Tax | Germany

Flick Gocke Schaumburg has a standout tax team offering strength across many specialisms within the field. The team is highly sought after by domestic blue-chip corporates as well as international clients for advice on transactional matters and company reorganisations, with further tax capabilities in VAT. Alongside its leading corporate tax practice, the law firm handles a broad range of contentious issues, both at fiscal court and before the ECJ, and also provides regulatory advice, including on transfer pricing and international tax law as well as tax audits. The team includes both tax consultants and attorneys at law.

Freshfields has a formidable team that is well known for tax advice on transactions, working in conjunction with its M&A and private equity departments. It acts for a broad spectrum of clients, including financial institutions and major German and international corporates. The law firm also regularly advises on the tax elements of corporate restructurings as well as providing guidance on tax-efficient arrangements of transactions.

Linklaters' tax department is highly capable in handling cross-border mandates thanks to the firm's impressive international network. The law firm is particularly well known for its tax expertise in M&A and finance transactions. The team also represents clients in contentious tax mandates and maintains recognition for its tax investigations advice. Linklaters is a popular choice for private equity as well as corporate clients from the hospitality and automotive fields.

A&O Shearman is popular among international financial institutions, corporations and private equity houses for advice on the tax structuring of transactions and corporate reorganisation projects, including joint ventures and asset transfers. The law firm also advises international banks on investigations, such as in relation to cum/ex trades, and possesses capability in tax disputes and audits. The team is well placed to assist clients with multi-jurisdictional mandates thanks to the firm's expansive international tax practice.

Hengeler Mueller is best known for tax advice on transactions, complementing the law firm's exceptional corporate department. It regularly assists corporate from the technology, retail and hospitality sectors as well as clients from the financial services sector. The team acts on the tax structuring of large-scale M&A transactions, with further strength in tax-related aspects of capital market products and corporate restructurings. Hengeler Mueller also represents high-end as well as mid-market clients in investigations and criminal tax proceedings.

Milbank maintains a notable offering, sought after by international and domestic private equity funds for advice on the tax structuring of M&A deals and investment projects. It also assists companies from a wide range of industries on tax-optimised corporate restructurings and capital markets transactions. The law firm exhibits further strength in ensuring tax efficiency of high-volume financing and refinancing transactions, acting for both lenders and borrowers.

Clifford Chance is particularly popular for advice on the tax structuring aspects of investment projects, real estate and M&A deals. The lawyers are highly familiar with the tax law elements of fund structuring and capital markets transactions. The law firm is able to advise in relation to tax disputes and represents clients in internal tax investigations, audits and criminal tax proceedings. Clifford Chance acts for a client base of private equity and investment funds as well as German banks and industrial clients.

Gleiss Lutz is active among international private equity clients as well as German corporates from sectors including technology, telecoms, logistics and manufacturing. The law firm houses particular experience in transactional tax matters, assisting with the structuring of M&A transactions and acquisition financing, and also acts on corporate tax matters such as post-closing reorganisations and distressed restructuring. Gleiss Lutz is further active in court proceedings, compliance issues and investigations.

Latham & Watkins is particularly active on cross-border M&A and private equity transactions, working closely with its teams across Europe and the USA. It also handles tax matters arising from financing and restructures. Alongside its core of private equity clients, the law firm additionally advises prominent financial institutions and corporates from a range of industries.

POELLATH is noted for its handling of the taxation of M&A, property deals and company reorganisations for a core client base of private equity houses and real estate companies. It is known for advising investors on the taxation of private equity and other investment funds. The law firm has additional strength in handling structural advice, succession planning and issues of international tax law for family-owned companies.

Baker McKenzie has a multifaceted tax practice with notable strength in the fields of corporate tax planning, VAT and transfer pricing. The law firm regularly provides tax support to both domestic and multinational corporations involved in M&A and corporate structuring projects. Baker McKenzie additionally assists with compliance, audits and tax disputes. It is also able to handle cross-border mandates thanks to the firm's strong international network.

Eversheds Sutherland offers clients a strong transactional tax practice, advising on financings and M&A transactions. The law firm's international network allows it to be particularly active on cross-border transactions. Its notable client roster includes clients from the energy, manufacturing and private equity sectors.

Noerr handles a wide range of tax matters, particularly advising corporates, real estate companies and private equity houses on the tax side of M&A and real estate transactions. The law firm also advises on fund structuring and group reorganisations. It provides further assistance to clients on tax audits, compliance and litigation matters.

CMS has strong expertise in transactional tax mandates, advising on IPOs and investments as well as M&A, real estate and finance deals. The team is also experienced in handling employment-related tax law matters, including employee participation in company investment opportunities. Additionally, the law firm advises on the tax structuring of investment funds, tax issues pertaining to corporate restructurings and represents clients in disputes. CMS's client list includes public bodies, large corporates and banks.

Dentons assists clients with the tax aspects of M&A deals and collaborates with tax partners from its global network on international transactions. The law firm advises across tax structuring, planning and transfer pricing. It often acts for insolvency administrators, advising on minimum taxation, and has capabilities across a wide range of tax issues including corporate income tax and trade tax as well as litigation proceedings.

DLA Piper offers a broad transactional tax practice, advising on operational and financial restructurings as well as acquisitions. It advises clients in the manufacturing and automotive sectors, collaborating closely with its capital markets, restructuring and corporate/M&A practices to advise on large-scale transactions. Clients further benefit from the tax team's additional strengths in tax audits and tax litigation, appearing at both domestic and EU courts.

DREYENBERG is a tax boutique law firm that was founded in Frankfurt. Its lawyers frequently advise clients on tax structurings and transactions, including on international tax mandates. The law firm offers further expertise in transfer pricing as well as cryptocurrency, corporate and gambling tax law issues. It is also highly active on contentious matters.

Hogan Lovells utilises strong cross-border capabilities to advise on tax issues relating to multi-jurisdictional restructurings and transactions including financing, M&A and real estate deals. The law firm houses industry-specific expertise, with individual partners offering in-depth knowledge of sectors including real estate, energy and life sciences as well as financial services and retail.

Kantenwein Spatscheck Widmayer van Bevern & Partner's Munich-based tax group handles tax aspects of reorganisations and acqusitions as well as international tax law. Its clients include German and international funds, banks and foundations.

Küffner Maunz Langer Zugmaier is a specialised VAT law boutique with offices in Munich and Düsseldorf. It has an excellent reputation advising DAX 30 companies and members of the German Mittelstand on both domestic and European VAT and customs law. The law firm also offers innovative digital solutions, such as a data mining tool for VAT audits. It regularly represents clients in tax audits, disputes and criminal investigations before national tax courts, as well as assisting clients with voluntary disclosures and liability issues.