IFLR is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement


2027 Edition
Magic Circle firm Clifford Chance is among the largest law firms in the world, with global operations in 23 countries. It has offices in Frankfurt, Düsseldorf and Munich. The firm has a formidable practice across all sectors. Its standout capital markets practice includes Simon Reitz and Axel Wittmann. In a recent highlight the team advised GD Towers on its EUR 7.7 billion refinancing comprising the establishment of a new common terms financing platform and a record EUR 2.5 billion private placement. The project finance team includes highly regarded practitioner Florian Mahler, who advised Nofar Energy on the project financing of its first battery energy storage system in Germany, a deal that was shortlisted for Deal of the Year at the 2026 IFLR Europe Awards. The corporate team, led by Thomas Krecek, advised Helvetia Holding on its planned merger of equals with Baloise Holding, ultimately forming Helvetia Baloise Holding.

Key clients of the firm include GD Towers, Nofar Energy, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, MTU Aero Engines, Vantage Data Centers, Aeral Bank, Barclays Bank Ireland, Helvetia Holding, Helvetia Holding, and BNP Paribas.

Testimonials
‘We especially appreciate their teamwork approach, availability, and pragmatism.’ (M&A)
Schalast & Partner was established in 1995 and has offices in Frankfurt, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg and Stuttgart and is part of the Multilaw network. The firm is experienced in financial services regulation, banking, insurance, and M&A and is often noted for its work in with start-ups, on novel financing products and in the emerging digital finance space. This year, the Banking & Finance department, led by co-managing partner Andreas Walter, advised Raisin Bank on its regulatory assessment of European sustainability and ESG-related legislation and supervisory guidelines included in a regulatory review catalogue. The M&A team, led by managing partner Christoph Schalast, advised Beyond Capital Partner (BCP) on its acquisition of Sanitätshaus blu, requiring the coordination of corporate and real estate law expertise across multiple practice areas. Key M&A clients of the firm include Viessmann Generations Group, Mainova, Beyond Capital Partners, Faber-Castell, and Hannover Finanz. The Banking & Finance department advises DLT, Mondu, Fosun, Wayflyer, Morgan Stanley, and CRX Markets.

Testimonials

“Very active on thought leadership in the financial space and very active in the fintech sector; they are well-versed in working with start-ups and have been successful in areas such as blockchain, distributed ledger technology (DLT) and crypto-currency projects.” (Banking & Finance)

“They have a large team with a lot of dedicated regulatory lawyers and some very talented individuals.” (Financial Services Regulatory)

