White & Case LLP > Frankfurt, Germany > Firm Profile

White & Case LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Banking and finance > Project finance Tier 1

Insurance companies, pension funds, asset managers and banks regularly call upon White & Case LLP‘s financing expertise pertaining to project bonds, promissory note loans and combined financing, including development loans and financing covered by the Export Credit Agency (ECA). The team assists with various projects, such as gas and steam cogeneration plants, pipelines, LNG plants and offshore wind farms as well as motorways, airports, ports and projects in connection with the fibre optic network expansion. Practice head Florian Degenhardt regularly takes the lead here; his team cooperates across locations and practices, as was recently demonstarted in advising the European Investment Bank and a banking syndicate on financing of over € 1 billion to build a renewable energy pipeline in Spain and Portugal.

Capital markets > Debt capital markets

Not least because of its international positioning, White & Case LLP is an experienced partner in cross-border transactions and covers the entire range of debt capital products, while sustainable and digital finance as well as the group's advice to financial institutions on regulatory requirements represent particular practice mainstays. The core team includes Karsten Wöckener, who is extensively experienced in the DCM area, frequently advises on investment grade bonds and hybrid instruments and also handles ECM transactions, Rebecca Emory, who is particularly active in the high-yield transaction sphere, and Cristina Freudenberger (bonds, debt issuance programs, structured financing among other matters).

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 1

White & Case LLP is experienced in sourcing, outsourcing and technology-related transactions and complements this with expertise in the outsourcing of IT infrastructure as well as application management, business process outsourcing and cloud computing. The team acts primarily, but not exclusively, for clients from the finance, insurtech, energy and automotive sectors, which benefit from the cross-practice and cross-location cooperation. The team is led by Jost Kotthoff (sourcing, outsourcing and various technology transactions; also system integrations and software licensing) and includes data protection and cyber security expert Detlev Gabel and Martin Munz (IT, sourcing and contract law). Local partner Mathias Bogusch is a further contact for sourcing transactions, commercial agreements, joint ventures and cooperation agreements and complements this with expertise in IP with a focus on software and data.

Restructuring and insolvency > Insolvency Tier 1

White & Case LLP primarily advises companies from the automotive, shipbuilding, retail, healthcare and aviation sectors on insolvency matters. Practice head Sven-Holger Undritz regularly acts as an insolvency administrator and is experienced in drafting insolvency plans and supports German and international clients in insolvency-related acquisitions; Biner Bähr and Bero-Alexander Lau were recently appointed provisional insolvency administrators in the insolvency proceedings of the fashion group Ahlers, which has more than 1,700 employees worldwide; Sylvia Fiebig is frequently appointed to insolvency administrator and is experienced in insolvency-related restructuring; she offers additional expertise in the shipping industry. Jan-Philipp Hoos is well versed in insolvency proceedings and assists with insolvency-related acquisitions, he also acts as a creditor in insolvency proceedings. Felix Höpker (complex corporate insolvencies, insolvency administration), Andreas Kleinschmidt (insolvency administration, self-administration proceedings/protective shield proceedings) and Daniel Schwartz (insolvency administration, insolvency-related acquisitions, restructuring, self-administration and protective shield proceedings) are also among the key contacts.

Banking and finance > Financial services: regulatory Tier 2

Capital markets > Structured finance and securitisation Tier 2

Most recently, White & Case LLP has become increasingly active in restructuring-related matters and assists with NPL transactions, including direct portfolio sales and structured transactions by way of securitisation, while asset-backed financing represents another mainstay. The practice's recent sectorial focus lay on the technology sector, as, for instance, reflected in its assistance of an e-scooter operator with ABS financing. Financial institutions, start-ups and blue-chip companies further benefit from the firm's global set-up, which ensures seamless advice under German, English and US law, making cross-border transactions part of its daily caseload. This  strong network is also mirrored on practice lead level: in addition to heading the German practice, Dennis Heuer, whose expertise includes ESG-related securitisations, co-leads the EMEA structured finance practice as well.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 2

Led by Markus Burianski, who focuses on energy and post-M&A disputes as well as disputes relating to supply contracts and liability issues, the German team at White & Case LLP stands out for its expertise in international arbitration proceedings in the pharmaceutical, chemical, automotive and construction sectors as well as in technology-based industries. Key contacts also include Christian Theissen, who focuses on supply chain disputes, and Alexandra Diehl (post-M&A, international investment law, IP, product liability).

