The "outstanding" Andreas Fabritius enjoys a tremendous reputation in the market. His recent work highlights include advising GM on its global strategic alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroën.

Sources note Matthias-Gabriel Kremer for his strong focus on advising financial institutions. Peers admire his "excellent knowledge of the law and really commercial approach" to M&A deals.

Christoph Seibt receives particular praise for his public takeover experience. Clients say: "He knows all areas of the law and there's no recent development he's not aware of. When there's a change he's the first to know."

The highly regarded Axel Epe recently advised the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in connection with the restructuring of WestLB.

Sources emphasise Christoph von Bülow's expertise in big-ticket public M&A transactions. He is also noted for his regulatory capabilities.

Drawing on his formidable cross-border transactional experience, Marius Berenbrok is currently representing the Hellenic Republic in its comprehensive port privatisation programme.

Nils Matthias Koffka is "really focused and dedicated to the deal," according to clients. He has particularly developed expertise on the private equity side.

Ludwig Leyendecker recently advised German food manufacturer Krüger on Starbucks' entry into the coffee capsule business.

The well-considered Stephan Waldhausen recently acted on General Atlantic's strategic partnership with Axel Springer in the online classifieds business.

Michael Esser divides his time between the firm's Cologne and Brussels offices. He has notable experience in German and European competition matters within the telecommunications and media industries.

Having spent 13 years in the firm's Moscow office, Kirsten Floss is well acquainted with the particularities of the Russian market. Now based in Cologne, she remains deeply involved in Russian projects and is acknowledged for her splendid negotiation skills. Clients claim that “in tough negotiations, it's always a pleasure to have her at your side.”

Freshfields' Turkish desk consistently handles mandates with a cross-border Turkish element. Recent times saw German energy company EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg instruct the team on the acquisition of a 50% share in Turkish-based electrical power company Borusan Enerji. Hartmut Nitschke in Cologne is the key partner for the Turkey desk and a member of the firm's emerging markets group. He advises clients on cross-border transactions, and specialises in the infrastructure and general industries sectors.

Freshfields' Swiss desk advises international clients on their investments in Switzerland and Swiss companies looking to further their global business reach. Frankfurt-based corporate partner Mark Strauch is one of the key contacts for the group.

Sabine Stricker-Kellerer spends a considerable amount of time in China in her capacity as senior China counsel. Much of her work involves advising clients on M&A transactions and foreign investment into China.

Britta Zierau is managing partner of the firm's Frankfurt office. She displays notable prowess in advising clients on German and French corporate transactions.

Moscow-based Michael Schwartz has strong links to Germany, having previously headed the firm's Russian desk in Frankfurt. A German-qualified lawyer in the firm's corporate practice, his focus lies on labour, antitrust, and dispute resolution matters.

German-qualified Tobias Mueller-Deku focuses on capital markets, M&A transactions, and financing matters in Saudi Arabia.

A leading light in EU and German competition law, Brussels-based Frank Montag maintains a superb market reputation. As one source exclaimed, "he has excellent connections - he probably knows everyone!" Montag is currently advising Swiss medical manufacturer Synthes on the Phase II merger control investigation of its USD21 billion sale to Johnson & Johnson.

Thomas Wessely is based in Brussels but regularly advises German clients such as Brenntag and Siemens on domestic, pan-European, and global competition issues.

Heiner Braun manages the firm's Shanghai office. He is frequently active on transactions involving China and Germany, and speaks both German and Mandarin fluently. 

The distinguished Michael Hoffmann-Becking has long held an undisputed position at the forefront of German corporate law. He concentrates on board advisory work.

Sources describe Maximilian Schiessl as "really outstanding and good to work with. Definitely one of the stars in the market." His recent work highlights include advising ThyssenKrupp on the complex carve-out and sale of Inoxum to Outokumpu.

Clients highlight Hans-Jörg Ziegenhain's negotiation skills. One states: "He is brilliant at identifying the commercially relevant issues and the interplay between legal, accounting and tax elements." "He's very experienced, so you feel in extremely capable hands," says another interviewee.

Rainer Krause has considerable healthcare sector expertise. This was at play when he recently acted on Fresenius' voluntary public takeover offer for Rhön-Klinikum.

Gerd Krieger remains active on corporate advisory matters. He represents a range of blue-chip German clients, including Siemens, Commerzbank and ThyssenKrupp.

With a focus on strengthening its presence in the Eastern European market, Hengeler Mueller’s Russian desk advises German clients on activity in Russia and Russian entities on projects in Germany and the EU. The team provides ongoing support to numerous Russian companies looking to further their global footprint. Oleg de Lousanoff heads the desk, receiving praise for his prowess in M&A and general corporate matters. His recent highlights include advising EuroChem on its acquisition of K+S Nitrogen from K+S Aktiengesellschaft.

Andreas Austmann recently represented Porsche in its high-profile merger with Volkswagen. He is described by sources as an "outstanding" lawyer.

Splitting his time between corporate advisory and M&A work, Jochen Vetter has acted on a number of prominent mandates of late. Highlights include advising MAN on the mandatory tender offer made by Volkswagen, and advising TKH Group on its takeover bid for AUGUSTA Technologie.

