Banking & Finance | Germany

The banking and finance team at Freshfields is renowned for its standing among high-profile lenders, corporate borrowers and sponsors. The law firm excels in all types of lending transactions, regularly playing starring roles in cross-border acquisitions and corporate and leveraged finance deals, as well as novel financing structures. The regulatory team maintains its reputation as a market-leading one, and routinely handles large mandates concerning bank M&A, fintech and reorganisations in the financial services sector. The team also represents clients in contentious matters at national and EU levels, including in BaFin enforcement proceedings and before the EGC.

Hengeler Mueller houses an outstanding banking and finance team with an excellent reputation for complex, high-value international transactions. Its lawyers routinely advise well-known German and international corporates and banks on acquisition finance, state-sponsored financing and syndicated corporate loans. The law firm is also recommended for refinancing, financial restructurings and ESG-related financings. Its clientele further enjoys an excellent regulatory offering, with the department assisting with cryptocurrency, payment system implementation and restructurings in the financial sector. Additionally, the firm demonstrates prowess in complex litigation and BaFin enforcement proceedings. Hengeler Mueller rounds off its excellence with its regulatory strength in bank M&A mandates.

Latham & Watkins excels in covering the full breadth of finance work. Due to its market visibility and holistic offering, the team is frequently mandated by banking consortiums and direct lenders as well as by corporate borrowers on complex acquisition finance deals, refinancings and corporate finance. Clients benefit from the team's expertise in issues such as AML, licensing procedures and investigations. The law firm also showcases a strong presence in the regulatory market, with the lawyers handling regulatory aspects of investments and M&A transactions. As an international law firm, Latham & Watkins is an attractive choice for large and multi-jurisdictional projects.

Milbank is a well-reputed law firm that advises clients across its Frankfurt and Munich offices on a broad range of banking and finance issues. The team is particularly active on complex leveraged finance, refinancing and acquisition finance transactions, and offers noteworthy expertise in syndicated loans and alternative lending structures, including Schuldschein loans. Due to its strong global network, the team is well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional deals. Its clientele, which consists of large corporates, private equity funds and multinational lending consortiums, further evidences the firm's presence in the market and strong visibility among both borrowers and lenders.

A highly reputed law firm with an excellent international network, A&O Shearman offers strength across the full financing spectrum. The team is particularly well regarded for complex, cross-border syndicated lending, acquisitions and corporate finance transactions. The department also offers significant expertise in leveraged finance and refinancing, including extensions and repricing term loans. Financial services clients additionally benefit from the law firm's regulatory practice, ranging from M&A transactions and compliance with new and existing directives to payment services advice and fintech projects. Its clientele consists of notable international banks, corporates and asset management companies. Due to its extensive international network, the law firm is well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional mandates and closely cooperates with its US and other European offices.

Clifford Chance possesses an esteemed banking and finance practice which is recognised for its work on complex domestic as well as multi-jurisdictional financing transactions. The team covers a broad spectrum, ranging from direct lending and acquisition finance to syndicated loans and revolving credit facilities. Its clientele of well-known German and international corporates and banks, from both the borrower and lender sides, further illustrates the law firm's standing in the market. Clients also value the regulatory offering at Clifford Chance, with the team advising on matters including industry master agreements, bank M&A and reorganisations. The department is additionally versed in handling bank insolvencies as well as banking compliance, crypto regulations, sanctions advice and litigation.

The team at Linklaters is well regarded by peers and clients alike and offers extensive coverage of all areas of financing. Being highly visible on high-end, cross-border corporate loan transactions, the team offers further capabilities in leverage finance. Furthermore, the law firm benefits from an outstanding regulatory team, which regularly advises on banking M&A and restructuring, fintech and compliance matters. The law firm's clientele consists of well-known German and international corporates and banks.

Gleiss Lutz is noted for its comprehensive coverage of banking and finance mandates. It often assists German and international borrowers, including PE firms and their portfolio companies as well as corporates across a range of sectors. The law firm is also sought after by banks, syndicates and direct lenders. The practice group offers particular expertise in acquisition finance, corporate lending and LBOs. It also cooperates with its strong restructuring and insolvency practice to advise on financial restructurings with syndicated loans. Gleiss Lutz has additional capabilities in regulatory matters, assisting financial services clients with German and EU banking supervisory law matters.

