McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP focuses on transaction support, with most recent instructions pertaining to the acquisition and sale of medical care centers, the advice on market entry in Europe as well as telemedical and healthcare data protection matters; here, the team offers regulatory expertise, which is also frequently requested by medical technology and pharmaceutical companies. Monika Emilia Richter is experienced in supporting cooperations across the research and development sector, while Jana Grieb (regulatory and compliance) was appointed to partner in January 2024. Deniz Tschammle moved to Latham & Watkins LLP in October 2024 and former practice head Stephan Rau left the team in November 2024 and joined Greenberg Traurig Germany.

Media > Entertainment Tier 2

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP is well versed in contentious and regulatory matters in the media sector and regularly represents clients before the DPMA arbitration board and before regional courts in connection with TV charges and advertising matters. Other key topics include the support in licensing negotiations and the advice to media companies and funding bodies on copyright, competition and broadcasting law matters. Practice head Wolfgang von Frentz represents clients before German and European courts in disputes Pertaining to IP and licensing law. Christian Masch, who is well versed in copyright and data protection law, has expertise in litigation.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP comprehensively advises across the entire TMT sector, including outsourcing, SaaS, M2M communication and service contracts as well as the IT support in connection with takeovers and joint ventures. Most recently, the team demonstrated its expertise in the advice on data protection and IT matters pertaining to the acquisition of a software development, software services and managed services company. Practice head Wolfgang von Frentz impresses with transaction support and litigation expertise.

Private equity > Transactions Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP focuses on the mid-cap segment and regularly advises investors and portfolio companies, including from the healthcare and life sciences sectors, on transactions, such as buy-outs and majority acquisitions. Co-head Holger Ebersberger is regularly instructed by financial investors and co-leads with Michael Cziesla, who frequently acts across the technology and regulated industries sectors. The team was strengthened with the arrival of Benedikt von Schorlemer and Maximilian Uibeleisen (both PE with a focus on energy and infrastructure) from Ashurst LLP in April 2024 and Matthias Weissinger (national and cross-border financing) from the same firm in November 2023.

Public sector > Commercial administrative law Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP has strong expertise in budget, immigration and gambling law and is also regularly involved in matters relating to municipal tax law, working time regulation and development issues; in the latter segment, rail transport development matters were recently particularly prominent. The team, which acts for both public sector clients and a diverse pool of industrial companies, is also visible in constitutional and administrative proceedings, which also represents the focus of practice head Alexa Ningelgen, who is well versed in regulatory law. Counsel Antje Weiss primarily advises on gambling and budgetary law matters.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

Private equity investors, asset managers and project developers rely on McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP‘s expertise in real estate transactions in the German and European market; the  group’s focus here lies on the office and logistics asset classes. Jens Ortmanns heads the firm’s European real estate team and is well versed in transactional support, ongoing asset management as well as finance and joint venture structuring. Maximilian Clostermeyer, who is also experienced in transactions, regularly assists with share and asset deals as well as real estate law aspects of M&A transactions. Associate Alina Affeld, who covers real estate law extensively, is another key contact.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 3

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP regularly advises on restructuring, distressed M&A and insolvency law issues as well as interfacing financing matters. The latter area was strengthened in November 2023 with Matthias Weissinger, who joined from Ashurst LLP; he is also experienced in advising banks as well as national and international financial institutions. The team is well versed in the automotive and retail sectors and advises companies, creditors and shareholders in crisis situations and in in and out-of-court restructurings. Uwe Goetker (corporate, insolvency and restructuring law, M&A) and Matthias Kampshoff (self-administration and protective shield proceedings as well as distressed transactions) jointly head the practice. Björn Biehl left the firm for Greenberg Traurig Germany, LLP in February 2025.

