2024, Johannes Baumann (M&A and PE) joined the team from Hengeler Mueller. He was followed by Daniel Dehghanian (M&A and VC in the healthcare and technology sectors) from Hogan Lovells International LLP in June 2024 as well as Dirk Horcher (M&A, public takeovers, post-merger integrations, corporate restructurings) from Linklaters in October 2024.

Germany > Employment Tier 3

Baker McKenzie excels in advising on collective bargaining law, company pension schemes, restructuring and reorganisation, as well as transaction-related aspects, while regularly cooperating with other offices in cross-border scenarios. Co-practice head Christian Reichel has a similar focus and is experienced in negotiating with works councils and unions, and in particular in negotiating European works agreements. Compliance and related internal investigations as well as contentious issues are among the core competencies of co-practice head Steffen Scheuer. Felix Diehl (cross-border restructuring and transaction support) is another key contact and made salary partner in July 2024.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Baker McKenzie advises a client roster consisting of energy companies, private equity firms and financial institutions, which also benefit from the international network. The team is well versed in transactions, including cross-border aspects, and regularly acts across the e-mobility sector in connection with project developments, most recently pertaining to bioenergy plants. Holger Engelkamp joined the partner roster in July 2023 and jointly heads the practice with Claire Dietz-Polte, they advise on various ​​renewable energy matters such as onshore renewable energy, biogas and battery storage issues.

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 3

Baker McKenzie provides comprehensive advice on competition law and can draw on expertise in consumer law, trade secrets and know-how protection. The practice has an international focus and also covers interfaces with trade mark and design law as well as transactional IP matters. Michael Fammler, who regularly advises on licensing issues and branding, heads the practice.

Public sector > State aid Tier 3

Baker McKenzie advises companies on state aid, grant and funding law, with a particular focus on issues relating to the research and development of new technologies, including projects in the telecommunications sector, as well as in connection with industrial settlement projects. Key contacts include counsel Janet Butler (in addition to subsidy and EU state aid law, also environmental and planning law) and Katharina Weiner, who made partner in July 2024 and is experienced in public transaction law; she advises both internationally active companies and public sector clients on reorganisations, project developments and M&A transactions. State aid and antitrust law expert Andrés Martin-Ehlers left the team in December 2023 and has been self-employed since then. Practice head Marc Gabriel retired at the end of 2024.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

Baker McKenzie advises clients from the office and retail sectors on the acquisition and leasing of commercial space and is also sought after by investors for portfolio transactions, restructuring and project developments. With Daniel Bork, the practice is also expanding its advice on ESG-related matters, which arise in the context of construction projects for new facilities in the energy supply sector and with regards to transactions. Florian Thamm heads the practice and advises asset managers and companies on the purchase and sale of individual properties and portfolios as well as on the restructuring of real estate portfolios.

Germany > Tax Tier 3

Baker McKenzie's expertise includes corporate tax planning, group tax law and transactional support, resulting in regular national and cross-border instructions. Practice heads Thomas Schänzle and Christoph Becker are also dedicated to these themes, while Schänzle is additionally well versed in tax disputes and tax audits and Becker further assists with restructurings. This is complemented by expertise in transfer pricing and sales tax. In June 2024, the firm lost Jörg Hanken (transfer pricing) to WTS and in November of the same year Philipp Klinker, who is experienced in sales tax law, to PwC Legal (PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal AG Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft).

Germany > Antitrust Tier 4

Among Baker McKenzie's core strengths is the support in merger control, where the team regularly acts across locations and borders; practice head Nicolas Kredel is a key contacts here. The team is also well versed in antitrust compliance as well as internal investigations and antitrust proceedings – with a recent focus on fine proceedings in particular. Anika Schürmann covers matters at the interface with criminal law and regularly takes the lead in antitrust and criminal proceedings before German and European courts. The practice advises with a focus on the pharmaceuticals, life sciences and healthcare industries.

Intellectual property > Trade marks Tier 4

Baker McKenzie advises companies on trade mark issues in both a transactional and contentious context. The team is particularly in demand for advice on trade mark strategies in the course of M&A transactions and carve-outs and also impresses with close cooperation with its IT, data protection and telecommunications colleagues. Practice head Michael Fammler focuses on trade mark and competition law, where he regularly assists with the management of global trade mark portfolios, licensing agreements and contentious matters.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 5

Baker McKenzie focuses on export financing as well as cross-border acquisition, corporate and project financing, where the team acts on both the lender and borrower side and regularly cooperates with the international network. The client roster includes international banks and clients from the real estate and infrastructure sectors as well as various private equity sponsors. Practice head Oliver Socher impresses with expertise in acquisition financing and is also well versed in financing issues in the restructuring context.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 5

Baker McKenzie is experienced in advising on financial restructuring and refinancing across the automotive, retail and real estate sectors, as well as on distressed transactions and other interfacing insolvency law matters. The team primarily acts on behalf of companies but also increasingly advises banks, debt funds and insolvency administrators. Practice head Joachim Ponseck is particularly well versed in insolvency litigation.