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 2

White & Case LLP is primarily active in energy sector disputes, but also has extensive experience in the insurance and technology industries as well as in bankruptcy and restructuring conflicts; key contacts include Gero von Jhering and counsel Marlene Maesch. Supply contract proceedings represent another mainstay, which are primarily handled by Markus Burianski and Christian Theissen, as well as post-M&A disputes and contentious matters in the financial services industry; practice head Markus Langen frequently acts in the latter area, while Alexandra Diehl has extensive expertise in mass proceedings in the automotive, energy and pharmaceutical sectors.

Private equity > Transactions

Thanks to the international network, White & Case LLP specialises in cross-border private equity support. In cooperation with the locations in Europe, the US and Asia, the team routinely handles transactions in the mid-cap segment, while investors and companies also request assistance in the large-cap sector. The practice recently increasingly advised international technology funds and fast growth companies on fast growth transactions. Practice head Stefan Koch‘s expertise corresponds with the overall aproach, he advises on both German and New York law. In November 2022, Albrecht Schaefer (PE, M&A and corporate) joined from Linklaters as local partner.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 2

White & Case LLP focuses on complex cross-border restructurings in the automotive, shipping, aviation, consumer goods, retail, energy, real estate and healthcare sectors. The team’s expertise is frequently requested by companies and investors as well as banks and private debt funds. Riaz Janjuah regularly acts in well-known restructurings in the shipping sector and jointly heads the practice with Sven-Holger Undritz, whose experience in restructuring and reorganisation also extends to distressed M&A; he offers additional expertise in the restructuring of non-performing loans in the maritime industry. Sylvia Fiebig (operational restructuring, change management, insolvency law, industry focus on shipping), Andreas Kleinschmidt (restructuring, insolvency, restructuring), Jan-Philipp Hoos (restructuring in self-administration, insolvency proceedings) and Daniel Schwartz (cross-border restructuring, insolvency law, distressed M&A) are further key contacts.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 3

White & Case LLP offers cross-practice and cross-location cooperation on fintech matters and is well versed in cross-border transactions and mergers in the crypto sector, while the regulatory advice covers Bitcoin-related products and BaFin licensing matters. Practice head Karsten Wöckener complements this with expertise in financing rounds and issues pertaining to the launch of digital platforms. Clients include fintech companies, neobanks and digital payment services providers.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 3

White & Case LLP frequently cooperates across locations and practices, such as regulatory and M&A, thus routinely advises international financial institutions and large companies on financing transactions under English and New York law. The mainstays include leveraged finance transactions, acquisition financing and corporate loans. Practice head Vanessa Schürmann demonstrates similar competencies and is additionally experienced in real estate financing under English law. Recently, the team increasingly assisted with restructuring-related matters, Andreas Lischka is a key contact here. Florian Ziegler (debt finance and corporate finance) joined Shearman & Sterling LLP in August 2022.

Banking and finance > Real estate finance Tier 3

White & Case LLP 's real estate finance team routinely cooperates with other locations and advises banks and financial institutions as well as real estate investors on cross-border financing; advising at the interface with capital markets law is a core strength. Key contacts include Thomas Flatten (real estate, acquisition and project financing), leveraged finance transactions and structured finance transaction expert Andreas Lischka and Sébastien Seele, who is experienced in mortgage-secured real estate loans, loan and bond financing as well as structured financing.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 3

White & Case LLP covers the entire ECM spectrum and can draw on additional expertise in related areas such as DCM and restructuring if necessary. The firm's wide global network also enables it to seamlessly advise on cross-border transactions, even though its German teams handle transactions in accordance with English and US law as well; key contacts for US-related matters include Rebecca Emory and Gernot Wagner, both of whom are admitted in New York and comprehensively assist with ECM and DCM matters, including high yield bonds.

