Europe Germany Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market

DLA Piper boasts a highly regarded practice with expertise across the full corporate and M&A spectrum. Joint venture agreements, corporate reorganisations and large-scale acquisitions and sales are regularly handled by the law firm. Particularly clients from the chemicals, automotive and manufacturing sectors seek DLA Piper's excellent services. The popular team is recognised for acting on cross-border matters in collaboration with the firm's network of international offices, including on inbound and outbound transactions connected to the US and China.

POELLATH offers a stellar mid-market practice advising clients on M&A and corporate agreements, including joint venture deals. The market-leading team acts for German companies on both domestic and international transactions. It advises management boards on the corporate aspects of prominent IPOs and collaborates closely with the firm's highly regarded private equity practice. Additionally, POELLATH demonstrates an affinity for advising start-up companies and their founders.

Glade Michel Wirtz is a dedicated German boutique firm handling both public and private M&A transactions and possessing extensive expertise in corporate matters, often representing supervisory boards in corporate investigations. The distinguished team advises companies on corporate structuring, litigation and contractual matters. Its transactional expertise encompasses acquisitions and divestitures as well as share buy-backs. The law firm's competition and antitrust capabilities complement the team's advice on German mandates. It is particularly popular with domestic and international clients from the automotive and financial services sectors.

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek has a large domestic practice with a widespread presence across the country. The firm handles a vast quantity of mid-cap M&A transactions, including deals for private equity funds and strategic investors as well as capital markets-related deals. The notable team advises on corporate matters, such as reorganisations and joint venture agreements as well as participation programmes. It is particularly popular with clients from the technology, life sciences and real estate sectors.

Luther offers broad coverage in the market of domestic, mid-cap transactions. It acts for both buyers and sellers and frequently handles joint venture formations across various industry sectors. The valued team is often instructed on cross-border M&A deals, with particular experience advising on China-related mandates. The team is also active in the start-up scene, advising on takeovers and investments. It advises a raft of clients from the energy, TMT, automotive, manufacturing and retail industries.

McDermott Will & Emery boasts a strong corporate practice that frequently advises German clients on domestic and cross-border M&A deals, joint ventures and group restructurings. It is additionally regarded for handling multi-jurisdictional matters, assisting international clients with corporate issues and the sale and purchase of German companies. The highly regarded team acts on a range of transaction types, including squeeze outs and mergers. It routinely handles private equity deals and offers broad-ranging sector expertise, with a strong footprint in the healthcare, technology, retail and automotive industries.

Taylor Wessing boasts a strong transactional focus, advising on a range of deal types including strategic partnerships, joint ventures, start-up investments and takeovers. The firm's clientele includes a number of domestic and international clients from the IT and automotive industries as well as financial investors. The team often collaborates with the firm's offices in the UK and the European Union.

The practice at ADVANT Beiten is notably active representing German family-owned companies and shareholders in share transactions. Carve-outs, divestitures and acquisitions are also handled by the law firm as are the set-up of joint venture. The team frequently assists with strategic investments into technology sector companies, acting for international capital funds. Further sector expertise includes energy, manufacturing and financial services.

A strong international network allows Eversheds Sutherland to act on cross-border M&A transactions, with particular expertise pertaining to the UK and the USA. The team represents both German and foreign companies on inbound and outbound sales and purchases as well as multi-jurisdictional mandates. It also provides comprehensive corporate advice and assists with joint ventures, spin-offs and group reorganisations. It is at its most visible in the automotive, technology and energy sectors.

The practice group at GÖRG frequently acts on M&A and joint venture transactions for SMEs and larger corporations in the manufacturing, technology, insurance and logistics industries. It also advises clients on corporate matters and additionally handles acquisitions for private equity funds. The team represents both domestic and international clients and draws additional strength from GÖRG's renowned restructuring and insolvency practice to advise on distressed M&A.

Morrison Foerster is an international law firm with a strong focus on the TMT sector. Its further key industries include life sciences, energy and automotive. In addition to advising on domestic transactions, the team is well placed to act on both inbound and outbound sales and acquisitions. The team acts on private and public M&A deals, including mergers and spin-offs, as well as private equity transactions. Its client base is made up of shareholders, financial investors and multinational corporations.

Oppenhoff is a well-known German practice active in M&A transactions, including the formation of and restructuring of joint ventures. The firm enjoys a strong reputation for its expertise in corporate governance matters, routinely advising on sophisticated corporate reorganisations. The team's client base ranges from family-owned businesses to international corporates as well as capital funds. Aided by its competition law expertise, Oppenhoff is also in a good position to handle foreign direct investment proceedings. It also regularly assists shareholders with transactions and corporate issues.

Dechert advises financial investors and strategic clients on domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity transactions. The practice comes recommended for international deals, particularly those involving clients from the US. It also assists with shareholder divestitures, joint venture agreements and restructurings. The team is also highly active in venture capital deals.

The international law firm Dentons is appreciated for its holistic coverage of mandates across Germany and beyond. The highly active team assists with M&A, corporate advisory and private equity deals. It also handles distressed M&A transactions. In addition, clients benefit from the firm's expertise in joint venture set-ups. The law firm is particularly active in regulated industries such as TMT, life sciences and energy. Dentons regularly utilises its broad international network for cross-border transactions.

GLNS rises in the rankings following its strong performance in the market. The law firm showcases a broad clientele in mid-market corporate and M&A work, with a particular track record in the technology, media and life sciences industries. The team routinely assists mid-sized companies, shareholders and founders with takeovers, strategic acquisitions and divestitures and as targets of investments. Furthermore, GLNS advises domestic and international financial investors on acquisitions and sales of German assets, aided by its strength in cross-border deals.