Banking and finance > Investment funds Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP recently increasingly advised on real estate, private equity, ESG and infrastructure funds and comprehensively covers regulatory and investment law issues. The team is also experienced in managing investments and launching funds, here, Frank Müller frequently takes the lead; the latter is regularly instructed by asset management companies, institutional investors, asset managers and their regulated and unregulated fund vehicles. Müller jointly heads the practice with Kian Tauser, who complements this offering with investment tax law expertise.

Banking and finance > Real estate finance Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP focuses on financing support for borrowers and also acts on behalf of lenders, which the team advises on acquisition financing and subsequent development of real estate across various asset classes. Additionally, the team is experienced in financing restructurings thanks to the close cooperation with the insolvency and transaction tax teams. Oliver Lieth heads the team as well as the wider banking and finance practice, he is well versed in individual property and portfolio transactions.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 4

Larger medium-sized companies, family businesses and DAX companies regularly rely on McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP's expertise in reorganisations, restructurings, general meetings and joint ventures as well as in transaction-related issues bordering on stock corporation and capital market law. Practice head Philipp Grenzebach complements this offering with corporate governance and compliance skills, while in April 2024 the group's transactional prowess expanded with the additions of Benedikt von Schorlemer and Maximilian Uibeleisen from Ashurst LLP. Both focus on energy and infrastructure.

Corporate and M&A > M&A Tier 4

In addition to well-known German and international corporations such as Zalando SE, Volkswagen Financial Services AG and Deutsche Telekom AG, McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP advises numerous family offices and medium-sized companies on small and mid-cap M&A transactions, regularly in a cross-border context. Recently, the practice significantly expanded its advisory capacities with the additions of Benedikt von Schorlemer (cross-border M&A and joint venture transactions in the renewable energies and infrastructure industries) and Maximilian Uibeleisen (sector focus on renewable energies) in April 2024 as well as Matthias Weissinger (restructuring and financing) in November 2023, who all joined from Ashurst LLP. The practice is headed by Philipp Grenzebach, who regularly advises investors on private and public M&A transactions.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 4

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP focuses on the healthcare and media sectors, where the team boasts expertise in IT-related market entries as well as clients' representation in contentious proceedings, most recently in connection with a browser extension for suppressing advertising; further mainstays include the drafting of licensing, end-user and e-commerce agreements. Practice head Wolfgang von Frentz regularly supports transactions and new business models.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 5

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP’s German banking & finance team acts integrated into the wider international transaction practice and focuses on acquisition and corporate financing; these two financing areas were significantly strengthened with the addition of Matthias Weissinger (cross-border financing and restructuring) from Ashurst LLP in November 2023 and, previously, Ludwig Zesch (acquisition financing, direct lending, leveraged buyouts and corporate financing) from Latham & Watkins LLP in May 2023. Private equity investors, debt funds as well as credit institutions regularly draw on this offering. The practice is headed by Oliver Lieth in Düsseldorf, who specialises in real estate financing.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 5

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP  recently acted across numerous sectors, in particular automotive and healthcare, and represented clients in domestic disputes and, supported by the firm's global network, also in cross-border litigation. Key contact Henrik Holzapfel has particular experience in SEP-related disputes and employee invention law; in addition to litigation, he also advises on licensing agreements.

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 5

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP is experienced in assisting project developers and project sponsors with infrastructure and real estate projects and regularly advises on associated planning approval, administrative and licensing procedures. This offer is complemented by expertise in emission control, water and land law as well as environmental compliance. Alexa Ningelgen, who is experienced in negotiating urban development contracts and administrative procedures, heads the practice.

Germany > Employment Tier 6

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP‘s employment practice focuses on collective law issues and impresses with expertise in restructuring and reorganisation, remuneration, company pension schemes, the use of external personnel and compliance. Practice head Volker Teigelkötter is experienced in negotiations with works councils related to restructuring and staff reduction measures, but also counts outsourcing advice among his strengths. Philipp Schäuble (remuneration systems, company pension schemes) joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in February 2024.

Germany > Tax Tier 6

Germany > Antitrust

Industry focus > Energy