Capital Markets: Structured Finance
Global Guide 2024 : Germany
Band 1
Contact number
+49 69 71 99 01Chambers Review
Clifford Chance boasts an extremely well-resourced team covering the full gamut of international capital markets matters. The law firm has a formidable presence in structured finance, enjoying a vast deal flow in securitisations, with further coverage of NPL trades and regulatory aspects pertaining to investment platforms. The Frankfurt office furthermore acts for an impressive collection of underwriters and bank issuers on DCM matters, including debt issuance programmes as well as the issuing of green bonds, sovereign bonds and bank bonds. Additionally, clients regularly seek the law firm's advice regarding IPOs, capital increases and rights offerings. Its excellent client base, which consists primarily of major international banks and corporates across various industries, serves as further evidence of the firm's strong market position.
Work Highlights
- Clifford Chance advised a syndicate of international banks, including BofA Securities, Banco Santander, Barclays and Deutsche Bank, on the more than EUR9 billion IPO of Porsche on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Clifford Chance are very reliable, and have a good commercial approach and the knowledge and information to help us."
"The lawyers were continually responsive and very helpful in structuring solutions."
"The team has the necessary depth to provide good and practical advice and to execute on transactions."
"Clifford Chance are very reliable, and have a good commercial approach and the knowledge and information to help us."
"The lawyers were continually responsive and very helpful in structuring solutions."
"The team has the necessary depth to provide good and practical advice and to execute on transactions."
Notable Practitioners
Marc Benzler is held in high esteem for his longstanding expertise in the German and European financial regulatory and derivatives world. He is regularly mandated on matters pertaining to industry master agreements and clearing documentation.
Leading practitioner Oliver Kronat is highly visible in the structured finance world. He is revered for his strength in handling synthetic, trade receivables and RMBS as well as CMBS and expectancy rights securitisations. The set-up of alternative investment structures also falls within his remit.
"Oliver Kronat was able to advise on our more complex and challenging projects."
"Oliver Kronat was great. He knew the issues, brought in other experts where necessary, and did a good job of understanding and meeting our goals."
Sebastian Maerker is widely considered one of Germany's top DCM experts, often advising on large-scale bond issuances, including sustainability-linked and green bonds, MREL notes and AT1 instruments as well as sovereign bonds. He also convinces with his excellence in setting up and updating debt issuance programmes across Germany and beyond. He is a sought-after adviser to an impressive list of German and international banks.
"Sebastian Maerker is very pragmatic and hands-on. He finds good solutions and helps us quickly."
US-qualified practitioner George Hacket of Clifford Chance LLP is appreciated for his strength in the ECM space. He regularly advises on prominent IPOs, capital increases and de-SPACs, acting for issuers and bookrunners. He additionally assists with US Rule 144A offerings and is also sought after for his expertise in cross-border mandates involving Austria.
"George Hacket is excellent in handling challenging IPOs, driving processes very effectively and ensuring banks get the required comfort while completing the transaction on time."
"I really love working with George Hacket, who is a great lawyer and thinker. He is one of the leading lawyers in German-speaking countries."
"George Hacket is known to be very good in his field, with a very good and hands-on mentality."
Gregor Evenkamp is trusted by clients for his expertise in regulatory and derivatives issues and a focus on alternative investment structures, including the launch of investment platforms and the structuring of cleared notes.
Kerstin Schaepersmann is experienced in assisting with synthetic, RMBS and expectancy rights securitisations, with further expertise in the arrangement of new capital streams and loan-on-loan facilities.
Hannes Deusch assists with a range of structured finance mandates, including trade receivables and the set-up of alternative investment structures and platforms.
"Hannes Deusch has been very supportive and has excellent knowledge of different financing products."