We advise companies of any legal form and size, their directors and members of their advisory or supervisory boards, as well as founders, investors, partners and shareholders on all issues – from day-to-day business decisions to fundamental challenges.

Particularly when it comes to acquisitions of companies, businesses, or shares, we offer comprehensive advice in all phases of the transaction. Our work entails efficient due diligence and the development and negotiation of legal agreements. This begins with the first planning and structural considerations and continues seamlessly to the conclusion and implementation of tailor-made contracts. We have special expertise in employment aspects of restructuring measures before and after such transactions. We often advise managers in management buy-outs.

In addition, we have broad experience in handling corporate and post-merger disputes. We are well-versed in the often-emotional disputes in family-owned businesses.

In particular in the field of M&A, our practice group has regularly been recommended by renowned legal magazines such as Juve (Handbook German Commercial Law Firms, 2014 to date), Legal500 Germany (Mid-sized Domestic Deals, under €500m, 2015), FOCUS Special „Top Commercial Law Firms“ (M&A, 2013 and 2019; Corporate Law, 2016 to date), Acquisition International (M&A Award 2013), Kanzleien in Deutschland (Top Firm 2014), Wirtschaftswoche (Top Firm for corporate since 2019; Top Firm for M&A 2021), brand eins (The best business law firms in Germany – M&A 2020), IFLR1000 (M&A Ranking Germany, 2015 to date), and Leaders League (recommended for mid-cap M&A transactions in Germany, 2022 to date). In the 31st edition (2020/2021) of IFLR 1000, one of our clients described us as „very efficient, diligent, well-ordered, systematical“.

Please find below a list of selected transactions on which our M&A team advised:

  • ZERTUS on the acquisition of a 50% interest in WELL PLUS TRADE and the joint venture agreement with Nimbus
  • Madsack group on the acquisition of a majority interest in publishing group Kieler Nachrichten
  • Management of FFG FINANZCHECK Finanzportale GmbH in connection with sale of the company to smava GmbH
  • Shareholder of PMSG PersonalMarkt Services (gehalt.de) on partial sale to, and shareholders agreement with, StepStone
  • All shareholders of FFG FINANZCHECK Finanzportale GmbH on limited auction and sale to Scout24 AG
  • VIVUM Corporate Real Estate on exit from Offenbach harbor project (sale to Hanse Merkur)
  • Buss Global group on acquisition of container portfolio from insolvent Magellan Maritime Services GmbH
  • Swedish Match AB (publ.) on the exit from Arnold André GmbH & Co. KG
  • Norwegian investment bank Pareto Securities AS on joint venture with Ernst Russ AG
  • DSV group on several German small and midcap transactions and on post-closing restructuring (corporate and labor law)
  • VIVUM Corporate Real Estate on the structuring of its investment funds; on the acquisition of numerous portfolio assets; on various exits
  • Spudy Invest GmbH on indirect acquisition of ICR from UBS Deutschland AG
  • Max Schön GmbH on sale of HEPA Wälzlager GmbH & Co. KG to ZITEC group
  • Tchibo GmbH on sale of Tchibo Energy GmbH to Lichtblick SE
  • Shareholders of Hansaton group on dissolution of joint venture with a DAX30 joint-venture partner; on acquisition and disposal of certain foreign subsidiaries; on sale of Hansaton group to Sonova AG
  • Nordsee Offshore MEG I on joint venture with Deme (labor law, restructuring)
  • Management in tertiary buyout of Polytech-Domilens by Stirling Square Capital Partners
  • Ebro Foods GmbH on sale of German pasta business (Birkel, 3Glocken) to Italian-Swiss Newlat Group
  • Shareholders of Hauck & Aufhäuser Institutional Research AG on disposal of shares
  • RHJI on acquisition of BHF Bank AG (labor law and pension aspects)
  • Capital Stage AG on sale of 49 % interest in solar plant company to Google
  • LGT Foundation on sale of German LGT Bank to ABN AMRO (labor law, restructuring aspects) including pre-closing restructuring; on acquisition of BHF Bank AG
  • Managing partner of BCJ Best Job Consulting on sale to Gess, a portfolio company of Capiton
  • Owners of Transfermarkt GmbH & Co. KG on sale to Axel Springer AG
  • Management in buyout of cadooz AG by Palamon Capital Partners
  • ZERTUS on sale of wholly owned subsidiary Theodor Kattus to Fuchs Gewürze Group
  • Granville Baird on exit of Florida based portfolio company Apptimum to Microsoft
  • Sulo, a portfolio company of private equity investors Apax and Blackstone, on acquisition of Cleanaway from Australian conglomerate Brambles
  • Apollo Management on merger of cable TV operators Unity Media and Iesy with Telecolumbus (held by BC Partners)
  • ZERTUS on acquisition of Dextro Energy from Unilever
  • Gruner + Jahr on the acquisitions of several businesses including chefkoch.de.
  • Management in buyout of Miles International by MPC and Hannover Finanz
  • ZERTUS on acquisition of Pulmoll from Royal Numico
  • Granville Baird on acquisition of Hahl Groupon acquisition of mobile.de
  • Management on secondary buyout of Phoenix Xtra Print GmbH by BPE
  • G+J Multimedia Ventures GmbH on acquisition of handy.de; on joint ventures concerning Berlinonline.de and berlin.de
  • Liberty Media on attempted acquisition of TV cable operator Telecolumbus group