“Christoph Schalast is highly experienced; excellent rhetoric.”
Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is an American multinational law firm founded in 1948 in New York. It is present in Germany with offices in Frankfurt and Munich. In Banking and Capital Markets, the firm advises on domestic and cross-border transaction, with a focus on structured finance, syndicated lending and debt restructuring, and equity capital markets work. In M&A and private equity, the firm has a strong international focus, advising private equity houses on their inbound buyouts in Germany, as well as pan-European transactions with a strong German component. The team also boasts substantial experience in significant transatlantic transactions involving major US corporates and investors. This year, the Capital Markets and M&A teams, led by Holger Hofmeister and Stephen Hutter, advised CureVac in its all-stock acquisition by BioNTech that valued CureVac at approximately USD 1.25 billion. The Private Equity team, led by Jan Bauer in Frankfurt, advised BlackRock as part of a consortium of investors led by Allianz, in the acquisition of Viridium Group, a transaction that was shortlisted as a Deal of the Year in the 2026 IFLR Europe Awards. Key clients of the firm include BlackRock, CureVac, Paypal, The Middleby Corporation, Qatar Investment Authority, Kulczyk Investments, HSBC, Jefferies, Wells Fargo Bank, Citibank, Hillenbrand, AGRAVIS Raiffeisen, and Energy Infrastructure Partners.
Debevoise & Plimpton
5 practice areas
View profile
Germany
Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson
4 practice areas
View profile
Germany
Arnold & Porter
3 practice areas
View profile
Germany
King & Wood Mallesons
9 practice areas
View profile
Germany
A&O Shearman - Germany View profile
Germany
Hermann
3 practice areas
View profile
Germany
Leonhardt
2 practice areas
View profile
Germany
Magnusson View profile
Germany
Reed Smith View profile
Germany
Rödl & Partner View profile
Germany
Beiten Burkhardt
1 practice area
View profile
Germany
Hasch & Partner View profile
Germany
Brehm & v Moers View profile
Germany
Brödermann & Jahn View profile
Germany
WilmerHale View profile
Germany
ZIRNGIBL View profile
Germany
Squire Patton Boggs
1 practice area
View profile
Germany
Baum Financial Services Law Team View profile
Germany
BBORS Kreuznacht View profile
Germany
Becker Büttner Held View profile
Germany
756 results756 results
1
of
38
Deal Highlights
1,539 results1,539 results
Deal Name Deal Date Firm Name Jurisdiction Deal Type Lawyer Names Client Names Client Role
Axxence Aromatic GmbH - M&A
2021-07-01
Ekelmans & Meijer Advocaten
Germany
M&A
Eckhard Mehring
Axxence Aromatic GmbH
Target
Seller Group - multiple shareholders - M&A
2021-04-27
Flick Gocke Schaumburg
Germany
M&A
Seller Group - multiple shareholders
Seller
CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA - M&A
2021-06-01
Freshfields
Germany
M&A
Constanze Roth, Florian Klein, Justus Pauls, Magnus Bleifeld, Manuel Jager, Michael Bakowitz, Norbert Schneider, Paul Drossler, Peter Niggemann, Philipp Putz, Sascha Arnold, Stefan Bajohr, Stephan Waldhausen, Theresa Ehlen, Thomas Granetzny, Thomas Richter, Valentina Glasa
CompuGroup Medical SE & Co. KGaA
Buyer
Triton Investment Management Ltd. - M&A
2021-02-18
Clifford Chance
Germany
M&A
Anne Filzmoser, Anselm Raddatz, Claudia Milbradt, Cord von Mandelsloh, Daniel Gutmann, David Pasewaldt, Echo Yang, Felix Muhlhauser, Frederik Muhl, Glen Ma, Ines Keitel, Judith Dany, Katrin Wick, Kevin Lehpamer, Liza Laube, Marc Besen, Marie-Christine Schulte, Mario Maier, Michael Kummel, Nicolas Hohn-Hein, Rachel Park, Susanne Werry, Thomas Voland
Triton Investment Management Ltd.
Buyer
Trinseo SA - M&A
2021-05-21
Clifford Chance
Germany
M&A
Amrei Fuder, Anne Filzmoser, Claudia Milbradt, Dimitri Slobodenjuk, Dominik Engl, Jorg Rhiel, Krzysztof Hajdamowicz, Lara Stelmach, Markus Bohn, Michael Kummel, Moritz Petersen, Nicolas Hohn-Hein, Stefan Simon
Trinseo SA
Seller
AutoScout24 GmbH - M&A
2021-02-12
Freshfields
Germany
M&A
Anna Dominke, Arend von Riegen, Bjorn Junior, Christoph Werkmeister, Frank Schaer, Jan Hermsen, Judith Romer, Michael Josenhans, Moritz Heidbuechel, Nina Heym, Norbert Schneider, Panagiota Kavvada, Philipp Dohnke, Philipp Lehmann, Steffen Kleefass, Thomas Richter, Thomas Wessely, Vanessa van Weelden
AutoScout24 GmbH
Seller
Aurelius Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA - M&A
2021-10-12
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
Germany
M&A
Sebastian Schoon
Aurelius Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA
Buyer
Sonova Holding AG - M&A
2021-05-07
Fieldfisher
Germany
M&A
Sonova Holding AG
Buyer
DPE Deutsche Private Equity GmbH - M&A
2021-04-27
Flick Gocke Schaumburg
Germany
M&A
DPE Deutsche Private Equity GmbH
Buyer
Ingersoll Rand Inc. - M&A
2021-06-21
Gleiss Lutz
Germany
M&A
Rainer Loges
Ingersoll Rand Inc.
Buyer
Francisco Partners Management LLC - M&A
2021-01-20