Clients describe Daniel Wiegand as "excellent for legal analysis, but with the necessary touch of pragmatism." His recent mandates include advising Czech energy group Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding on its acquisition of power plant project Profen.

Düsseldorf-based Alf-Henrik Bischke is a well-respected German competition lawyer. His recent mandates include advising EQT on the sale of Kabel Baden-Württemberg to Liberty Global before the German authorities and the EU authorities.

Competition lawyer Jochen Burrichter splits his time between the firm's Düsseldorf and Brussels offices. He recently defended IP Deutschland/RTL before the Regional Court of Düsseldorf against antitrust damage claims proceedings.

Co-headed by Hendrik Haag, the firm's China desk combines the expertise of Chinese lawyers and German lawyers experienced in the Chinese market. The team is advising European and German clients on entering the business market in China, as well as assisting Chinese state-owned entities with their investments into Germany. The team recently worked on CITIC Dicastal Wheel Manufacturing's acquisition of KSM Castings Group from Cognetas.

Daniel Kress advises a predominantly German client base from the firm's London office. His wide-ranging expertise covers private equity, corporate/M&A, and real estate financing. Clients say: “He is super hard-working, really responsive, and great to work with.”  

Clients value Hans-Jörg Niemeyer's "knowledge, experience in state aid cases, and commercial background." Located in the Brussels office, he regularly acts for German clients, recently representing William Prym with regard to the fasteners cartel.

Clients praise Hans-Ulrich Wilsing for his pragmatic approach and efficient service, particularly in corporate advisory matters. He recently advised SAP on the German law aspects of a litigation brought against it by Oracle.

Ralph Wollburg enjoys an excellent market profile. Recent highlights include advising E.ON on its joint venture with Brazilian coal mining and natural gas company MPX.

Achim Kirchfeld recently advised WAZ Mediengruppe on its corporate reorganisation. Interviewees describe him as "a fine M&A lawyer."

Rainer Traugott earns plaudits from clients for his exceptionally responsive approach. His practice covers public M&A and private equity transactions.

Christopher Bremme has spent time in the firm's Prague and Warsaw offices, and focuses on energy-related M&A transactions. He is currently based in Berlin.

Based in Düsseldorf, Klaus Marinus Hoenig focuses on M&A and corporate law and has extensive experience advising Indian and Japanese clients.

Düsseldorf-based Wolfgang Sturm has an impressive background advising on China-related transactions.

Frankfurt-based Ulrich Wolff advises both investment banks and corporate clients on German banking, M&A and corporate finance matters. He is particularly adept at issues with a German-Canadian element.

German national Alexander Kolb works on public and private Spanish M&A transactions, as well as lending his German expertise to international clients. Sources say: "He provides an impeccable service. He's thoughtful, rigorous and really focused on getting things done well."

Market commentators attest to London-based Christian Ahlborn's expertise in UK, German and European competition law, considering him to be "practical and user-friendly."

Wolfgang Deselaers assists clients before both the EU and German authorities, currently advising Beiersdorf on a multi-jurisdictional cartel case which began in Germany. Clients note that he has "an executive mind - he produces documents your board can understand."

Brussels-based partner Bernd Meyring frequently advises German clients, notably assisting Volkswagen with its merger notification when it took sole control of MAN. "He has a very good understanding of how things develop behind the scenes at the EC," said one client.

Clients describe Arndt Stengel as a "creative and constructive" lawyer. "He is an outstanding technician and can always come up with ideas to solve our problems."

Wolfgang Richter is recognised in the market for his ongoing work with Volkswagen. He has recently represented the company in its takeover offer for truck manufacturer MAN.

Clients praise Andreas Dietzel for his ability to co-ordinate large, cross-border transactions. One interviewee says: "He is committed, organised and thinks about the bigger picture. He's also hugely experienced."

Yann Beckers is the client contact for Clifford Chance's Paris-based German desk. The team has English, French, and German speakers, and handles Franco-German banking and finance transactions, including acquisition finance, asset finance, and syndicated lending. Key clients include corporate borrowers, investment funds, and financial institutions.

Christof-Ulrich Goldschmidt specialises in national and international acquisitions, joint ventures and mergers, advising German and foreign clients. He has a strong focus on India and frequently handles corporate/M&A work relating to this jurisdiction.

Thomas Stohlmeier has vast experience advising clients within the chemical, energy and healthcare sectors on M&A. He forms part of a dedicated team that focuses on advising Japanese companies on their European interests.

Stefanie Tetz demonstrates notable expertise in M&A and corporate finance, as well as advising on investments and technology licensing in the PRC. Her professional languages are German, English and Mandarin.

Christoph Witte has considerable experience of the Indian market. He displays notable prowess in cross-border M&A transactions, restructurings and joint ventures.

Moscow-based Marc Bartholomy is widely perceived as one of the foremost real estate lawyers in the market, and is heavily involved in M&A. Market sources describe him as “an experienced lawyer with commercial sense and great connections." He is German-qualified and regularly advises German clients.

Christian Cascante recently advised Siemens on its takeover offer for software company IBS. A fluent German and Spanish speaker, he has considerable experience advising clients from Spain and Latin America. He also assists German businesses seeking to invest in these regions.