The team at Noerr offers a broad coverage of banking and finance capabilities, and regularly advises corporates, banks and government entities. In addition to its capabilities in transactional work, clients further benefit from the firm's regulatory expertise, which holistically covers issues such as MiFID II and AML as well as BaFin proceedings. The team also assists with licensing issues and online payment services as well as M&A in the financial industry.

Ashurst is a law firm best known for its capabilities in mid-market financing transactions. The teams across Frankfurt and Munich chiefly advise direct lenders on all financing aspects pertaining to acquisitions and growth facilities. The law firm is also experienced in the refinancing of existing loans. With its expertise in cross-border mandates, Ashurst is frequently sought out by international clients and those seeking assistance with multi-jurisdictional financing issues.

CMS boasts a full-service team capable of handling the full gamut of financing matters. The team is particularly recommended for acquisition finance, corporate lending and refinancing transactions, and acts for financial institutions and corporates. Additionally, the law firm is a frequent choice for clients for cross-border work thanks to its robust international set-up, while its full-service offering ensures that expert advice from related practice groups is provided.

Goodwin is active on acquisition and leveraged finance mandates, and has further expertise in debt refinancing. The lawyers chiefly act for leading French and international banks and private equity companies both on domestic and on cross-border transactions. The law firm demonstrates knowledge of a variety of industry sectors, including telecoms and retail.

The Frankfurt-based banking and finance team at Hogan Lovells focuses on acquisition financing, often involving various jurisdictions. The practice provides additional expertise in refinancing, debt restructuring and corporate lending, as well as assisting with amendments to existing facilities. Hogan Lovells also possesses regulatory capabilities, in particular in the areas of fintech products and outsourcings as well as bank M&A mandates. The team's advisory strength is further complemented by its ability to handle litigation in European courts pertaining to the Single Resolution Board. The law firm's clientele ranges from leading German banks and corporates to public institutions and international debt funds.

Taylor Wessing is appreciated for its expertise in a variety of banking and finance mandates, including syndicated loans and direct lending. The team regularly advises German banks and international private equity firms on acquisition finance as well as refinancings. With a broad bench, the law firm is well placed to cater to a large client base and to advise on cross-border mandates in cooperation with its global offices.

Astera Legal has established a reputable banking and finance practice that caters to a range of German and international debt funds, private equity firms and banks. The law firm specialises in borrower-side acquisition finance as well as growth finance.

Baker McKenzie regularly advises well-known German and international clients such as banks and debt funds on a wide array of finance matters. The team is particularly experienced in handling acquisition financing and corporate loans, and often acts for lenders and syndicates on cross-border transactions. The law firm also assists with exit financings and revolving credit facilities.

Kirkland & Ellis offers a solid banking practice with a strong reputation for its international work, and frequently represents US or UK investment firms. The law firm is best known for its strength in restructuring and refinancing, but is also noted for its advice on acquisition finance matters. Offering services to a broad clientele, the team also closely cooperates with its reputed M&A department, particularly on projects that concern several jurisdictions.

Mayer Brown regularly advises specialty lenders and well-known international banks on acquisition finance transactions, including for joint ventures. Further expertise lies in assisting borrowers, such as with revolving credit facilities and infrastructure acquisition financing. The law firm is particularly visible in the real estate, telecommunications and manufacturing sectors. Its expansive international office network renders the firm a robust choice for cross-border mandates.

McDermott Will & Schulte advises a mix of German and international private equity firms and banks on acquisition financings, leverage finance and restructurings. The law firm has particular expertise in handling cross-border transactions for clients in the financial services sector.

Due to its broad finance practice, Norton Rose Fulbright is experienced in handling a variety of matters, including corporate and acquisition finance and refinancings, with expertise in syndicated loan agreements. The team predominantly represents lenders, with a substantial client base consisting of domestic state banks and international financial institutions. The law firm is also respected for its low and mid-cap offering.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher is recognised for its expertise in a variety of banking and finance issues, with a particular focus on acquisition finance transactions. The law firm further assists with restructurings of existing facilities and frequently draws on its large international network to handle cross-border matters. The team's clientele consists of medium-sized and large private equity firms, which the firm assists with banking matters in close cooperation with its private equity team. Willkie has an additional focus on acting for debt funds as well as banks lending in the mid-cap space.