White & Case LLP > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

White & Case LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Capital markets > Debt capital markets

White & Case LLP‘s integrated German-US capital markets practice counts national and international investment banks and an increasing number of issuers – including from the real estate sector – among its clients. It provides comprehensive advice on the whole array of debt products, including standalone (corporate) bonds, mortgage bonds, debt issuance, commercial paper and structured programs, as well as on alternative financing instruments such as promissory notes and registered bonds. Recently, the team also increasingly assisted with green and ESG-linked bonds. Karsten Wöckener, the key contact for the German practice, and Cristina Freudenberger, who made partner in January 2022, are among those dedicated to this variety of topics. Rebecca Emory and Gernot Wagner oversee advice in the high-yield area which represents a particular strength of the law firm. Yannick Adler (previously at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP) joined the team in August 2021; he advises on corporate financing and capital market transactions under New York law.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 1

White & Case LLP‘s highly regarded outsourcing team is at the forefront of many innovation issues and focuses on technology transactions of all types, including IT infrastructure outsourcings, sourcing, BPOs and cloud computing. Jost Kotthoff heads the practice and is renowned for his advice in the field of system integration and software licensing. In a recent highlight, Detlev Gabel assisted Deutsche Bank with a strategic partnership with Google Cloud. The firm also makes excellent use of its internal, international network (particularly with North America) and legal tech applications.

Restructuring and insolvency > Insolvency Tier 1

As a major international law firm, White & Case LLP focuses on complex, large and international insolvency cases. Thus, the firm’s insolvency administrators often act in an international context and have considerable expertise in sectors that traditionally operate across borders, such as aviation, the maritime sector and the automotive industry as well as in the sports, energy and retail sectors. Accordingly, practice head Sven-Holger Undritz is also an experienced insolvency administrator with expertise in the renewable energy industry, while also regularly incorporating his restructuring expertise into the design of insolvency plans. Biner Bähr is an experienced trustee and particularly experienced in avoidance actions and high-volume, insolvency-related transactions. Christoph Schulte-Kaubrugger is well versed in assisting large international corporations and clients from the energy industry with insolvency issues, while Sylvia Fiebig focuses on operational restructuring and change management issues that entail cross-border aspects; she also regularly advises stakeholders from the maritime industry. Jan-Philipp Hoos is a key contact for insolvency-related company sales and for the inclusion of receivables. Felix Höpker (in addition to insolvency law, also financial restructuring, reorganisation and distressed M&A) and Daniel Schwartz (restructuring and insolvency law, including taking on the role of general representative in self-administration and protective shield proceedings) made partner in January 2022.

Banking and finance > Financial services: regulatory Tier 2

At White & Case LLP, a close cross-practice collaboration results in synergies at various interfaces such as corporate, capital markets and dispute resolution. Practice head Henning Berger is renowned for representing financial institutions in matters related to the ECB and BaFin, but also focuses on Brexit issues and security systems in the financial sector. Martin Weber, who made partner in January 2022, is dedicated to the same range of topics, while Sebastian Pitz (who also made partner in January 2022) focuses on M&A supervisory law. Common corporate-related matters include strategic partnerships, the establishment of German branches, restructuring and transactions. AML issues, which local partner Kirsten Donner regularly advises on, represent another steady part of the group’s case load. In addition to major German banks, the client base also includes numerous leading banks from the Nordic countries and southern Europe as well as fintech sector players.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 2

Due to its cross-practice and cross-location cooperation, White & Case LLP is adept at handling matters that encompass various legal subject areas and jurisdictions. This interaction results on one hand in a steady stream of instructions related to transactions and financing rounds and on the other hand in the team’s regular assistance with supervisory, data protection and IT law issues. In the latter area, the group also advises on the implementation of payment products and the development of platforms based on distributed ledger technology, while capital market expertise – for which Karsten Wöckener is also known – is frequently utilised in advising on the set up of cryptocurrency-secured bonds.