Commentators admire Gerhard Wegen's depth of experience, particularly regarding international M&A. He recently acted for Mustang in relation to its sale to an investor consortium headed by private equity firm A-Capital. Wegen has notable expertise advising clients in the Indian market.

Gerhard Wirth is widely recognised for his corporate advisory practice. Clients include the supervisory board of WestLB.

Peers highlight the increasingly visible Jan Bauer. Interviewees are impressed by the way he defends his clients' interests. Bauer has worked in London and the USA and is a member of the American Bar Association and German-American Lawyers' Association.

Managing partner Rainer Loges is developing the firm's M&A practice in the Munich area. His recent transactions include advising Nanometrics on its acquisition of Nanda Technologies.

Ralf Morshäuser frequently advises on prominent cross-border M&A transactions. Deals involving distressed companies are a particular strength.

Andreas Rittstieg enters the rankings thanks to enthusiastic market feedback. He recently advised the Albert Ballin consortium on its EUR700 million acquisition of shares in Hapag-Lloyd.

Sources highlight Alexander Schwarz as one of the firm's most visible figures on major M&A transactions.

Michael Burian speaks fluent Japanese and spent two years working in Tokyo. He regularly advises Japanese, Chinese and Korean clients on German and European legal issues, and assists German companies with their business activities in Asia.

Munich-based partner Petra Linsmeier frequently visits Brussels to assist her clients with EU competition issues.

This German firm's China desk recently advised Kion Group regarding the investment of Chinese automotive manufacturer Weichai Power. The team is well versed in German/Chinese cross-border corporate and M&A transactions. Anna Radjuk is an associate in the firm's Stuttgart office, focusing on corporate transactions and cross-border contracts with a Chinese aspect. She previously worked in China and and speaks German, Chinese, English and Russian.

Gleiss Lutz's Russia desk has solid experience advising on M&A transactions and corporate law mandates with a Russian element. Russian investor Oleg Deripaska's investment holding company, Basic Element, instructed the group on the purchase of stock market shares in HOCHTIEF. Fluent Russian-speaker Cornelia Topf frequently advises Russian clients investing in the German market, with a keen focus on cross-border mandates concerning the Russian Federation.

Andreas Wölfle has tremendous experience advising on cross-border M&A transactions, representing both Indian and international companies in India-related M&A, projects and corporate issues.

Working out of the Brussels office, Ulrich Soltész specialises in state aid cases, often assisting German clients.

Commentators are unanimous in their admiration of Georg Thoma, highlighting his formidable experience in the corporate sphere. Market sources say: "He's a great lawyer and an excellent rainmaker."

Thomas König recently advised on Sany Heavy Industry's high-profile acquisition of Putzmeister Holding. He has also worked closely with International Chemical Investors of late, acting on the acquisitions of subsidiaries of Genzyme and Hoffmann-La Roche.

Interviewees draw attention to renowned corporate lawyer Hans-Christoph Ihrig's board advisory expertise. Clients say: "He's an absolute expert in his field and is always at the forefront of legal debate. He delivers excellent results."

Hartmut Krause has a strong focus on domestic and international public takeovers, and publishes widely in the field.

Astrid Krüger advises on national and domestic M&A, with a specific focus on restructurings and corporate reorganisations.

Clients describe Michael Ulmer as an "outstanding personality" with excellent communication skills. Another commentator adds: "He looks at the big picture whilst remaining very detail-oriented."

Hans Diekmann recently joined the firm from Shearman & Sterling. He is known for the depth of his knowledge in areas including corporate law, finance and equity capital markets.

Frankfurt-based Gernot Wagner heads the US law group at the firm. He is noted for his expertise in private and public debt and equity matters.

Belgian and German-qualified Martin Bechtold recently advised Royal Boon Edam on the investigation by the Bundeskartellamt (Federal Cartel Office) into revolving doors. Clients say he "has a wealth of experience and exudes calm."

Jürgen Schindler splits his time between Brussels and the firm's Hamburg office. Clients describe him as a “young, up-and-coming lawyer who we trust greatly. He provides extremely robust advice.” His recent mandates include representing Google before the German authorities in the EuroCities abuse of dominance complaint.

Clients praise seasoned M&A partner Klaus Riehmer for his in-depth knowledge of the German market: "He knows the banks very well and provides more than just legal advice - he gives full market intelligence." Another client says: "He's excellent at negotiating with the sellers, and knows these transactions and how they work inside out."

Interviewees rate Jürgen J Sieger as "an outstanding lawyer in terms of commerciality, technical ability and value for money."

Oliver Schröder focuses on cross-border M&A transactions. A recent highlight saw him advise Eni on the sale of its stakes in the TENP and Transitgas gas pipelines to Fluxys.

Leading the firm's Frankfurt-based US team, Ward Greenberg is lauded by clients, who appreciate his expertise in both German and US capital markets: "There is no one like him in the market - he and his whole team are fluent in German and he's extremely experienced in both German and US issues.”

Stephan Barthelmess splits his time between the Brussels and Frankfurt offices. He is advising Ahlstrom on merger control proceedings before the Bundeskartellamt concerning a divestment to Suominen.

Dirk Oberbracht maintains an excellent market reputation for M&A work.