Gütt Olk Feldhaus handles a broad range of corporate and M&A topics. The law firm is experienced in strategic M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. The team regularly handles transactions for clients in the automotive, IT, media and healthcare industries. It has experience working on cross-border deals while assisting founders, shareholders, corporates and investors.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe rises in the rankings following its impressive performance in the market. The law firm shows a strong track record in mid-cap M&A transactions and venture deals. The team is particularly adept at handling in and outbound cross-border work, with strong expertise in advising on acquisitions and investments in the German start-up scene. The firm also assists with the formation of joint ventures. Due to its US ties, the law firm is also a favoured choice for transactions with a US angle. It frequently assists with deals in the technology, energy, financial services and life sciences sectors.

Raue has a solid reputation for advice on German mid-cap transactions. The law firm is particularly active in advising owners on their sale to international corporates, with particular strength in the German start-up scene. Further expertise lies in corporate governance and compliance as well as the establishment of new business units. It acts for founders, shareholders, investors and international corporate groups. The practice has numerous clients from the energy and publishing sectors, as well as proven capabilities in technology and healthcare transactions.

The team at ARQIS routinely handles cross-border M&A transactions including acquisitions for private equity funds and portfolio companies. The firm also assists with the entry of investors and share divestitures. It is particularly popular with Japanese clients looking to acquire German companies, thanks to the law firm's highly regarded Japanese desk. The department frequently acts for companies from the healthcare, manufacturing and hospitality sectors.

The international law firm Bird & Bird enjoys a robust standing in the German market. Its team regularly advises on M&A, private equity deals and venture capital financings. Additionally, the firm assists with corporate governance and compliance issues. Besides acting for well known clients from the TMT, transportation and life sciences industries, Bird & Bird also advises start-ups. The firm's full-service and international profile provides for an all-encompassing offering.

US headquartered firm Greenberg Traurig is best known for its cross-border transactions with the USA. The team is not only active on acquisitions, investments and divestitures as well as mergers but also regularly handles joint venture set-ups in the automotive sector. Venture capital transactions are also handled by the firm. Its clientele comprises private equity houses as well as industrial companies. The firm advises on transactions in the technology, life sciences, pharmaceuticals and software industries.

GSK Stockmann is best known for its longstanding expertise in the real estate sector, frequently handling share and asset deals. The practice also advises on strategic corporate M&A in Germany and across jurisdictions, including investments, acquisitions and exits. Distressed M&A also falls within the firm's area of expertise. The team is also active on the formation of new companies and corporate and capital markets law mandates. Its clients include companies active in the technology, healthcare and financial sectors, public sector entities and financial investors.

K&L Gates is a well-established practice advising domestic and international clients from Europe and North America, with particular strength working on transatlantic transactions in cooperation with its offices in the USA. The team advises on M&A and private equity deals and joint ventures as well as transactions connected to start-ups. Additional expertise includes corporate and capital markets law advisory. It is particularly active in the technology, life sciences, automotive and financial services sectors.

Osborne Clarke is an internationally oriented law firm that advises on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, as well as public takeovers and share transfers. It offers further expertise in private equity and venture capital deals as well as joint venture transactions. The law firm additionally assists with corporate and commercial advisory work as well as representing clients in post-M&A and shareholder disputes. It represents clients from a range of industries, including retail and consumer goods, life sciences, healthcare and technology.

Renzenbrink & Partner is a well-known M&A boutique law firm with a strong foothold in the German market especially in Hamburg and Munich. The team's primary capability is mid-market M&A and joint venture transactions as well as private equity deals. Its clientele spans corporates in different sectors, start-ups and shareholders.

The international law firm Sidley Austin advises on a variety of matters, including domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestitures. Corporate restructurings form another area of the firm's expertise. Besides its strength in M&A, the team also handles private equity deals and frequently advises on transactions in the healthcare, life sciences, automotive and manufacturing sectors.

Wendelstein remains a sought-after law firm for its strength in M&A and corporate mandates. The team regularly advises investors and technology companies on domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestitures. Clients also benefit from the firm's experience in the set-up of joint ventures and management participation programmes. Its industry focus is broad, spanning TMT, real estate and e-commerce.

The Munich-based boutique law firm EGO / HUMRICH / WYEN enters the rankings due to its growing presence in the market. The team assists corporates and investors with acquisitions, divestitures and mergers. Furthermore, the firm handles corporate restructurings, compliance and disputes. With its expertise in capital markets law and joint ventures the team complements its offerings. Supervisory boards and family offices also belong to the firm's clientele.

The law firm GvW Graf von Westphalen enters the rankings due to its growing visibility in the German market. The team handles a variety of mandates from acquisitions and sales to spin-offs and investment transactions. German as well as international clients from the technology, software and healthcare sectors form part of GvW's growing clientele. The firm is particularly visible in inbound transactions while also assisting with financing rounds.

The German boutique law firm LUPP + PARTNER enters the rankings following its growing presence in the market. The team regularly handles domestic M&A transactions with a particular expertise in IT, intellectual property and real estate deals. In addition, the firm enjoys a robust standing in the private equity and venture capital world, advising investors as well as start-ups. Family offices also seek the firm's advice.

Reed Smith comes recommended for inbound and outbound cross-border M&A, advising a client portfolio of German and international companies. The team assists with M&A and private equity deals including carve outs and auction processes. In addition, the firm offers corporate advisory expertise and regularly advises on transactions relating to restructuring and insolvencies. It has experience in a variety of sectors, including automotive, media and IT. Due to its international network Reed Smith is also in a good position to assist with cross-border mandates.