Banking and finance > Project finance Tier 2

White & Case LLP‘s client base, consisting of institutional lenders, sponsors and banks, can rely on the extensive project financing expertise of practice head Florian Degenhardt and his team; the team utilises their relevant skills, including expertise in ECA-covered, EIB and KfW financing as well as other promotional loans, in national and international infrastructure and energy projects. In the energy sector, the team was recently predominantly active in advising on wind and solar projects.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 2

White & Case LLP is characterised by a strong integration of German and US legal advice, which also reflects on team level: US lawyers include Gernot Wagner and Rebecca Emory – two key contacts in the Frankfurt office – as well as ECM and DCM expert Yannick Adler, who joined from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in August 2021. The team assists both issuers and underwriters with various domestic and cross-border equity transactions, such as capital increases and IPOs, including those related to SPAC. The group thereby regularly cooperates across practices, above all with its corporate and M&A colleagues, which subsequently enables assistance with follow-up corporate issues.

Capital markets > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 2

White & Case LLP advises financial institutions in particular in their roles as originators and investors on cross-border and domestic structured financial transactions and is, thanks to its cross-practice and cross-location cooperation, particularly well equipped for matters that require German, British and US legal knowledge. The group focuses on NPL securitisations and synthetic securitisations of leasing receivables, car loans and corporate loans among other matters. Dennis Heuer leads the team and regularly applies his regulatory expertise.

Compliance Tier 2

White & Case LLP‘s compliance advice includes matters pertaining to money laundering, corruption and embezzlement, while assistance with issues such as insider trading, technology and sanctions was also on the increase. The group regularly cooperates with colleagues from the white collar crime and internal investigations practices as well as with other offices from the global network, making the firm a good choice for cross-border matters. Headed by Karl-Jörg Xylander, the team advises clients from the media, automotive, banking and finance sectors as well as the manufacturing industries. Nils Clemm is experienced in manager consulting and Tine Schauenburg stands out due to specialist expertise in criminal tax law and administrative offences. Thomas Helck increasingly handles mandates with regard to allegations of corruption and tax evasion.

Compliance > Internal investigations Tier 2

White & Case LLP focuses on the financial, automotive, media and manufacturing sectors and advises on money laundering, corruption and embezzlement issues. Clients also draw on the team’s interface expertise such as banking regulation, corporate, IP, data protection and capital markets law as well as the close cooperation with the criminal tax law experts, who frequently assist with mandates in the cum-ex and cum-cum context. Thomas Helck handles matters pertaining to allegations of fraud and tax evasion, while Nils Clemm and practice head Karl-Jörg Xylander act at the interface between compliance and criminal law. Tine Schauenburg supports clients in defending against and the enforcement of claims for damages against corporate bodies.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 2

White & Case LLP fields an ‘extremely strong dispute resolution team for both state and arbitration disputes’. Clients from the technology, automotive, oil and gas, electricity, construction and chemical sectors are primarily assisted in disputes pertaining to post-M&A, commercial and supply contract law and liability issues. The team is led by arbitration expert Markus Burianski and regularly cooperates with its international offices on cross-border matters. Other key figures include technology specialist Christian Theissen, the contract law-savvy Alexander Lang and Alexandra Diehl, who is experienced in investment arbitrations and made partner in January 2022.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 2

White & Case LLP‘s team has broad expertise in contentious commercial, corporate and insolvency matters, which are managed across countries and jurisdictions and stem from national and international players; recently, there has also been a noticeable demand for assistance with pandemic-related disputes. Christian Theissen has extensive experience in the field of autonomous driving, which is part of the firm’s technology and automotive industry focus. Chemistry and energy production represent further focal points, with matters in the latter area often being overseen by Thomas Burmeister. Christian Wirth and Sonja Hoffmann both assist with finance-related disputes, while the team is headed by Markus Langen, who is adept at liability issues. Gero von Jhering (litigation and arbitration) and Sara Vanetta (focus on insurance law) both made partner at the beginning of 2021.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 2

White & Case LLP fields two renowned energy transaction lawyers: practice head Thomas Burmeister in Düsseldorf and Jörg Kraffel in Berlin, Burmeister also covers regulatory matters. Also well known is the project financing practice led by Florian Degenhardt from Hamburg. In joint cooperation with the public commercial law, capital markets, antitrust, public procurement, banking supervision and construction law practices, the firm comprehensively covers energy law. While the focus is on large-scale transactions, particularly in the cross-border context, the regulatory practice was highly active in 2020 and involved in proceedings before the courts and relevant authorities, among others. Other focus areas include the hydrogen economy, European grid regulation as well as energy civil law.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 2

