AKD is a Netherlands-headquartered pan-Benelux firm with a significant presence in Luxembourg. AKD was established in 1903 and has grown to become a well-recognised legal practice across Europe. The Luxembourg team comprises highly experienced lawyers, including highly regarded Jevgeniy Nesch, who heads the investment management practice, and notable practitioner Nicolas Bonora, a partner in the banking & finance practice.

Key clients
AEW, AIMCo, Azzurra Capital Investments SCSp, SICAV-RAIF, Baryon IM Fund s.r.o., Bluefield Partners LLP / Revive Solar, Bridgepoint, GreyStar Equity Partners Asia Pacific, KKR, Peakside Capital Advisors, Pictet Real Estate Capital, Stellex, Unzer

Highlights
AKD represented Bridgepoint and CPP Investments on the €4.2 billion sale of MotoGP owner Dorna Sports to Liberty Media. The team, led by corporate partner Cédric Bless, also advised Bridgepoint on its acquisition and subsequent delisting of French software company Esker and on the €1.5 billion sale of Vermaat Group to Compass Group. These mandates are reflective of the firm's growing strength in complex sponsor-led M&A transactions.

The finance team has demonstrates repeated involvement in cross-border deals, including advising Peakside Capital on the Luxembourg law aspects of a EUR 110 million green loan granted by UniCredit Bank GmbH to three Luxembourg entities within the Peakside group.

Testimonials
“The AKD team are incredibly responsive and easy to work with, and very knowledgeable and experienced across a vast range of financing products. They quickly determine the nature of issues and queries and provide sound, commercially driven advice to progress transactions as efficiently as possible.” – Banking and finance

“AKD is super responsive, possesses excellent expert knowledge, is always very well prepared and is regarded as the most trusted partner in this jurisdiction.” – Banking and finance

“Not only is the AKD team extremely competent, pragmatic and highly experienced, but its business acumen and commercial sensitivity make even complex securitisation matters seem straightforward. Their securitisation knowledge is unrivalled in the Luxembourg market, and the team remains a first-choice Luxembourg counsel. Arnaud Barchman was particularly praised for combining technical legal expertise with strong commercial awareness and for being an absolute pleasure to work with on transactions.” – Banking and finance

“Arnaud Barchman is incredibly commercial, highly experienced and extremely knowledgeable. He is so easy to work with and has the commercial and technical skills every partner should have.” – Banking and finance

“AKD consistently demonstrates accuracy and expertise.” – Capital markets

“What we particularly appreciate about AKD is their cohesive and stable team, which is exceptionally well-organized and always available. The partner is consistently highly responsive and demonstrates outstanding expertise in corporate matters. Their competitive pricing also sets them apart. Overall, AKD truly acts as an ideal partner for us.” – Investment funds

“What stands out most about AKD is their combination of deep technical expertise in Luxembourg fund and tax structuring with a very pragmatic, business-oriented mindset. They are efficient in navigating complex regulatory frameworks, including AIFMD-related requirements, while maintaining a clear focus on execution. Their coordination with other EU tax advisers has been particularly effective in ensuring alignment across multiple jurisdictions, reducing friction in cross-border structuring work. The team is also highly responsive and accessible, which adds significant value in time-sensitive fundraising contexts.” – Investment funds

“Jevgeniy Nesch is highly effective at handling complex fund structuring matters with a pragmatic and solutions-oriented approach. He combines strong technical expertise with clear communication and efficient coordination across multiple stakeholders and jurisdictions.” – Investment funds

“We appreciated AKD’s pragmatic and solution-oriented approach. The team was responsive and easy to work with, and they communicated complex legal points in a clear and accessible way. They demonstrated solid technical expertise and a good understanding of the business context, which helped us move matters forward efficiently.” – M&A

“Nicolas Marchand stands out as one of the most impressive corporate lawyers I have encountered in my career. His sharpness and decisiveness are matched by his ability to quickly grasp complex issues and provide clear, actionable solutions. He is consistently proactive, anticipating our needs and addressing potential challenges before they arise. What truly sets Nicolas apart is his exceptional availability. He is always accessible and responsive, regardless of the urgency or complexity of the matter.” – M&A

“Nicolas demonstrates remarkable inventiveness, offering creative and pragmatic solutions while maintaining the highest standards of legal compliance. His advice is always tailored to our specific context, reflecting a deep understanding of both the legal framework and our business objectives. He acts as a true advisor in every sense, not just executing tasks but actively contributing to our strategic decision-making.” – M&A

“Ayzo and Imede informed Stellex of the process to close an entity, guided us through each stage and executed the transaction efficiently.” – Private equity