Henning Schneider has a strong focus on the healthcare sector and receives considerable praise for his transactional work in this area. Clients say: "He is realistic, pragmatic and focused. He knows how to get things done and doesn't waste time on being unnecessarily combative or dealing with issues that have no commercial importance."

Harald Selzner recently joined the firm from Shearman & Sterling, where he was European managing partner. Interviewees describe him as "really experienced and to the point; as a client you have the feeling you are in extremely capable hands."

Joachim von Falkenhausen advises both domestic and international clients on complex M&A and corporate matters.

Rainer Wilke recently moved to the firm's Düsseldorf office from Shearman & Sterling. His broad client base includes prominent domestic companies such as Daimler, Axel Springer and Fresenius.

German-qualified Mathias Hansen completed an LLM at the University of Sweden and speaks fluent Swedish, in addition to English and his native German.

Based in Frankfurt, corporate partner Gregor Klenk has notable experience in cross-border M&A involving French clients. In addition to German, he speaks French, English and Spanish.

Hamburg-based Dirk Kocher specialises in private and public M&A as well as restructurings. A founding member of the International Lawyers' Association in Finland, he is also a board member of the Finnish-German Trade Association in Hamburg.

Marco Núñez Müller works out of the Hamburg and Brussels offices. He concentrates on state aid law and receives praise for his courtroom presence.

Based in the Brussels office, competition and trade law expert Susanne Zuehlke is well known for her work with German companies. She is a native German speaker and has previously practised in Berlin and Frankfurt.

Norbert Rieger splits his time between M&A, corporate advisory work and tax. Clients describe him as "a brilliant lawyer and one of the best negotiators around." His recent highlights include advising Axel Springer on its strategic partnership with General Atlantic. 

Private equity transactions, related litigation and equity capital markets are among Peter Nussbaum's specialisms in this area. Representative transactions from the past twelve months include advising D+S Europe on the sale of its call centre division to CMP Capital Management Partners. 

Commentators hold "extremely active" M&A partner Thomas Meyding in high esteem, saying "he really knows the business and is someone you can get along with."

Christian von Lenthe led the team advising on Iberdrola's planned cross-border merger with RWE, and advised on the integration of Porsche's operational automotive business into the Volkswagen Group.

Corporate partner Henrick Drinkuth recently assisted domestic publishing house Gruner + Jahr with its acquisition of website portal urbia.de.

The CMS Turkish desk possesses a vast network of contacts in Turkey, and regularly assists European entities investing in the Turkish market and Turkish clients in their business activities in the EU. The group advises on private, public, and distressed M&A transactions. Turkish-speaking Frauke Bemberg is a member of the CMS Turkey group. Prior to joining CMS she spent several years at an international law firm in Istanbul, where she participated in an EU twinning project concerned with foreign investment into Turkey, and lectured at the University of Marmara.

CMS's Madrid-based German desk assists German companies active in Spain, as well as Spanish companies in Germany, advising on all the relevant legal and tax matters. Work highlights include advising on Alkor Venilia's cross-border merger with its Spanish subsidiary, Venilia, and assisting with the cross-border merger of two companies within the Siemens Enterprise Communications Group. The team has a number of German speakers and German-qualified lawyers, and the key contacts are Luis Miguel de Dios Martínez and Jasmin Roberta Hass'l.

Gerd Leutner co-ordinates the CMS German-French group in Berlin. He is respected in the market for his work in M&A as well as international legal matters.

Key co-ordinator for the CMS Alliance German-Spanish group, Andreas Otto is head of real estate and construction at the firm. He advises Spanish investors and organisations doing business in Germany on a broad range of legal matters.

The firm's Russia desk is located in its Düsseldorf office, which acts as the CEE centre for CMS in Germany. Recent work highlights for the team include advising Kion on its takeover of a distributor in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. Thomas Heidemann, former head of the CIS practice, is the key contact for the desk. He is noted for his corporate expertise, and advises on major transactions in Moscow and cross-border investment from and to Russia. He is also specialised in the automotive industry.

Düsseldorf-based Marie Donchevskaya advises international clients in relation to corporate law and private equity, as well as investment in the Russian industrial sector.

John Hammond is a well-regarded figure in Europe, and his practice is concentrated in Germany and Russia. His long experience in the energy sector focuses on M&A, private equity, and joint ventures.

Amsterdam-based Martika Jonk worked in the firm's Berlin office for many years and is admitted to the Bar in Berlin. A client describes her as "very helpful. She always makes herself available and provides punctual advice." She often assists with corporate and commercial matters that have links to the Netherlands or Germany, with a strong focus on the ICT and oil and gas industries.

Budapest-based corporate lawyer Martin Wodraschke is dual-qualified in Hungary and Germany. A fluent German speaker, he frequently counsels German companies investing in Hungary.

Department head Christoph Louven has noteworthy experience in the insurance sector. He recently advised Hannover Rückversicherung on its contemplated conversion into a Societas Europaea.

Tobias Böckmann is based in Germany but also admitted to practice in New York. His key areas of expertise are international transactions and general corporate advice.

German-speaking Sina Hekmat splits his time between the New York and Frankfurt offices. He displays notable expertise in corporate finance and M&A mandates, with a particular focus on cross-border transactions involving Europe and the USA.

