King & Spalding LLP > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

King & Spalding LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Banking and finance > Investment funds Tier 2

In the funds sector, King & Spalding LLP has a clear focus on real estate investment funds and advises German and, in particular, international investment fund managers, asset managers, institutional investors and banks. Its advice portfolio ranges from fund launch, structuring and management to transactions and fund liquidation while also including the whole array of related regulatory, tax and compliance issues. Managing partner and founder of the Frankfurt office Mario Leißner heads the practice and comprehensively covers real estate-related investment law issues. He is regularly supported by Alexandra Weis, who combines investment law expertise with regulatory know-how.

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

King & Spalding LLP focuses on regulatory advice in the life sciences space. Practice head Ulf Grundmann and senior associate Elisabeth Kohoutek cover both the interface between pharmaceutical and food law and the regulatory framework for pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In 2020, the health claims regulation, the counterfeit drug directive, including advice on the corresponding trade mark law issues and the representation of Novartis in a market-known ECJ procedure, as well as the regulatory support of transactions were among the practice's core areas. Growth was seen in particular in data protection issues, also in the context of digital health, artificial intelligence and ESG. The German practice regularly cooperates with the US colleagues in the Washington DC office.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

King & Spalding LLP focuses on real estate law advice in the area of investment funds. Accordingly, German capital management companies, international investment fund managers, asset managers and German and international institutional real estate investors as well as banks are advised on real estate transactions, their financing and tax-efficient structuring as well as on regulatory issues. This focus is also reflected in the practice group management, which is headed by real estate fund and fund structuring expert Mario Leißner. Alexandra Weis is the central contact for regulatory advice related to real estate funds. The service spectrum includes clients' representation in court as well as in arbitration proceedings.

Germany > Consumer goods and food law Tier 4

Headed by Frankfurt-based life sciences expert Ulf Grundmann, King & Spalding LLP's practice advises leading global manufacturers in the food, pharmaceutical and dietary supplement sectors on regulatory and competition law issues as well as in court proceedings. Health-related advice, particularly at the interface between food law and pharmaceuticals, represents one central pillar of the practice as well as disputes pertaining to the health claims regulation. Frankfurt's cooperation with the firm's Washington office as well as its strong transatlantic food law practice is also of note; clients are also often supported across European borders.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 4

Led by data protection expert and arbitrator Jan Schäfer, King & Spalding LLP's arbitration team handles investment and energy arbitrations, while specializing in advising on energy charter proceedings related to the retrospective reduction of feed-in tariffs. The group frequently represents investors, often in cooperation with offices across the firm's global network. Associate Sebastian Müller is also well versed in data protection and also acts as sole arbitrator.