Jones Day > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

Jones Day > The Legal 500 Rankings

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 2

Jones Day specialises in innovative business models based on distributed ledger or blockchain technologies and is regularly instructed by financial institutions, (fintech) companies, asset managers and platforms. Among the core topics are crypto licensing issues, strategic cooperations and the structuring of DLT-based platforms on the one hand, and transactions and investments in DLT/blockchain-based bonds or cryptocurrencies on the other. The team frequently advises across locations thanks to the firm’s global network. Nick Wittek (combined expertise in structured finance, derivatives and asset management as well as technological innovations) and Ivo Posluschny (transactions and financing rounds) jointly lead the practice.

Industry focus > Telecoms Tier 2

Jones Day fields renowned telecommunications law expert Holger Neumann, who, in addition to regulatory advice, also acts for telecommunications companies in proceedings before the Federal Network Agency and in court proceedings. The representation of Google in model proceedings pertaining to the regulation of over-the-top services, which was successfully concluded in 2020, deserves special mention. Recent matters include the Internet of Things, regulatory issues in connection with drones and projects in the connected driving segment. In addition, the practice covers frequency allocation, compliance and data protection issues as well as the interface competencies antitrust, orbital and administrative law.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: patent lawyers Tier 2

Based on the firm's global footprint and mix of patent lawyers and attorneys-at-law, Jones Day is well equipped to handle cross-border disputes. In Germany, the firm is present in Munich where Olga Bezzubova heads the European patent lawyers team, as well as in Frankfurt with the physics team lead Dorothée Weber-Bruls and Andreas Holzwarth-Rochford (physics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering). Christian Paul, who is dual-qualified as a chemist and lawyer, and Gerd Jaekel jointly lead the litigation team from Munich. The team assists numerous international corporations, including German companies, and on an international level, is particularly well versed in proceedings related to the US, Australia and Asian jurisdictions such as Japan and China, as well as in disputes related to France and Great Britain. Munich-based biotechnology, pharmaceutical and chemical specialist Ping Li made partner in January 2022.

Capital markets > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 3

Jones Day's advisory strength lies on the intersection of fintech and regulatory law, an expertise that Nick Wittek is known for among others. Accordingly, client work includes advice on the development of securitization platforms using distributed ledger technology, investments in blockchain-based bonds and blockchain-based derivatives. In addition, clients – including financial services providers, alternative lenders, asset managers, investors, companies and fintechs – have an experienced key contact for various securitization transactions across all asset classes as well as for asset-backed commercial paper programs (ABCP) in practice head Ulf Kreppel.

Corporate and M&A > M&A Tier 3

Large and mid-cap deals form part of Jones Day's transactional instructions which are frequently handled in cooperation with the firm's international offices. The practice group is particularly well equipped for deals related to China and the US, in the context of which practice head Ansgar Rempp is particularly active. In addition to traditional transaction matters, the team is also visible in the venture capital area and assists start-ups with financing rounds and also advises various well-known private equity houses. Adriane Sturm is an experienced M&A lawyer with particular expertise in the automotive sector, while Markus Weber accompanies public and private transactions and also advises on capital market issues.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Jones Day increasingly advises energy suppliers, infrastructure developers and investors on takeovers, joint ventures and transactions in the renewable energies sector, including hydrogen, wind and solar. Other core areas are litigation and arbitration proceedings as well as matters at the antitrust law interface. Practice head Johannes Willheim handles contentious issues, including those at the antitrust law interface. Former co-head Kerstin Henrich (M&A, project work) joined Ernst & Young Law in September 2022.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 3

Jones Day‘s interdisciplinary practice comprehensively covers data protection law and frequently advises across locations on cyber attacks and transactions and also leads internal investigations, thanks to the cooperation with the compliance team and the expertise of Martin Lotz. German and international clients, particularly the US, from the technology, life sciences and fintech sectors regularly instruct the team, which is led by renowned data protection expert Undine von Diemar.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 3

The dual focus of Jones Day's patent practice is evident in the specializations of its management duo: Gerd Jaekel, who has dual qualifications as a lawyer and graduate physicist, is primarily instructed by companies in the technology sector, while Christian Paul, with his dual qualifications as a lawyer and chemist signs responsible for the pharmaceutical and chemical sector. The combined expertise, as well as its cooperation with the patent lawyer team, is increasingly applied in biotechnology, medical devices and mobile communications-related litigation. In addition to contentious matters, the team also advises on IP portfolio strategies, risk management and know-how protection.