Department co-head Alexander Ritvay has significant international experience. Aside from cross-border M&A, his areas of focus include finance and corporate restructurings.

Head of the firm's corporate refinancing, restructuring and rescue group, Christian Pleister speaks Spanish and regularly advises Spanish organisations.

Noerr's Russia desk in Munich advises German and Russian clients on a broad range of legal topics, from M&A and joint ventures to employment, energy and environmental law. In the energy sector, the team advised Siemens on numerous projects with Russian blue-chip companies. Leading the firm's Russian desk, Ekaterina Evdokimova splits her time between the firm's Munich and Moscow offices, winning praise for her expertise in real estate and corporate matters in Russia.

The firm's China desk in Frankfurt specialises in international trade, corporate structuring of investments and distressed M&A. One of China's largest bus manufacturers, Youngmann Automobile, recently instructed the team concerning its acquisition of German transport manufacturer and distributor Viseon Bus (Neoplan). Hui Zhao heads the desk. He has notable expertise in advising Chinese investors on M&A matters and market entry into Germany.

Senior associate and competition lawyer Peter Stauber focuses on German, Hungarian and European antitrust law. He is of Hungarian origin and spent two years working at the firm's Budapest office.

Clients commend co-head of corporate Thomas Schulz for his calm approach to negotiations. He recently acted for INEOS on its agreement with BASF to form a joint venture, Styrolution Group. He is US-qualified and a popular choice for multi-jurisdictional transactions.

Noerr's Brazil desk focuses on M&A projects and the incorporation of companies in Germany and Eastern Europe, as well as advising on the export of goods from Brazil into Europe. Frankfurt-based Brunela Vieira de Vincenzi is the key contact for the desk.

Barbara Kusak heads the corporate team in the Prague office. She speaks both Czech and German to a native level, and specialises in advising domestic and international companies on their business operations in the Czech Republic and CEE. She also handles Czech and EU competition law.

Heading the firm's Bucharest office, Romanian speaker Jörg Menzer advises on all aspects of corporate/M&A law. 

Managing partner of the Moscow office, native German-speaker Björn Paulsen frequently advises on both German and Russian corporate law.

Native German speaker Mansur Pour Rafsendjani divides his time between the firm's Ukraine and Munich offices. His expertise lies in domestic and international commercial and distribution legal matters, as well as corporate and M&A law.

Clients describe Georg Maier-Reimer as "up to speed, thoughtful in his responses and extremely intelligent." He recently represented Benckiser Holding in relation to Coty's takeover bid for Avon.

With over 20 years of experience in corporate transactional work, Hans Rolf Koerfer is a widely recognised and respected figure in the German market.

Michael Abels frequently advises Japanese clients on their German business interests, and also assists German companies with questions concerning Japan.

Fluent Portuguese and Spanish speaker Alf Baars regularly handles M&A transactions involving Latin America, with a particular focus on the Brazilian market.

German corporate/M&A partner Harald Gesell has long-standing experience of advising Arab investors, and regularly liaises with leading law firms in the Middle East.

Jürgen Hartung advises on IT and data protection issues in M&A transactions, with a particular focus on matters involving Singapore.

Gunnar Knorr advises on the tax aspects of cross-border M&A transactions and corporate finance. He is particularly well versed in matters involving China.

Ronald Meißner advises German clients on their business activities in India as well as assisting Indian companies with trade relations and investments in the German market.

Matthias Jaletzke receives particular praise for his private equity work. He recently advised Quadriga Capital and Barclays Private Equity on the high-profile sale of Jack Wolfskin to The Blackstone Group. 

Walter Henle is a recognised and respected figure in the M&A market. His recent highlights include acting for the sellers of e-mail marketing provider eCircle in relation to its acquisition by analytic data solutions company Teradata. 

Bernd Mayer has expertise in both corporate compliance and transactional matters. He recently advised on Outokumpu's acquisition of Inoxum from ThyssenKrupp.

Lutz Krämer heads the firm's German corporate practice while the M&A practice is co-headed by Jörg Kraffel and Andreas Stilcken. Its recent activity includes advising domestic mechanical engineering company Gildemeister on its strategic co-operation with Japanese tool manufacturer Mori Seiki.

James Black heads the firm's US securities and M&A practice in Germany. A fluent German speaker, he regularly advises German clients on cross-border M&A matters, and is an active member of various German-American professional organisations.

Christian Jacobs acts on the firm's China desk in Germany, which is headed by Christoph von Einem. Jacobs has substantial experience of transactions involving an Asian element, and is a member of the German-Chinese Lawyers' Association.

Roger Kiem recently joined the firm's Frankfurt office from Shearman & Sterling. Clients note his "outstanding expertise in M&A transactions." Recent deal highlights include assisting ABN AMRO and Delbrück Bethmann Maffei with the acquisition of LGT Bank Deutschland. He has a strong Middle East practice and counts Qatar Holding among his regular clients.

German and UK-qualified Hermann Schmitt advises foreign companies investing in Russia from the firm's Moscow office.

The highly regarded Florian Kästle recently advised Software on the restructuring of its group of companies following the acquisition of IDS Scheer.

