Real Estate | Germany

Clifford Chance has a stellar team advising on the full range of real estate matters. The firm offers a formidable transactional practice which enjoys a first-rate reputation for both big-ticket and mid-sized real estate transactions across all asset classes, with a proven track record of representing leading industry clients on both the buy and sell sides. An impressive international network facilitates the seamless handling of cross-border single-asset and portfolio transactions. The team also offers an integrated service by working closely with the firm's corporate, tax and restructuring departments. It is a good choice for complex property financing matters, advising borrowers on acquisition finance and refinancing. Its client roster comprises investors, project developers, private equity funds, REITs and financial institutions.

DLA Piper offers a full-service practice that focuses on real estate transactions in the form of asset, share and financing deals. The team also advises on acquisitions, disposals and pan-European portfolio financing across several asset classes, including logistics, commercial and retail, with increasing strength in transactions involving data centres. The firm is also regularly mandated on hotel transactions, often acting for foreign investors, with further capabilities in handling project development matters and real-estate related corporate mandates. Its finance practice represents lenders as well as borrowers, including investors, banks and fund managers. The lawyers have experience with loan amendments, distressed structuring matters and asset financing, including green aspects. It is also frequently recommended for cross-border mandates thanks to its impressive international network.

Greenberg Traurig is highly regarded for both classical real estate and real estate finance matters, and is a strong choice for complex, cross-border property transactions on a pan-European and transatlantic scale, with experience in both asset and share deals across all types of properties. The team possesses significant strength in project development matters including urban regeneration mandates and distressed assets. The real estate finance practice regularly advises on originations, mezzanine financing, portfolio financing, refinancing and debt restructuring. It is often active on the buyer side, but also represents banks and lenders. Its key clients include mortgage bond banks, private equity firms and asset managers.

CMS is a law firm with a strong presence throughout Germany and other European jurisdictions, assisting key clients both domestically and internationally. It is recommended for mid-sized and big-ticket portfolio transactions concerning retail, office, hospitality and logistics targets, and is notably active in the housing sector. The team also assists institutional investors with asset management and developments, in addition to handling real-estate related joint venture structures and distressed transactions. CMS also boasts a strong German real estate finance outfit, whose lawyers possess expertise regarding acquisition finance, portfolio financing and alternative lending, regularly acting for both borrowers and lenders.

Freshfields has an excellent real estate team that offers the industry's full range of services. The law firm frequently handles headline real estate M&A transactions with cross-border elements and acts for a number of high profile clients. The team offers further expertise in innovative project developments and complex leasing matters. The practice also has noteworthy capabilities in complex real estate acquisition finance including distressed restructuring and investment matters. Freshfields offers strength in all asset classes, with regular activity in the office, logistics, retail, defence and hotel sectors.

Hengeler Mueller utilises its formidable transactional expertise to handle the full spectrum of high-end real estate M&A deals, while additionally advising on asset financing and refinancing. Its expertise spans joint ventures, sale and leaseback structures and lease agreements with particular strength in assisting with logistics properties and project developments. Furthermore, it is well versed in handling cross-border transactions for well-known banks, real estate funds and asset managers. The team also assists with project and portfolio financing in addition to loan items and bridge financing.

Hogan Lovells offers a well-resourced team that handles a range of real estate transactions. It shows strength in a variety of sectors, including hotels, logistics and industrial, advising on due diligence, acquisitions, sales and financings. The firm assists with both single-asset and portfolio transactions and is capable of structuring complex share deals, with further expertise in sale and leaseback transactions and project development. The team also capably provides advice on the conclusion of long-term lease agreements. Its client base is made up of investors, developers and asset managers. Hogan Lovells remains a popular choice for multi-jurisdictional deals thanks to its broad international network, and is often highlighted for its full-service resources.

Noerr's real estate practice is an active department offering comprehensive coverage of both the real estate and real estate finance markets. The law firm regularly advises on property transactions concerning both single assets and portfolios, as well as acting on real estate M&A, joint ventures, project development and asset management. The firm is also well equipped to advise on lease agreements. Its solid real estate finance practice handles acquisition finance and project development financing transactions, as well as real estate loan restructurings and distressed items. The team is well versed in advising on retail, office, logistics and large residential spaces.