Intellectual property > Patent prosecution Tier 3

Jones Day's team of patent lawyers is embedded within the US firm's global network and is therefore a particularly good choice for complex cross-border matters, especially in the context of large-scale litigation. Olga Bezzubova in Munich specializes in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and biotechnology and heads the European patent attorney team. The Frankfurt-based Dorothée Weber-Bruls is responsible for the physics practice, while Andreas Holzwarth-Rochford possesses extensive experience in physics, including mechanics, laser technology and semiconductor technology. The Munich-based litigation team is jointly led by mechanical engineering specialist Gerd Jaekel and chemical and pharmaceutical expert Christian Paul.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

Due to the close cooperation with its M&A practice, Jones Day is an experienced advisor for real estate transactions and related financing issues; In addition to practice head Sandra-Christiane Kamper, Christian Trenkel is also well versed in the latter. The advice covers various asset categories, including office, retail, hotel and residential properties as well as specialist properties such as logistics. Further competencies are asset management, tenancy law as well as the insolvency and restructuring intersection.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 4

The Jones Day team is active on national and international level and represents a large number of clients before the Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission. The antitrust experts primarily operate from offices in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Brussels and handle antitrust fine and damages compensation proceedings, merger controls as well as abuse of market power issues, related competition law and antitrust compliance matters. Johannes Zöttl in Düsseldorf, whose main areas of expertise include abuse of market power matters, jointly heads the group with experienced antitrust litigator Carsten Gromotke in Frankfurt. Jürgen Beninca (cartel fines and damages proceedings) and Philipp Werner, who is experienced in merger control and based in Brussels, are other key figures.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 4

The growth of Jones Day's dispute resolution team in recent years is reflected in an increasingly broader coverage of matters: the practice is regularly involved in shareholder and directors' liability disputes, post-M&A conflicts, as well as product liability and technology-related conflicts and also has expertise in antitrust damages litigation. Dieter Strubenhoff, who focuses on corporate and commercial proceedings, and Johannes Willheim, who is experienced in arbitration proceedings, head the practice together.

Private equity > Venture capital Tier 4

Jones Day 's venture capital team, led by Ansgar Rempp and Ivo Posluschny, offers in-depth expertise in advising investors and start-ups on financing rounds and transactions. The practice, which cooperates closely with locations in various other jurisdictions, recently increased its support for Chinese-related transactions as well as the activity in promising topics such as high-tech, internet, fintech, medtech, the environment and renewable energies.

Public sector > State aid Tier 4

Jones Day impresses with its cross-practice and cross-location cooperation and advises private companies from the energy sector and aviation as well as public institutions and EU member states. In addition to assisting with state aid matters, the team possesses further experience in EU and national court proceedings as well as state aid investigations before the European Commission. Frequently recommended competition and state aid lawyer Philipp Werner heads the practice.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 4

Jones Day advises individual companies, corporate groups, portfolio companies and subsidiaries with particular industry expertise in the automotive, hotel, finance, retail and renewable energy sectors. The advice covers out-of-court as well as cross-border restructurings, insolvency proceedings and distressed M&A transactions. Other core clients include shareholders, financiers, customers and suppliers of companies in crisis. In line with the team's orientation, practice head Olaf Benning regularly advises insolvency administrators on international insolvencies. Sandra Kamper is experienced in distressed assets and the restructuring of NPLs. Markus Ledwina, who routinely represents clients in protective shield proceedings, was appointed partner at the beginning of 2022.

Compliance > Internal investigations Tier 5

Jones Day 's German division of its global Investigations and White Collar Defense practice is led by Thomas Preute and focuses on investigations into employment law-related crime, discrimination, misconduct, negligence, corruption, account and record falsifications as well as trade secret matters. In addition to forensic expertise, Preute also has experience in compliance-related crisis management and liability issues. Of counsel Martin Kock advises on corporate law issues and is well versed in forensic matters.

Private equity > Transactions Tier 5

Jones Day 's PE team operates in the large-cap space and regularly advises pure financial investors as well as investment departments of large corporations and investment banks. Internationally, the company was recently increasingly active in China matters, including the support for China-related transactions as well as advising Chinese clients. Practice heads Ansgar Rempp and Ivo Posluschny have extensive experience in the private equity sector.

Germany > Tax Tier 6

Jones Day is active in transaction-related tax law and also advises internationally in cooperation with other offices. Counsel Oliver Staatz is well versed in assisting with tax aspects of national and international M&A, private equity and real estate transactions. Klaus Herkenroth retired at the end of 2021, while Florian Lechner (cum-cum and cum-ex) joined Allen & Overy LLP in February 2023.

Germany > Employment Tier 7

Due to its global network and close cooperation with the corporate team, Jones Day's employment law practice is predestined to assist with mergers and restructurings, while classic topics such as company pension schemes and pseudo-self-employment reviews, including representation in court proceedings, also form part of  its day-to-day business. Practice head Friederike Steininger in Munich focuses on transactional support including related matters such as outsourcing.