Compliance Tier 3

White & Case LLP 's dynamic team offers regular cross-practice as well as cross-location cooperation in supporting companies from the financial, automotive, online service providers and pharmaceutical sectors. The team's preventive compliance expertise includes anti financial crime matters (AFC), liability issues and ESG as well as sanctions and whistleblower systems. Practice head Daniel Zapf is experienced in compliance management systems, money laundering and compliance due diligence. Tine Schauburg is well versed in liability risks and retired partner of counsel Nils Clemm is regularly instructed by management bodies. Former practice head Karl-Jörg Xylander (white-collar criminal law, regulatory and corporate compliance) left the firm in February 2023 and joined CCI-LEGAL.

Compliance > Internal investigations Tier 3

White & Case LLP supports companies from the financial and automotive sectors, as well as online platforms, which instruct the team on forensic compliance matters. The practice is well versed in cum-ex and cum-cum mandates and also assists with investigations into allegations pertaining to current topics, such as whistleblower systems, HR compliance, AFC and liability issues as well as traditional criminal law matters, including corruption and environmental-related allegations. New practice head Daniel Zapf (previously at DLA Piper) joined the Frankfurt-based team in May 2022 and has expertise in compliance and internal investigations, while former practice head Karl-Jörg Xylander joined  CCI-LEGAL in February 2023 and Thomas Helck (commercial and criminal tax law) formed his own law firm HELCK Legal in April 2023. Tine Schauenburg (liability matters) and retired partner of counsel Nils Clemm (investigative and supervisory authorities) are among the key members of the Berlin-based team.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 3

White & Case LLP's corporate expertise comes to the fore in cross-border transactions, extensive adjudication proceedings and structural measures, with the team also frequently advising boards of directors and supervisory boards on general meetings. Stock corporation and corporate law are among the main areas of expertise of practice head Alexander Kiefner, who often assists with structural measures. Julia Sitter, who made partner in January 2023, is well versed in stock corporation law and pre- and post-closing measures, while Hans-Georg Schulze advises companies from the tech, energy and infrastructure sectors on cross-border transactions, joint ventures and carve-outs.

Corporate and M&A > M&A

White & Case LLP is frequently instructed to assist with large and mid-cap cross-border transactions, particularly by European companies and start-ups in the technology, automotive, energy, infrastructure and financial services sectors. Tobias Heinrich primarily advises on cross-border transactions in the technology and automotive industries, while Matthias Kiesewetter assists with M&A transactions as well as joint ventures and venture capital transactions. Sebastian Pitz, who is considered an expert in private and public takeovers, and private equity and M&A specialist Ingrid Wijnmalen focus on supporting financial investors. In January 2023, Julia Sitter (stock corporation, GmbH (LLC) and corporate law) made partner and Mathias Bogusch (technology transactions) local partner. At the beginning of 2024, Murad Daghles (stock corporation, corporate, conversion and takeover law) joined DLA Piper.

Dispute resolution > Financial services: litigation Tier 3

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

White & Case LLP 's team is integrated into the firm's international Energy Industry Group and thus routinely advises on cross-border transactions and financing. Practice head Thomas Burmeister focuses on transaction support, while he is also experienced in regulatory matters. Florian Degenhardt is well versed in financing issues and instructed by banks, investors and sponsors. The regulatory advice includes sanctions, grid development and disputes; the team focuses on the solar, LNG, wind and geothermal energy sectors, as well as energy infrastructure.

Industry focus > Telecoms Tier 3

Information technology > Data protection Tier 3

White & Case LLP acts across the social media, energy, automotive and technology sectors with a cross-practice approach and advises corporations, banks and fintech companies on all aspects of German and European data protection law, including data transfers, the establishment of digital platforms and cyber security matters. This is complemented by experience in clients' representation in litigation. The team is led by Detlev Gabel (data protection law, technology law).