As a major international firm offering insolvency administration and restructuring advice, White & Case LLP‘s activity profile is geared towards major international proceedings. Accordingly, the practice has special sector expertise in areas that are traditionally highly international, such as shipping, automotive, aviation and energy. the group focuses on financial restructuring, in which context it advises financial creditors such as banks and private debt funds on the restructuring of national and international financing; during the Covid-19 pandemic, this expertise led to instructions relating to development loans from rescue and restructuring aid packages, short-time work benefits and tax deferrals. In addition, the team led by Riaz Janjuah and Sven-Holger Undritz is well versed in issues relating to StaRUG proceedings. Janjuah is regularly in charge of the restructuring of international debtor companies using insolvency plans or foreign restructuring instruments, and Undritz advises on the restructuring of loan commitments at risk of default and on acquisitions of insolvent companies. Felix Höpker (financial restructuring, reorganisation, distressed M&A) and Daniel Schwartz (restructuring and insolvency law) made partner in January 2022.

White-collar crime > Advice to companies Tier 2

White & Case LLP‘s team frequently demonstrates its extensive white-collar crime and criminal tax expertise in cross-border instructions, which stem from the firm’s extensive international network – with its cooperation with offices in the US as well as in Paris and London being particularly notable -, as well as its highly international, cross-industry client base. The practice often represents corporations from the automotive, media and manufacturing industries in administrative offence proceedings, internal investigations and advises on compliance matters, while recently also receiving numerous instructions from clients in the real estate sector; the firm also has a particularly excellent reputation in the financial services industry. Alongside market-domineering criminal tax and cum-ex matters, the practice recently regularly assisted with issues relating to money laundering, foreign trade controls and sanctions and is further well versed in embezzlement and corruption matters as well as insider trading. Thomas Helck (white collar crime and administrative proceedings), Tine Schauenburg (focus on internal investigations) and Nils Clemm (particularly well versed in dealing with investigative and prosecuting authorities) are part of the team led by the renowned Karl-Jörg Xylander.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 3

White & Case LLP regularly advises national and international financial institutions on acquisition financing. These usually span several jurisdictions, for which the group is well equipped due to its cross-location capacities on one hand and its German, English and US law expertise at its German locations on the other. Vanessa Schürmann, head of the bank finance practice, specializes in advising on English law and also assists with matters pertaining to the high-yield sphere. Insolvency and restructuring-related issues such as the refinancing of existing loans or the modification of existing credit lines also represent parts of the group’s case load. Sébastien Seele made partner in January 2021 and assists with leveraged and investment grade acquisition as well as with corporate finance and financial restructurings.

Banking and finance > Real estate finance Tier 3

White & Case LLP is well equipped to cover various interdisciplinary issues through cooperation with its real estate and capital market practices, which regularly contribute to its real estate financing and refinancing advice. The group assists across various asset classes – recently in particular commercial, residential (including student residences), office and mixed-use properties – as well as with matters pertaining to individual properties and portfolio transactions. It acts for both borrowers and lenders, although lender-advice was recently particularly sought after; here, Thomas Flatten is a key contact for national and international banks and financial institutions. Sébastien Seele, who made partner in January 2021, regularly advises credit funds, sponsors as well as banks.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 3

National and international (listed) companies regularly instruct the team at White & Case LLP on corporate and group law issues and particularly in the context of structural measures. Alexander Kiefner heads the team, which also assists executive and supervisory boards with contentious matters as well as corporate governance, compliance and group financing issues. Lutz Krämer is an experienced contact for aspects at the interface with capital markets law.

Corporate and M&A > M&A: mid-sized deals (sub-€500m) Tier 3

White & Case LLP advises on all aspects of M&A transactions, but demonstrates particular expertise in public takeovers and real estate transactions, where the team receives interdisciplinary and cross-border support from the firm’s other experts, resulting in additional capacities in private equity as well as the technology, finance (including FinTech), energy and infrastructure sectors. The cross-border orientation is also reflected in practice head Darragh Byrne, who shares his time between Frankfurt and Stockholm. The team includes Middle East expert Murad M. Daghles and Tobias Heinrich, who also advises on PE issues, as well as Sebastian Pitz (transactional and regulatory matters) and Hans-Georg Schulze (M&A, corporate and commercial). Pitz and Schulze both made partners in January 202.

Dispute resolution > Financial services: litigation Tier 3

With a focus on banking litigation and insurance law, White & Case LLP primarily assists German and international banks and regularly acts across practices and locations. The team is headed by Markus Langen, who has in-depth experience in liability issues and in the assertion of damages claims. Other key figures include Christian Wirth and Sonja Hoffmann, who are both well versed in class action lawsuits.

