Investment Funds | Europe

Clifford Chance hosts a market-leading practice offering outstanding services to well-known investment firms and institutional investors. The law firm offers particular expertise in the financial regulatory compliance of fund structures. It is experienced in advising on fund structuring and closing and fundraising. The team is well equipped to assist with AIFs and investments via asset-linked debt instruments, as well as feeder funds, and is additionally noted for large, cross-border real estate portfolio deals. Clifford Chance's international client base benefits from the firm's extensive network of European and global offices.

Linklaters has a market-leading funds practice that prides itself on its international outlook. The team regularly advises on across-the-board fund structuring, including high-value real estate funds, AIFs, funds of funds, feeder vehicles and single-investor funds. Linklaters regularly works with global and domestic institutional investors and real estate firms.

Hengeler Mueller has a strong investment practice, handling regulatory issues, fund structuring, fund distribution, debt issuances and portfolio management. The team advises on AIFs, private equity, infrastructure and crypto funds. The department has particular experience advising German high net worth individuals, insurance firms and banks, but also works with cross-border clients.

POELLATH is a highly regarded funds practice with strong expertise across a variety of investment law areas. The law firm excels itself in complex tax, regulatory and contractual issues around fund structuring. It also has a noted practice in fund launches of all types and in various industries, with technology funds being a recent focus. Its client list includes both domestic and international institutional investors as well as private equity and venture capital firms.

Debevoise & Plimpton rises in the rankings on the back of impressive mandates and excellent client feedback. This international law firm has the ability to leverage its position to help its impressive list of institutional and banking clients. The practice does significant work in high-value fund structuring, with experience handling private equity, infrastructure and successor funds, as well as funds of funds. The team also advises on the establishment and the management of liquid debt accounts. The firm's international essence lends itself perfectly to cross-border matters.

Dechert maintains a robust practice covering a broad spectrum of investment law issues. The firm advises on the formation of real estate and venture funds, as well as RAIFs. The team also has experience in crypto funds. Dechert works with domestic and international institutional investors and leverages its global offices to work cross-border.

YPOG is a boutique firm with a comprehensive coverage of all relevant investment fund issues. It offers expertise in tax and regulatory law pertaining to high-value investment structurings and is recognised for excellent work in setting up new venture capital and private equity funds. The team has particular expertise in technology funds, advising on crypto and AI funds, as well as advising tech unicorns. Its clientele also includes national and international venture capital funds, as well as retail and institutional investors.

Bödecker Ernst & Partner is a boutique firm focused on investment funds and products, and is highly experienced in legal, regulatory and tax due diligence, often advising occupational pension schemes. The practice regularly assists with real estate investments, portfolio transfers and the setting up of funds and pooling vehicles, while leading tax due diligence on AIFs with a green energy asset focus. The team also has experience in cross-border acquisition of funds.

CMS is an international law firm with a sound coverage of investment advice, fund structuring and transactions. The team frequently assists with AIFs, debt funds, portfolio transfers, cross-border investments and the launch of new venture capital funds in the insurance and real estate sectors. CMS provides expertise in regulatory, licensing, corporate and tax law connected to fund structures and transactions. The practice leverages its strong international network to aid its notable clientele, including national and international institutional investors.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer advises an impressive array of banks and international investors on a variety of fund-related matters. The law firm is equipped to handle large cross-border transactions due to its strong international network, including real estate portfolio acquisitions and financing. The team has experience structuring offshore special funds. On the regulatory side, the firm is capable of handling BaFin matters.

GSK Stockmann is an experienced team with good coverage of investment law mandates and a focus on advising German investment companies and asset managers, particularly from the real estate sector. The law firm is well versed in setting up AIFs and debt funds, handling large portfolio transactions and providing comprehensive ESG advice. The team's expertise includes tax, insurance supervisory law and due diligence, the latest regulatory requirements and BaFin approval procedures. GSK Stockmann regularly works closely with its Luxembourg office, enhancing the firm's cross-border capabilities.

HEUKING is a respected law firm that offers assistance with fund matters for an array of large German clients. The firm provides regulatory advice on portfolio management and outsourcing, as well as assisting with BaFin matters. The team has significant expertise in fund structuring across the board, with a focus on venture capital funds and AIFs. HEUKING also provides advice on investments in funds, tax issues, establishment and outsourcing. Its client roster is predominantly made up of German investment funds, asset managers and regional banks.

King & Spalding is a reputable law firm advising well-known German and international investment managers, insurance companies and banks. The team assists with product development and distribution as well as fund structuring, restructuring and liquidation. Its strength lies in the real estate arena, including setting up open-end and closed-end real estate funds, large cross-border portfolio acquisitions and connected regulatory and tax issues. Its strong network enables an attractive offering for cross-border mandates and international clients.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft is particularly skilled at fund formation, with notable experience in renewable energy infrastructure funds, private debt funds and AIFs. Luther also advises on fund-related bonds, the setting up of fund platforms, and regulatory advice on investments into funds. The team boasts a client list of domestic and international banking and institutional investors. Its strong knowledge of the Luxembourg fund market is of note.

Orbit enters the rankings this year following consistently outstanding feedback from its clients and increasing recognition from its peers. Orbit is a boutique law firm based in Berlin that was founded in 2021 as the first law firm in Germany to specialise exclusively in investment fund law. Its clients primarily consist of venture capital and private equity fund managers and investors in alternative assets.