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 3

Public sector > Commercial administrative law Tier 3

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 3

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

White & Case LLP's German team acts integrated into the global real estate practice and thus routinely assists with cross-border transactions and project developments. The recent opening of a location in Luxembourg added the expertise in structured financing and transactions in Luxembourg to the advisory offering. In Germany, key contact Rostyslav Telyatnykov advises investors on transactions, including large residential and commercial real estate portfolios as well as sale and leaseback transactions; he also acts as a notary. The financing interface was strengthened with the appointment of Sandra D'Ascenzo to local partner in January 2023. Transaction and financing expert Holger Wolf joined Norton Rose Fulbright in April 2023.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 4

White & Case LLP's expertise is based on cross-practice support, where the team frequently cooperates with the M&A and private equity specialists on IT and data protection matters in transactions and reorganisations. The team also acts in the financial sector and advises on digitisation issues pertaining to digital assets. Clients benefit from the support in cloud-based systems, the transition of corporate software to the cloud, the creation of payment platforms and the outsourcing of IT and data management from public sector clients to private companies. Jost Kotthoff (sourcing, outsourcing and technology transactions) leads the practice.

Insurance > Insurance litigation Tier 4

White & Case LLP acts from Berlin and is led by Christian Wirth and focuses on high-end (re)insurance business and cross-border cases thanks to the international network. Clients also benefit from cross-practice cooperation at the interfaces with regulatory, criminal and insolvency law, which is routinely incorporated into manager liability matters and corresponding D&O coverage topics. Sara Vanetta, who acts for insurers and policyholders, is part of the core team alongside Wirth; She is particularly experienced in the D&O area and in mass litigation.

Private equity > Venture capital Tier 4

White & Case LLP focuses on private equity and increasingly advises on venture capital matters. PE expert Stefan Koch heads the team, which supports companies – most recently technology-driven companies – in financing rounds. Thanks to the firm's international network, these mandates are often of a cross-border nature and, above all, have connections to the US. In November 2022, transaction expert Albrecht Schaefer joined from Linklaters as local partner.

Public sector > State aid Tier 4

Trade and distribution > Foreign trade law Tier 4

White-collar crime > Advice to companies Tier 4

White & Case LLP is best known for representing financial sector clients in criminal and administrative offence proceedings and primarily accompanies cum-ex and AFC matters, but also has experience in criminal proceedings in connection with social media and messenger services. Practice head Daniel Zapf advises national and international companies on all aspects of commercial and criminal tax law and is supported by the Berlin-based duo TineSchauburg and retired partner of counsel Nils Clemm, who have longstanding expertise in cum-ex and cum-cum proceedings. Former practice head Karl-Jörg Xylander moved to CCI-LEGAL in February 2023 and Thomas Helck left the team in April 2023 to form his own law firm HELCK Legal.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 5

White & Case LLP advises on antitrust proceedings, including cartel damages, as well as transactions in the context of merger controls; the latter competence was recently strengthened with the appointment of Thilo Wienke (merger control and FDI) to partner at the turn of the year 23/24. The team covers cross-border matters in close cooperation with other locations and is regularly instructed by clients from the automotive, pharmaceuticals, technology and consumer goods sectors. Practice head Tilman Kuhn is experienced in merger control proceedings before the Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission and divides his time between Brussels and Düsseldorf. Former co-practice head Axel Schulz (merger control) joined McDermott Will & Emery Belgium LLP in November 2023. Ingo Brinker (previously at Gleiss Lutz) is well versed in the insurance sector and joined the team in early 2024.

Media > Entertainment Tier 5

Germany > Employment Tier 6

White & Case LLP's employment expertise particularly often shows in transactions, reorganisations and restructurings, which are frequently of cross-border nature due to the group's integration into the international network. The cross-practice cooperation with corporate, insolvency and private equity experts provides further skills in distressed transactions. The team is led by Hendrik Röger, who applies himself extensively in transaction- and restructuring-related matters. Sebastian Stütze, who is experienced in insolvency and PE-related issues, made partner in January 2023.

Germany > Tax Tier 6

White & Case LLP's German tax practice draws on its international network to advise national and international players from the real estate, financial services and energy sectors, among others; In this constellation, the group assists with corporate taxation and tax law issues that arise in connection with structured and asset-based financing as well as with cross-border M&A transactions. Practice head Bodo Bender also focuses on tax transaction advice. This is complemented by expertise in tax disputes.

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

Oman > Dispute resolution Tier 3