Freshfields
Germany
M&A
Akash Mukerji, Alex Potter, Alexander Ruschkowski, Arend von Riegen, Bastian Schuster, Christina Hinterschweiger, David Beutel, David Schwintowski, Eva-Maria Hoyler, Frank Rohling, Jadwiga Loiko, Julia Sellmann, Maria Dreher, Marius Scherb, Mark Wagh, Mathilde Beaumunier, Maximilian Zellerhoff, Nina Heym, Pany Markou, Philipp Lehmann, Rene Doring, Uwe Salaschek, Vera Munsch, Verena Nosch
Francisco Partners Management LLC
Buyer
Goldman Sachs Private Equity Partners - M&A
2021-03-10
Freshfields
Germany
M&A
Alina Paschke, Aljosha Barath, Arend von Riegen, Florian Sippel, Frank Rohling, Friedrich Kalckreuth, Heiner Braun, Hendrik Bier, Katharina Reinhardt, Lukas Pomaroli, Marie-Theres Urban, Matthis Grenzer, Maximilian Hobuss, Maximilian Zellerhoff, Michael Josenhans, Michael Ramb, Mirjam Meyer, Nikolaus Schultz-Suchting, Nina Gissinger, Philipp Knoll, Philipp Lehmann, Rene Doring, Sascha Arnold, Stephan Eilers, Till Burmeister, Tim Wilmot
Goldman Sachs Private Equity Partners
Buyer
JMI Management Inc. - M&A
2021-03-10
Goodwin Procter
Germany
M&A
Amy Keller, Bryan Edelman, Dustin Baker, Joshua Klatzkin, Kendall Thielemann
JMI Management Inc.
Buyer
Qell Acquisition Corp. - M&A
2021-03-30
Goodwin Procter
Germany
M&A
Christopher Buckley, Felix Krueger, Gregor Klenk, Heiko Penndorf, Jocelyn Arel, John Haggerty, Joshua Klatzkin, Michelle Tong, Priya Rupal, Stefania Athanassopoulou
Qell Acquisition Corp.
Buyer
Flint Group - M&A
2021-09-08
Freshfields
Germany
M&A
Aytac Celebi, Can-Michael Nural, Carsten Haak, Claude Stansbury, Elisabeth Wulf, Elizabeth Reiner-Oberholzer, Felix Neuwirther, Gaia Pattyn, Gerrit Beckhaus, Gregor von Bonin, Inna Komaruk, Julia Mink, Klaus Kowalski, Philipp Lehmann, Sascha Arnold, Stefan Bajohr, Stephan Eilers, Taina de Araujo, Terry Fernbach, Thomas Granetzny, Thomas Hornberger, Thomas Richter, Thomas Wessely, Torsten Schreier, Vera Munsch
Flint Group
Seller
Modern Times Group MTG AB - M&A
2022-01-25
Gernandt & Danielsson
Germany
M&A
Modern Times Group MTG AB
Seller
Waterland Private Equity Investments BV - M&A
2021-04-06
Hengeler Mueller
Germany
M&A
Achim Spengler, Andreas Kaletsch, Anja Balitzki, Carsten Bormann, Christian Hoefs, Claudia Zschoch, Daniel Wiegand, Florian Braun, Henning Hilke, Isabella Stocks, Jan Adami, Matthias Rothkopf, Matthias Scheifele, Nikolaus Vieten, Peter Dampf, Thomas Weierer, Thorsten Mager, Vera Jungkind
Waterland Private Equity Investments BV
Buyer
Trill Impact AB - M&A
2021-06-23
Hengeler Mueller
Germany
M&A
Alf-Henrik Bischke, Christian Dankerl, Christian Linke, Christian Lutz, Daniel Moritz, David Negenborn, Hendrik Bockenheimer, Markus Ernst, Nikolaus Vieten, Patrick Schmidt, Patrick Wilkening, Sebastian Adam, Susanne Koch, Theresa Lauterbach, Vicki Treibmann, Viola de Blecourt
Trill Impact AB
Buyer
Quadrant Private Equity Pty. Ltd. - M&A
2021-03-22
Gilbert + Tobin
Germany
M&A
Quadrant Private Equity Pty. Ltd.
Seller
Cellink AB - M&A
2021-05-21
Hengeler Mueller
Germany
M&A
Dirk Uwer, Elisabeth Kreuzer, Hans-Jorg Ziegenhain, Hendrik Bockenheimer, Ioanna Tsotsa, Jakub Lorys, Johannes Schmidt, Markus Ernst, Patrick Schmidt, Patrick Wilkening, Selina Rohr, Susanne Koch, Verena Klosterkemper
Cellink AB
Buyer
15
of
77
By Firm
173 results173 results
Firm Name Jurisdiction Total Deals Deals (Last 12 Months)
A&O Shearman
Germany
20
0
A&O Shearman - Germany
Germany
32
0
Addleshaw Goddard
1
0
AKD
Belgium
2
0
Alexander Koelle
Germany
1
0
AllBright Law Offices
1
0
Alston & Bird
1
0
ALTENBURG
Germany
6
0
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Japan
1
0
Arqis
Germany
27
0
Arthur Cox
Ireland
1
0
Ashurst Perkins Coie
Germany
11
0
Baker & Hostetler
1
0
Baker McKenzie
Germany
22
0
BarentsKrans
Netherlands
1
0
Barnes & Thornburg
1
0
Bech-Bruun
Denmark
1
0
Binder Grösswang
Austria
1
0
Bird & Bird
Germany
10
0
Blake Cassels & Graydon
1
0
1
of
9
From Germany to California, we round up key partner moves across private equity, secondaries, finance and venture capital
From UK private capital to Italian consolidation, tier changes demonstrate a more competitive regional cycle
The 2027 edition recognises 3,524 practices across 24 jurisdictions, with France, Germany and the UK driving much of the growth following the introduction of new tables
Eric Romba explains why digital finance regulation has become a live business priority – and why Fieldfisher is using it as a foundation in Berlin
We round up this week’s top moves in the finance, corporate, M&A and PE practices in the UK, France, the US and Germany
We round up this week’s lateral hires at leading firms across Germany, the US, UK and Brazil
New hires made in regulatory, corporate, M&A and finance practices at leading firms across the US and the UK, while German Hengeler Mueller elected two new managing partners
The finalists for the 28th annual Europe awards have been revealed, with the winners to be announced in London on June 11
Sponsored

Sponsored

IFLR Sponsored

bg #f6f8fb