K&L Gates LLP > Berlin, Germany > Firm Profile
K&L Gates LLP Offices
MARKGRAFENSTRASSE 42
10117 BERLIN
Germany
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K&L Gates LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Media > Entertainment Tier 3
Integrated into the TMT practice group, K&L Gates LLP‘s media experts focus on advising collecting societies on film, copyright, antitrust and media law issues, in addition to supporting broadcasters and online platforms. Other core areas include sports law, litigation and music law; in the latter area, the team is particularly experienced in contract negotiations with GEMA. Among the key contacts are counsel Olaf Fiss (IP, IT and data protection) and Friederike Gräfin von Brühl (IP litigation); the latter made equity partner in March 2022. Martin Von Albrecht has left the firm.Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Corint Media
Joyn GmbH
Klassik Radio AG
ProSiebenSat.1 SE
RTL Interactive GmbH
RTL Radio Deutschland GmbH
Spotfilm Networx GmbH (Netzkino)
SUPER RTL Fernsehen GmbH Co. KG
The Walt Disney Company Germany
VAUNET e.V.
Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment Inc.
Work highlights
- Representing Corint Media in the landmark proceedings against SevenOne before the LG Erfurt.
- Representation of VAUNET in the arbitration board proceedings against GEMA in connection with the general contract for music-on-demand. Negotiation of the overall contracts with GEMA and GVL in the areas of TV, radio and video-on-demand.
- Comprehensive advice to the Joyn platform in connection with rights clearance for retransmissions and video-on-demand, in particular in connection with music rights.
Public sector > Public procurement Tier 4
K&L Gates LLP advises contractors and contracting authorities on procurement law issues, particularly in the transport, infrastructure, logistics and health sectors. The team is involved in various PPP projects in the infrastructure sector, has accompanied numerous procurement projects in rail transport and advises pharmaceutical and medical technology manufacturers on discount agreements and market entries. Practice head Annette Mutschler-Siebert has in-depth industry knowledge in the (rail) infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and healthcare sectors.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Stadtwerke Verkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt am Main (VGF)
Telio Communications GmbH
Work highlights
- Comprehensive public procurement and subsidy law advice to a developer of new financing solutions regarding the inclusion of an innovative financing model in various tenders for rolling stock and support in entering the German market.
- Advising a municipal public transport company on the design and structuring of a Europe-wide tender for a hydrogen filling station in a major German city and the hydrogen supply contract for the entire process.
- Advising a pharmaceutical company as a co-appearer in a review procedure regarding closed EU supply chains.
Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 4
K&L Gates LLP focuses on supporting transactions and project developments. The team in Berlin frequently assists asset managers, private equity investors and funds in the sectors care, residential, retail and logistics, while the Munich-based team regularly supports retailers, including online traders, with additional expertise in tenancy law. The latter is a key strength of both Philipp Turnwald and Nicolas Mähner. In Berlin, Felix Greuner (industry expertise in the care sector) and Georg Foerstner (restructuring advice) are among the key contacts.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Nicolas Mähner; Anja Rösch; Christia Hullmann
Testimonials
‘The entire team: highly motivated, always available and leading the client and the opposing side in a first-class manner.’
‘Clear communication and flow of information from the partners. Goal-oriented, practical structuring of the process. No unnecessary fussing over the contract structure. Hands-on mentality!’
Key clients
Patrizia AG
TSC Fund SICAV FIS- Three Stone Capital
Cromwell European Real Estate Investment Trust
Mercureim Fund
Everest Trust
Thirteen Seven GmbH
Orsay GmbH
Peloton
Swiss Life
Corpus Sireo
America Today Germany GmbH
Daniel Wellington GmbH
Work highlights
- Advising Patrizia AG on the sale of 51 retail properties (Power Bowl portfolio) to GPEP.
- Advising the TSC Fund SICAV FIS on the sale of a nursing home portfolio with a total volume of around €425 million by way of a share deal.
- Germany-wide advice to a market-leading American online retailer on the project development of logistics space with land acquisition and subsequent long-term leases (sale-and-lease-back) for numerous projects.
Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 5
At K&L Gates LLP, medium-sized companies and listed companies will find an internationally well-connected practice group that cooperates closely with offices in Europe and the US and focuses on corporate advice with particular emphasis on cross-border M&A. The technology and automotive sectors dominate the client base of the team, which is led by Thomas Lappe and advises investors and corporate bodies on international carve-outs and buy-outs as well as joint ventures and VC investments. In addition to her transactional activities, Martina Ortner is also well versed in restructuring, especially holding structures, and in assisting with general meetings. In cooperation with insolvency expert Georg Bernsau, the team also advises on distressed M&A transactions and restructurings.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Balanced team that also works well on cross-departmental questions. Both for the support of complete M&A transactions as well as for specific questions in investment projects.’
‘Thomas Lappe: Particularly outstanding, convinces with comprehensive transaction experience and confident, calm negotiation.’
Key clients
ATOS Gruppe
Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Exasol AG
Osram Continental GmbH
Relief Therapeutics Holding SA
Robus Capital Management Ltd.
TriSpan LLP
VTG AG
ZEAL Network SE
Francotyp Postalia Holding AG
Industrie Saleri Italo S.p.A.
Koenig & Bauer AG
Work highlights
- Advising Koenig & Bauer AG on their general meeting; ongoing corporate governance related to Germany and the K&B foreign companies; assistance with the virtual annual general meeting 2021.
- Ongoing commercial advice to VTG AG.
Corporate and M&A > M&A Tier 5
K&L Gates LLP advises well-known medium-sized and Fortune500 companies, primarily from the automotive, infrastructure and healthcare industries, as well as technology start-ups. In cooperation with the firm's international offices, the practice assists with cross-border transactions, distressed M&A deals and corporate restructurings. Thomas Lappe leads the team and has many years of experience in advising on carve-outs and buy-out transactions as well as on venture capital and private equity deals. Martina Ortner specializes in the creation of holding structures and also accompanies M&A transactions in the technology sector and the manufacturing industry.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
ATOS Gruppe
Continental AG
Exasol AG
Gencor Inc.
Microsoft Inc.
Osram Continental GmbH
Relief Therapeutics Holding SA
Robus Capital Management Ltd.
Sinch AB
TriSpan LLP
ZEAL Network SE
VTG AG
Work highlights
- Advising Microsoft on the acquisition of Kinvolk GmbH.
K&L Gates LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: There are three offices in Germany forming the German K&L Gates’ practice
The three German offices are located in Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich and work closely to constitute a seamless German practice. The distinctive feature of the combined legal services in the German region is efficient transaction and project management combined with increased partner involvement. The firm provides comprehensive commercial law advice to international and German industrial companies, banks, and financial investors, as well as the public sector.
Lawyers in the Berlin office focus especially on corporate mergers and acquisitions, emerging growth and venture capital, and real estate. The team is also active in the fields of investment management; intellectual property, IT and media; litigation and dispute resolution; and labor, employment, and workplace safety; as well as advising on regulatory matters related to public procurement and antitrust law.
The Frankfurt team traditionally has a strong advisory practice in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, finance, and tax law, including a private clients practice. The team also advises on restructuring and insolvency, capital markets law, and dispute resolution covering intellectual property litigation and international and national arbitration.
Focal points of the Munich office are the investment management and procurement and portfolio management practices. The Munich team also has extensive experience in both mergers and acquisition transactions within the industrial market and in private equity. An additional focus is on corporate law for German and international corporations, as well as a strong real estate practice seamlessly working with the Berlin real estate team.
Furthermore, intellectual property litigation and patent law practices play important roles in light of the implementation of the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement to enforce European patents across Europe.
K&L Gates is one of the largest law firms in the world with more than 45 offices located in key capital cities and world commercial and financial centres spanning five continents. Its many offices operate as one firm, offering clients local market knowledge and access to both national and international capabilities.
Main areas of activity
Corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A): K&L Gates Germany advises on mergers, as well as on private and public corporate acquisitions, all questions of general corporate law, corporate litigation processes, cooperation with the public sector, and privatizations in various sectors, especially in the areas of infrastructure; automotive; healthcare; and telecommunications, media, and technology.
Banking and finance: The German banking and finance team is interconnected with various practice groups of the firm and specializes in acquisition financing, asset financing and leasing, real estate financing, project financing (including PPP), secured and unsecured corporate financing, refinancing and restructurings, NPLs, distressed assets financing, export financing, regulatory issues, and banking regulatory law.