GSK Stockmann is a full-service law firm that offers longstanding expertise in the real estate sector. It frequently advises investors and project developers on acquisitions, disposals and forward deals, while also assisting with joint venture structuring and asset management. The firm's work spans all asset classes, including offices, hotels, residential buildings and data centres, and the team is additionally sought out for lettings advice. GSK Stockmann offers further support for real estate finance matters, including multi-tiered asset and acquisition financings across commercial and industrial properties for both borrower and lender clients.

Linklaters' real estate team advises real estate investment companies, private equity firms and financial institutions on big-ticket, multi-jurisdictional portfolio acquisitions and sales, as well as classic real estate M&A and joint ventures. The team is also experienced in advising multi-jurisdictional investor consortiums. The firm is particularly strong in the logistics sector, while also handling deals in the commercial and retail property fields, in addition to its growing expertise in the data centre space.

McDermott Will & Schulte advises on a broad range of real estate matters, including M&A, fund structuring, restructurings and developments. The firm is best known for its work in the retail sector, and is also present on notable transactions across hospitality and office properties. A further focus is lease negotiations, an arena in which the firm represents household-name corporates in commercial spaces. The real estate finance practice is experienced in acting for both borrowers and lenders on various acquisition and development financing mandates, with senior and junior loan structures. The team frequently advises on cross-border matters, utilising its considerable international network.

POELLATH is a respected national law firm that represents clients in real estate transactions across a number of asset classes - most notably retail, office, residential and healthcare facilities. The lawyers possess extensive experience in single-asset and portfolio transactions on both the buy and sell sides. Its client base consists of investors, funds, private equity firms and financial institutions. The team often closely cooperates with its very reputable tax practice to assist with tax-related real estate questions.

A&O Shearman maintains a pioneering real estate finance practice with the full range of financing expertise at its disposal. The team enjoys an excellent standing in classic real estate lending transactions, as well as bond issuances and CMBS transactions, primarily advising domestic and international banks, with additional expertise in refinancing, development financing and large-scale portfolio restructurings. The team's real estate activities comprise asset and portfolio acquisitions and sales, acting for investors and project developers, as well as providing advice on project development, with strength across the full spectrum of asset classes, including logistics spaces, offices, residential buildings and retail units. The firm remains a top choice for complex, cross-border transactions thanks to its strong international network, as well as its ability to offer a seamless service across transactional, financing, tax and regulatory advice.

Ashurst capably advises clients throughout the entire lifecycle of a real estate deal. The team's broad-ranging transactional expertise encompasses acquisitions and disposals, as well as project development acquisitions and sale and leaseback transactions, with notable experience concerning logistics and residential assets. The team also offers noteworthy expertise in financing, regularly assisting borrowers with acquisition finance, single-asset and portfolio financing, development financing and refinancing. Ashurst counts domestic and international investors, asset managers, project developers, financial institutions, insurance companies and private equity firms from across Europe and East Asia among its clientele.

Dentons benefits from its global network in its ability to assist with numerous cross-border portfolio transactions on both the buy and sell sides. The team additionally handles portfolio restructuring, leasing and asset management matters and covers a broad spectrum of asset classes, including data and logistics centres, office buildings and student housing. The firm also assists real estate clients with joint ventures for the purpose of acquisitions and sales in connection with residential spaces.

Gleiss Lutz offers a strong practice that regularly handles all types of real estate transactions and also covers financing matters. The law firm has considerable strength in real estate M&A, with expertise in asset deals, share deals and pan-European portfolio transactions concerning retail, residential and commercial spaces. The team additionally advises on the acquisition and sale of project developments across Germany, benefiting from exceptional planning law capabilities. The team is also recommended for property financing and restructuring. Its client base includes numerous multinational investors, municipal groups and property developers.