Mandarin speaker Christian Atzler focuses on advising German and international clients on transactions with a significant Chinese element. He previously worked in the firm's Hong Kong and Shanghai offices, and is currently based in Frankfurt.

Munich-based Jon-Marcus Meese previously worked in the firm's Stockholm office. A fluent Swedish speaker, he is admitted to practice in Germany and Sweden and has a specialist focus on M&A transactional work.

Andrea Ziegler is adept at cross-border corporate transactions and regularly advises French companies on their acquisitions in Germany.

Max Gutbrod covers a broad range of transactional work, including M&A, financings, and restructuring, from the firm's Moscow office. He also has particular expertise in insurance and financial regulatory matters. He provides an important link for the office's many German clients.  

Chicago-based Dieter Schmitz receives instruction from US and international clients regarding acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures. His experience of working at the firm's Berlin and Frankfurt offices enables him to advise on international transactions between Germany and the USA. He is a member of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest.

Thomas Sacher co-heads the M&A group and remains a respected figure in the Nuremberg market.

Felix Rackwitz is the firm's former Kyiv managing partner. He recently moved back to Frankfurt, having worked in Ukraine for seven years. Prior to his time in Ukraine, he was based in Russia.

Julian Ries is a new German-qualified managing partner at Beiten Burkhardt's Kyiv office. He advises clients on the corporate law aspects of real estate transactions.

Dietmar Reich leads the firm's practice in Belgium, which primarily services clients in Germany. Interviewees say: "He's hard-working, reliable and has a fantastic network in Brussels."

The "very client-oriented" Benno Schwarz in Germany handles a wide range of domestic and international corporate/M&A work. He also has long-standing experience in corporate anti-bribery compliance issues. Sources note his knowledge of the Russian market, and he often advises Russian clients on their investments in the USA and Europe.

Sources describe Markus Nauheim as "very capable and pragmatic - he knows his stuff." He is German and US-qualified and has a wealth of experience advising private and public US organisations on cross-border M&A and joint venture mandates.

Matthias Heisse heads the corporate department and advises a broad range of clients, including listed companies, international conglomerates, banks and private equity firms. He also has extensive experience of handling US-related mandates.

Sven Wassmer heads Eversheds Nicea Abogados' German desk in Spain. German-qualified, he also acts as head of aviation law at the firm.

Ralf Ek is admitted to practice in both Sweden and Germany, and regularly advises Scandinavian companies on their German investments, with a particular focus on Swedish clients.

Admitted to the New York Bar, Frankfurt-based Jürgen Reemers has a wealth of experience advising German organisations on corporate governance and acquisitions within the USA.

Department head Ansgar Rempp enters the rankings on the back of impressive client feedback for his understanding of the German and US markets. As one client enthuses, "his command of English and ability to draft are flawless."

Frankfurt-based My Linh Vu-Grégoire is admitted to the New York and Paris Bars. She spends a substantial proportion of her time advising out of the firm's Paris office, and recently led the firm's work for Los Angeles-based private equity firm Aurora Resurgence, advising on the acquisition of French group Alltub from Naxicap Partners.

Experienced practitioner Oliver Passavant advises on domestic and international corporate and commercial law. He is German and US-qualified, and currently splits his time between Saudi Arabia and Germany. 

Thomas Jestaedt "is very service-oriented, and has excellent relations with the authorities," enthuse interviewees. Dividing his time between Brussels and Frankfurt, he frequently assists German clients such as SAP, whom he recently advised on merger controls for its purchase of SuccessFactors.

Corporate/M&A practice co-head Volker Kullmann regularly handles both domestic and cross-border transactions, with a specific focus on the private equity market.

Erik Dahl speaks fluent German and splits his time between the London and Munich offices. He advises on a diverse range of M&A and private equity transactions, winning praise from clients for his negotiation skills.

UK-based Pierre-André Dubois has extensive experience of acting before the Bundeskartellamt with regard to merger clearance concerns. Highlights here include advising TowerBrook Capital Partners on the sale of PolymerLatex.

Robert Klotz advises on both EU and German competition law, particularly in the energy and telecoms sectors. He is based in the firm's Brussels office.

Jens Peter Schmidt recently advised Deutsche Post on various merger notifications falling under the remit of the Bundeskartellamt. He divides his time between Belgium and Germany.

Christian von Sydow's wide-ranging practice encompasses M&A, capital markets, private equity, restructuring and contentious issues. He was recently involved in advising the shareholder of WTA on the sale of all the equity interests to CraneCo.

Rome-based Carsten Steinhauer focuses on capital markets and corporate and commercial law, with a wealth of experience advising German and Italian clients.

Martina Maier heads the European antitrust and competition practice group at the firm's Brussels office. Qualified in Germany, she speaks German, French and English, and typically advises German clients.

Commentators describe managing partner Gerhard Schmidt as "the heart of the firm." Clients appreciate his strong communication skills and ability to "take ownership of a mandate."

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DLA Piper's Germany-based India group advises clients on corporate/M&A and dispute resolution matters. A key mandate saw the Indian Avantha Group instruct the firm in acquiring a stake in German company Solarlite. Corporate partner Benjamin Parameswaran co-heads the group, frequently advising Indian clients acting in the European market as well as assisting European investors with their Indian business interests. He previously worked at Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff & Co. in Mumbai and is vice-president of the Indo-German Lawyers Association.