Restructuring and insolvency: The experienced team has been working in the field of reorganization, restructuring, and insolvency law for more than 25 years. The focus is on out-of-court restructurings, protective shield proceedings, and the takeover of operational functions (self-administration). In the area of restructuring, the practice group pursues a full-service approach: Insolvency-related employment law, tax law, distressed M&A, refinancing, and litigation.
Private equity: The German private equity team provides legal and strategic advice to private equity funds, hedge funds, family offices, and other opportunistic investors on their investments in the DACH (German speaking) region, in particular on LBOs, MBOs, MBIs, PIPE or P2P transactions, venture capital investments, management participation programs, and special situations.
Tax law: The tax law practice specialises in advising investors, financing banks, opportunity funds, developers, initiators, and service companies on German and international tax law; structuring corporate acquisitions, optimizing real estate transactions, and ongoing asset management; financing; refinancing and restructuring; joint ventures; and regulatory and tax law advice on European, non-regulated investment structures.
Investment management: K&L Gates’ German Investment Management practice provides advice on investment funds, as well as tax and regulatory issues in connection with the structuring of various collective investment schemes investing in private equity, real estate, renewable energy, leasing, and other asset classes. The practices advises fund initiators, investors, and other market participants in transactions in these asset classes.
Private client: Our team for private clients fulfils a multitude of legal services to entrepreneurs, family businesses, high-net-worth individuals, artists, athletes, private banks, and family offices. This includes private and corporate wealth and succession planning. Drafting of gifts, wills, inheritance, partnership and marriage contracts, tax declaration, and defense of the chosen form are also part of our services. As are private tax planning, departure and relocation planning, sale or restructuring of the (family) business, investment in capital assets, and establishment and management of trusts and other nonprofit entities. Furthermore, we advise on all kinds of inheritance matters, including estate settlement.
Telecommunications, media and technology: In the areas of telecommunications, media, and technology, we provide comprehensive support of media, telecommunications, and IT companies in matters of telecommunications law, operational contracts, and regulatory issues; media law, including film financing, collecting societies, and music rights; and technology licensing and IT contracts in the areas of outsourcing, Internet and e-commerce, data protection, and intellectual property issues.
Real estate: The Real Estate team advises on a variety of legal issues, including domestic and international real estate transactions, project developments, joint ventures, restructuring of real estate portfolios, and advice to real estate funds. This team also addresses construction law, commercial landlord and tenant law, project planning, environmental protection, and litigation concerning commercial real estate.
Industrial property rights: We provide advice in connection with the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, focusing on patent infringement disputes. Noncontentious IP issues—in particular R&D projects, licensing, and distribution agreements—are also part of our practice. The field of activity covers complex technologies, in particular automotive, industrial, medical, electronics, telecommunications, and computer hardware and software.
Public procurement law, PPP, and antitrust law: The team consistently advises clients on the design of procurement procedures for public contracting authorities. Furthermore, our lawyers support bidders in national and international projects in the fields of transport, energy, supply and disposal, IT, and health care. The team also advises on corporate transactions on issues of German and European antitrust and public procurement law, as well as European state aid law.
Employment law: The employment team operates across the different German offices and advises on service agreements and liability issues of board members, managing directors, and executives; the development of compensation systems; and pension plans. Furthermore, the team provides advice and represents employers in negotiations with works councils on company agreements, reconciliation of interests and social plans, and employment law accompaniment of transactions.
Procedural and arbitration law: Dispute resolution within the commercial arbitration system to proceedings before state courts, including interim relief and enforcement law, are all included in our practice. Additionally, we provide assistance to our clients in the avoidance or amicable settlement of disputes.
Managing partner Germany: Dr. Rüdiger von Hülst
Offices
Europe: Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Paris
Middle East: Doha, Dubai
United States: Austin, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Harrisburg, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Newark, Orange County, Palo Alto, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Wilmington
South America: Sao Paulo
Asia: Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo
Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Comparative Guides
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Taiwan: Employment and Labour Law
Published: April 2023
Authors: Jacqueline FuCecilia Lee
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Employment and Labour laws and regulations applicable in Taiwan.
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Taiwan: Mergers & Acquisitions
Published: April 2023
Authors: Jacqueline FuJoseph Tseng
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Mergers & Acquisitions laws and regulations applicable in Taiwan.