GÖRG is well known for its work on transactions, focusing particularly on office and logistics sites. Further areas of focus for the team include projects in the retail, healthcare and energy sectors, as well as providing advice on asset management and lease contracts. The law firm is frequently mandated by real estate companies, investors and public entities. The team is also well placed to advise on brownfield and urban development projects.

Latham & Watkins has an active real estate and finance practice that handles a range of transactions and property developments. The team displays impressive work with data centres in addition to commercial and industrial properties. The law firm has further experience with real estate M&A mandates comprising joint venture structures, investment matters and project financing.

Norton Rose Fulbright is noted for its well established German real estate team, comprising lawyers based in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich. The law firm regularly advises on property transactions in the logistics, retail and hospitality sectors, as well as those concerning offices and commercial spaces. The lawyers also assist with leasing matters, urban development and property management advice. The team at Norton Rose Fulbright offers further support to investors and lenders with acquisition financing across multi-tiered structures and large restructuring mandates.

Taylor Wessing has noted expertise in both transactional real estate matters and real estate financings. The real estate finance practice is adept at acting for both lenders and borrowers and handles the full gamut of real estate finance work, including acquisition and development financings, as well as refinancings, extensions and restructurings. Its transactional team is regularly sought out for its advice on the sale and acquisition of office, logistics, hospitality, residential and mixed-use commercial properties, with additional strengths in real estate M&A, ESG implementation and project development across hotels, research centres and urban spaces.

Baker McKenzie has an established presence in the German real estate market, with key teams of lawyers based in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. Its practice has a particular focus on property transactions and their financings, often advising clients on acquisitions and sale and leasebacks. The lawyers frequently assist with mandates concerning retail and commercial real estate.

Eversheds Sutherland's real estate team in Germany advises its clients on a wide range of matters from its offices in Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf. Its lawyers have particular transactional experience in the areas of data centres, logistics and the sale and leaseback of industrial portfolios, and the team additionally advises a mix of German and international clients on the refinancing of their real estate projects.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer offers a transactional real estate practice with offices in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, bolstered by the strengths of the firm's pan-European and international network of real estate teams. It regularly acts on the buying, selling and financing of various asset classes, including offices, logistics properties, hotels and retail spaces, both as single assets and as part of portfolios. The team is additionally experienced in handling real-estate related corporate, energy and telecommunication matters.

Mayer Brown is well versed in advising on portfolio transactions and single-asset purchases, as well as sale and leaseback transactions. The law firm is frequently mandated by real estate funds, as well as investors, to advise on cross-border acquisitions concerning residential, commercial and logistics properties. It also assists with leasing topics across office spaces.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has a notable real estate practice with a strong transactional focus. The law firm utilises its extensive international network to advise on cross-border transactions and navigate multi-jurisdictional regulatory environments. It is well versed in sales and acquisitions, as well as project development matters, and is frequently mandated by international investors to assist with transactions. The lawyers are experienced in dealing with a range of real estate assets including retail, office and industrial spaces as well as leisure properties and data centres.

The real estate team at FPS displays particular strength in the Frankfurt market and handles a range of property matters. The lawyers specialise in the purchase and sale of undeveloped properties, the creation of building rights, project developments and legal asset management matters, among others. Commercial groups, municipal bodies and financial outfits mandate the team at FPS to assist with office, retail and laboratory spaces.

The real estate group at HEUKING is well placed to advise on a range of transactions concerning residential and commercial matters. The lawyers also help institutional clients with construction and leasing items for industrial spaces, in addition to expertise in assisting with real estate financing work.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft boasts an expansive real estate team spanning multiple offices across Germany. The lawyers are particularly active on transactions, asset management and commercial tenancy law cases. The team at Luther has notable expertise in the logistics properties and healthcare industries, assisting municipal clients, notable real estate groups and regional bodies with a broad range of property mandates.

Raue's strong Berlin-based transactional real estate practice is often involved in high profile real estate and infrastructure projects in Germany's capital. The practice is supported by experts in public building and planning law.