German and UK-qualified Steffen Kaufmann is based in the Moscow office, where he advises Russian and international clients on M&A and real estate transactions. He speaks fluent Russian, and sits on the legal committee of the German Business Association in Russia.

German and Italian-qualified Wolf Michael Kühne leads the firm's Italian corporate department from the Milan office. He has long-standing experience of advising Italian companies on their German business activities, and also represents German businesses in their Italian ventures. Clients value his ability to act as an interface between the two different legal systems.

Heading both the Europe, Middle East and Africa and the Italian real estate departments, Olaf Schmidt in Milan earns market recognition for his work with international developers on the real estate investment scene. He is admitted to practice in Germany.

Bertold Bär-Bouyssière works out of the firm's Brussels office, and regularly advises on German competition law. He is currently assisting Merck with a long-running litigation before the German courts.

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This firm's India group supported US/German solar industry market leader First Solar in investments into the renewables sector in India, as well as structuring its further investments in the country. The group works extensively with both European and Indian clients. Group co-head Ulrich Baumer recently advised Indian IT companies on acquiring data centres in Germany, as well as supporting them in share transactions in Europe.

Taylor Wessing's Brazil desk works extensively with Brazil-based entities looking to invest outside the country and expand their business overseas, as well as foreign investors entering the Brazilian market. Several of the team are either fluent Portuguese speakers or German speakers who are qualified in Brazilian law. Jan Curschmann heads the desk from the firm's Hamburg office. A fluent Portuguese speaker, he completed part of his professional training in Brazil and publishes extensively on legal issues affecting the region. Curschmann's areas of focus include arbitration, mediation, and international contract and corporate law.

Founder of the firm's Shanghai and Bejing offices, Michael-Florian Ranft is international head of Taylor Wessing's China group. He is adept at advising mid-sized European companies as well as multinationals on Chinese transactions. 

This Norwegian firm's German desk advises Norwegian businesses regarding German commercial, corporate, and labour law. Many of the group's members have studied in Germany and worked at law firms within the country. The team also supports financial investors from Switzerland, Austria, and Germany in business activities in Norway. An active member of the German desk, Roland Mörsdorf is admitted to practice in Germany and Norway and frequently contributes articles to legal journals on developments in German and Norwegian law. He advises investors from German-speaking Europe on establishing and running businesses in Norway, and advises Norwegian companies on German corporate legal issues.

This firm's German desk is located in its Oslo office, advising clients from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland on their business dealings in Norway. Fluent German speakers and partners Aksel Hageler and Stein Hegdal have considerable experience of transactions in German-speaking jurisdictions, and regularly support Norwegian clients operating in these regions.

Arzinger's German desk supports German clients in Ukraine and also provides advice to Ukrainian businesses in Germany. Wolfram Rehbock heads the desk here.

This firm's long-established German desk has advised clients on cross-border inbound and outbound German transactions for over 20 years. The team advises on the full spectrum of legal matters, ranging from M&A to insurance and white-collar crime. Hildegard Weidinger is the key contact for the group. She is a member of the board of the DAV German Bar Association and is admitted to the Bar in Munich.

Caiado Guerreiro's German desk comprises bilingual lawyers focusing on advising international investors from Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Tax and corporate law specialist Tânia Pinheiro is the main contact.

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This firm's sizeable German desk comprises 35 lawyers with extensive experience in cross-border disputes and transactions. The Spanish-based group advises Swiss, German and Austrian clients on their activity in the Iberian Peninsula, as well as assisting Spanish and Latin American entities with their business in German-speaking jurisdictions. Heading the firm's German desk, dual-qualified Kai Christian Fischer specialises in German-Spanish M&A and corporate work.

The 35-strong German desk at Cuatrecasas' Portuguese offices advises on cross-border matters involving Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Lisbon-based Frederico Pereira Coutinho is a key contact.

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Judith Aron divides her time between the Berlin and Moscow offices and is a key link for companies in both jurisdictions. She is also a member of the firm's French desk and regularly acts on France-related corporate and M&A deals.

Splitting his time between Berlin and Brussels, global competition practice head Jörg Karenfort recently provided merger control advice to EQT Expansion Capital II/Roeser Medical. Clients describe him as "very experienced and active in competition law."

Krzysztof Sajewski heads the German and Ukrainian desks at the firm's Warsaw office. He focuses on civil and commercial law, as well as real estate matters.

German-qualified Florian Schneider is based in the firm's Moscow office and frequently lectures on German and Russian corporate and contract law issues.

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The firm's German desk in Kyiv is headed by Austrian-qualified Ilona Zekely. It advises German-speaking clients on corporate and commercial matters and assists the firm's other practice groups with Austrian law questions.

G Grönberg Advokatbyrå's Stockholm-based German desk handles mandates covering a variety of commercial issues and is notably active on M&A and litigation mandates. Managing partner Sascha Schaeferdiek heads the desk, while Cornelia Svensson covers restructuring and insolvency issues and Jessica Durehed focuses on general corporate issues.

This Spanish firm's German desk supports German clients seeking advice on Spanish law as well as Spanish companies looking to enter into the business markets in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Silvestre Arana heads the German desk and specialises in M&A and regulatory work in the energy sector.