Industry focus > Telecoms Tier 3

White & Case LLP continued to act primarily in an advisory capacity for the cable companies of the Unitymedia Group, but is also active in regulatory support of over-the-top service providers, such as messenger service providers, especially companies from the US. Another key topic is transactional support, where the team advises on fibre optics, data centers and cloud structures, while also drawing on the interface expertise in M&A and project financing. In the automotive sector, Norbert Wimmer (Berlin) and his team advise on digitisation issues in connected cars and autonomous driving. The groups's expertise is complemented by a globally-oriented team of IT experts, project managers, data scientists and lawyers.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 3

White & Case LLP's German data protection team advises on German and European data protection law, cross-border data traffic and cyber security issues. The German group benefits from practice head Detlev Gabel's the great expertise. Facebook and Deutsche Bank are among their key clients.

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 3

International law firm White & Case LLP is a popular address for cross-border disputes and projects. The competition law and trade mark expertise of Markus Mette (Hamburg) and his team is primarily called upon by technology-related corporations, clients from the automotive sector and – the particularly fast-growing client field – life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. In addition, the team is well versed in social media matters. The in-house Practice Technology team supports the group and clients with the development of applications to facilitate the efficient handling of mandates, such as eDiscovery applications. Local partner Stefan Haiplik (Hamburg) is an IT and IP expert and advises on advertising measures and branding, among others.

Private equity > Transactions Tier 3

White & Case LLP focuses on advising private equity investors and their portfolio companies on transactions that usually take place in the mid-market segment. In international transactions, clients benefit from the team's close links with locations in Europe, Asia and the US. Practice head Stefan Koch has longstanding experience in assisting with takeovers, LBOs and MBOs. His team includes Jan Ole Eichstädt and Tomislav Vrabec, who both made partner in early 2021 and extensively cover M&A and PE.

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 3

White & Case LLP's clients include German and international companies from the automotive, energy, chemical and real estate development sectors. The team assists with large infrastructure projects, offers various regulatory advice, especially for the automotive industry, and is also active in complex contentious proceedings. Environmental and planning law advice in the context of large transactions forms another essential part of the practice. Norbert Wimmer heads the 'strongly client-oriented' team and draws on experience in regulated industries and projects. Counsel Anna Burghardt-Kaufmann supports him and focuses, among other matters, on chemicals and mining law as well as soil protection.

Public sector > State aid Tier 3

White & Case LLP fields ‘ very good lawyers with extensive experience in state aid law‘ who advise a client base consisting of energy supply companies, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies and airlines, on state aid compliance among other matters; most recently, the group was particularly active in assisting companies severely affected by the pandemic. Counsel Christoph Arhold in Brussels and Berlin leads the team; he is known for his European law expertise regarding the internal market, foreign trade and state aid. Kai Struckmann has now left the firm.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

The advisory services offered by White & Case LLP include all aspects of real estate law, which lead to regular instructions from international investors and real estate developers in the context of complex transactions, including large commercial and residential real estate portfolios. In these scenarios, particularly multi-party contracts, the firm offers transaction management platform Litera-Transact, which assists with due diligence and contract design. The entailing financing advice as well as the restructuring of real estate companies is also part of the consulting spectrum. Key contacts include Endrik Lettau, who also assists with real estate projects in corporate and tax law, and Andreas van den Eikel, whose focus is on commercial tenancy and real estate law. In April 2021, the team also welcomed transaction specialist Patricia Galts from Linklaters .  

Corporate and M&A > M&A: large deals (€500m+) Tier 4

Large-cap transactions handled by White & Case LLP often feature aspects pertaining to the finance, technology, energy, private equity and infrastructure sectors. The team is led by Darragh Byrne and has particular experience in public takeovers and also demonstrates expertise in advising on real estate transactions. Thanks to the large network, the team is well positioned for cross-border mandates. Murad M. Daghles has experience in Middle East-related transactions. In January 2022, the team expanded internally with the partner promotions of Sebastian Pitz (transactions as well as regulatory issues) and Hans-Georg Schulze (M&A, corporate and commercial).

Insurance > Insurance litigation Tier 4

White & Case LLP's insurance litigation practice primarily focuses on high-end business, with cyber risk matters and its close cooperation with the firm's M&A practice becoming increasingly important. Practice head Christian Wirth particularly advises on major claims, captive solutions, reinsurance and alternative risk transfer. Damages claims related to W&I and business closure insurance (which became a more vital topic in light of the Covid-19 crisis) also form part of the team's advice portfolio. Sara Vanetta, who is experienced in D&O and life insurance funds, made international partner in January 2021.

Trade and distribution > Foreign trade law Tier 4

The German practice of White & Case LLP advises clients comprehensively on investment control in the context of transactions and M&A deals, in which an FDI monitoring tool, developed by the firm, is used. The group also has expertise in export control and compliance. Antitrust lawyer Tilman Kuhn regularly assists with high-volume investment control proceedings and heads the practice together with Tobias Heinrich, who focuses on cross-border M&A transactions and frequently advises clients in the technology sector on investment control. Local partner Thilo-Maximilian Wenke is experienced in competition law, including merger control proceedings.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 5

White & Case LLP‘s internationally well-connected team advises clients on global competition issues, EU regulations as well as on national antitrust law and also has extensive expertise in merger controls as well as in obtaining clearance certificates from the Federal Ministry of Economics; in cartel follow-on damages claims, the team represents both defendants and plaintiffs. Axel Schulz and the ‘very agile and tactically very sophisticated‘ Tilman Kuhn jointly head the practice. Justus Herrlinger joined DLA Piper at the end of 2021. Antitrust lawyer Lars Petersen, who also has public law expertise, made partner in January 2022.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 5

White & Case LLP‘s Jost Kotthoff is known for his work in outsourcing and IT transactions and leads the firm’s IT and digitalization practice. The practice is particularly active in advising on cloud matters, IT contracts as well as on financial technology, where Hamburg-based Martin Munz is the key contact. Additionally, Sylvia Lorenz assists with all aspects concerning digital platforms, especially with contract negotiations.

Media > Entertainment Tier 5

Norbert Wimmer and Sylvia Lorenz head White & Case LLP's media team which particularly stands out for its extensive forensic and media regulatory skills. The practice recently assisted with matters pertaining to the new media state treaty, transparency requirements and licensing requirements for streaming services. American technology companies instruct the team particularly frequently.

Germany > Tax Tier 5

Due to its strong cooperation with the M&A, capital markets and debt finance teams, White & Case LLP's tax advisory strength lies in tax advice on structured and asset-based financing as well as cross-border M&A transactions. Thanks to the full integration within the firm's global practice, the team is well equipped to handle multi-jurisdictional matters. Last but not least, this internationality is embodied by practice head Bodo Bender, who also co-heads the EMEA tax law practice. Tim Bracksiek (domestic and international tax law) made partner in January 2022.

Germany > Employment Tier 6

White & Case LLP‘s employment law team is led by newly appointed Hendrik Röger since Frank-Karl Heuchemer left the firm in the summer of 2021 and joined HLB HUSSMANN. The advisory focus remains on the interface with M&A and corporate as well as restructuring and insolvency. Röger is a key contact for the latter, he also frequently advises national and international clients from the transport and energy sectors and handles compliance issues as well as litigation.

Public sector > Commercial administrative law

United States > Tax > US taxes: non-contentious Tier 2

White & Case LLP‘s New York-based practice is consistently engaged on big-ticket transactions, restructurings, and other advisory mandates for a range of blue-chip clients from the worlds of private equity, shipping, energy, pharmaceuticals, and real estate. Global tax head and IP and securities specialist Sang Ji leads the team, overseeing numerous multi-billion dollar M&A structuring and tax planning matters. David Dreier focuses on bank financing and securitization transactions, while Steven Gee is recommended for his expertise in intellectual property. In Los Angeles, Andrew Kreisberg regularly advises clients on fund formations, joint ventures, and REITs. IPO and business combination specialist Scott Fryman joined the practice from Kirkland & Ellis LLP in June 2021. All named lawyers are based in New York unless noted otherwise.

United States > Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing

White & Case LLP‘s technology transactions team is active on outsourcing deals including master service agreements, licensing agreements and commercial collaborations. The practice also provides input on corporate transactions involving outsourcing vendors, such as Panasonic’s recent acquisition of supply-chain software provider Blue Yonder. Arlene Hahn is the key name to note in outsourcing with Jost Kotthoff serving as global head of technology transactions.