Gide Loyrette Nouel operates a German desk from its Paris office. Many of the team members speak German, and have ample experience representing German companies in France, especially in litigations relating to contracts, international sales, and distribution. Clients come from a variety of sectors, including luxury goods, car manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. The German desk is managed by Philippe Xavier-Bender.

The Madrid-based German desk is adept in advising on Spanish-German speaking transactions in the fields of joint ventures, M&A, and corporate and commercial law. Its clients come from a variety of industry sectors, including finance, real estate, and tourism. Mónica Weimann Gómez works with German clients on a range of corporate matters, particularly M&A. She also has expertise in competition and food law, and is the vice-president of the board of the Spanish-German Association of Lawyers, AHAJ. As head of the German desk, she assists German clients such as major banks and the Spanish subsidiaries of German companies active in Spain. 

This firm's German desk advises Danish and German-speaking clients on a range of corporate law matters, including agency and distribution agreements, contract negotiations, M&A, and the establishment of subsidiaries in Germany or Denmark. The desk provides access to a network of German law firms and several of the lawyers have worked in Germany and speak the language. Partner Lotte Eskesen leads the team.

Horten's German desk assists clients with the corporate law aspects of renewable energy projects in Germany. It is staffed by lawyers fluent in both German and Danish and has extensive knowledge of both countries' legal systems. Nicolai Mallet heads the desk.

Serbian firm Karanovic & Nikolic opened a German desk in 2010 in order to provide legal services to clients in the German language.

Netherlands-based Kennedy Van der Laan's German desk provides its German, Austrian, and Swiss clients with the services of practitioners with considerable experience of transactions involving Germany. Members of the team are either native German speakers or are highly proficient in the language. The key contacts for the desk are Christoph Jeloschek, Marcel Willems, Melanie Pfeiffer, Frans-Jozef Crousen and notary Marinus de Waal.

Lefèvre Pelletier & Associés' Franco-German team in Paris provides tax and legal advice to its international clientèle. Silke Nadolni co-heads the team. She focuses on renewable energies, real estate, and corporate law and is fluent in German, French, and English.

Labour law-focused Monika Seidel-Moreau co-heads the firm's Paris-based Franco-German team. She has vast experience of advising on internal corporate regulations, as well as financial optimisation and bilingual employment agreements for the set-up of companies.

This firm's German desk comprises a group of lawyers based in Sweden and Denmark, who are well versed in advising on cross-border M&A transactions between the German and Swedish markets, as well as litigation and arbitration issues. Jürgen Conzen established the desk and frequently represents German clients such as Hawesko and Liebherr. A fluent German speaker, he obtained his LLM from the University of Trier.

This German desk at Marimón Abogados supports German clients with their business activities in Spain and Spanish companies acting in Germany. The team combines the expertise of German-speaking Spanish lawyers and qualified German lawyers advising on corporate law. Antonio Marimón Prats heads the team. Clients note his excellent language skills, saying “the fact that he speaks fluent German really helped on the deal.”

This firm has lengthy experience advising clients on transactions involving Germany and has strong ties with law firms from that country. Its German desk is led by Martin Grablowitz. He has Dutch and German law degrees and is a native German speaker.

Fluent in both German and Portuguese, the lawyers of this firm's German desk advise German and CEE companies operating within the Portuguese market. Lisbon-based corporate/M&A partner Vasco de Ataíde Marques heads the German desk at the firm. He speaks fluent German and is a member of professional organisations such as the Europäische Anwaltsvereinigung DACH.

Roca Junyent's German desk is led by Alex Llevat Felius, who is fluent in English, German, Spanish, and Catalan. It comprises a team of German speakers assisting Austrian, German, and Swiss companies active in Spain.

This Croatian firm has three German-speaking lawyers in Zagreb who primarily advise Austrian and German clients. Managing partner Boris Šavorić is a key contact.

Spanish-qualified Christian Hoedl advises international and domestic clients on M&A and private equity transactions from the firm's Madrid office. Interviewees praise his language skills, saying “he works well in both German and English, which is very helpful.” He heads the firm's German desk, which advises Spanish clients on their investments in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and also assists clients from these countries doing business in Spain.

This competition boutique's most active foreign desk is its German and Austrian desk, which frequently represents Austrian and German clients acting in France. The group advises on mergers and the establishment of French subsidiaries, as well as setting up distribution agreements in both Germany and France. Both the founding partners, a manager and four lawyers are bilingual in German and French. Charles Fahrner is the key contact at the firm for Franco-German matters.

All nine of the firm's partners are part of its German desk, focusing on advising German clients in Mexico. All of the practitioners manning the desk have either worked or studied in Austria, Germany, or other German-speaking jurisdictions. German-born Maike Pröhl is a reputed figure in international corporate law and M&A transactions. She regularly advises German and other European clients on their business ventures in Mexico.

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Weinhold Legal's German desk predominantly advises German clients within the automotive and telecommunication sectors operating in Bratislava. The desk is headed by German-qualified Thilo Hoffmann, who practises out of Prague and Bratislava.

This Croatian firm based in Zagreb has a team of four lawyers who can advise clients in the German language. A key contact is senior partner Ratko Žurić.