Banking & Finance: Regulatory | Europe

The banking and finance team at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is renowned for its standing among high-profile lenders, corporate borrowers and sponsors. The team excels in all types of lending transactions, regularly playing starring roles in cross-border acquisitions, and corporate and leveraged finance deals, as well as novel financing structures. Further prowess in handling restructuring, project and asset finance mandates complements the law firm's holistic offering. The regulatory team maintains its reputation as a market-leading one, routinely handling large mandates concerning bank M&A, fintech and reorganisations in the financial services sector. The team also represents clients in contentious matters at national and EU level, including in BaFin enforcement proceedings and before the EGC.

Hengeler Mueller houses an outstanding banking and finance team with an excellent reputation for complex, high-value international transactions. Its lawyers routinely advise well-known German and international corporates and banks on acquisition finance, state-sponsored financing and syndicated corporate loans. The law firm is also recommended for refinancing, financial restructurings and ESG-related financings. Its clientele further enjoys an excellent regulatory offering, with the department assisting with cryptocurrency, payment system implementation and restructurings in the financial sector. Additionally, the firm convinces with its prowess in complex litigation and BaFin enforcement proceedings. Hengeler Mueller rounds off its excellence with its regulatory strength in bank M&A mandates.

The team at Linklaters is well regarded by peers and clients alike and offers extensive coverage of all areas of financing. Being highly visible on high-end, cross-border corporate loan transactions, the team offers further capabilities in project and infrastructure finance. In conjunction with its other departments, Linklaters is also a top choice for M&A financings. Furthermore, the law firm benefits from an outstanding regulatory team, which regularly advises on banking M&A and restructuring, fintech and compliance matters. The law firm's clientele consists of well-known German and international corporates and banks.

Clifford Chance possesses an esteemed banking and finance practice, which is recognised for its work on complex domestic as well as multi-jurisdictional financing transactions. The team covers a broad spectrum, ranging from direct lending and acquisition finance to syndicated loans and unitranche financing. Its clientele of well-known German and international corporates and banks from both the borrower and lender sides further illustrates the firm's standing in the market. Clients also enjoy the regulatory offering at Clifford Chance, with the team advising on matters including industry master agreements, bank M&A and reorganisations. The department is additionally versed in handling bank insolvencies as well as banking compliance, crypto regulations, sanctions advice and litigation.

Latham & Watkins is an excellent law firm that covers the full breadth of finance work. Due to its market visibility, holistic offering and bench strength, the team is frequently mandated by banking consortiums and direct lenders as well as corporate borrowers on complex acquisition finance deals, refinancings and corporate finance. The law firm also showcases a strong presence in the regulatory market. Clients benefit from the team's expertise in issues such as AML, licensing procedures and investigations. The regulatory aspects of investments and M&A transactions are also handled by the group. As an international law firm, Latham & Watkins is an attractive choice for large and multi-jurisdictional projects.

A highly reputed law firm with an excellent international network, it offers strength across the full financing spectrum. The team is particularly well regarded for complex, cross-border syndicated lending, acquisition and corporate finance transactions. The department also offers significant expertise in asset finance and leveraged finance matters as well as Schuldschein loans. Financial services clients additionally benefit from the law firm's regulatory practice, ranging from M&A transactions and compliance with new and existing directives, to IT outsourcing projects, joint ventures and fintech projects. Its clientele, which consists of notable international banks, corporates and asset management companies, further serves as a testament to the law firm's standing. Due to its extensive international network, the firm is well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional mandates, closely cooperating with its US and other European offices. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Gleiss Lutz is noted for its comprehensive coverage of banking and finance mandates, often assisting German and international borrowers, including PE firms and their portfolio companies as well as corporates across sectors. The firm is also sought after by banks, syndicates and direct lenders. The practice group offers particular expertise in acquisition finance, corporate lending and LBOs. It also cooperates with its strong restructuring and insolvency practice to advise on financial restructurings with syndicated loans. Gleiss Lutz has additionally grown its bench and raised its profile in the regulatory sphere, where it assists financial services clients with German and EU supervisory law matters.

A regular choice for banks, insurance and fintech companies, GSK Stockmann offers its clients good services for regulatory issues. The team is well versed in advising on MiFID II regulation, ESG compliance and passporting issues. The firm is particularly noted for its expertise in payment services law and novel issues, ranging from the setting up of e-payment systems and digital platforms to cryptocurrency. GSK Stockmann also stands out for its ability to handle financial litigation in Germany as well as before the European courts pertaining to the Single Resolution Mechanism and licence withdrawals.

The Frankfurt-based banking and finance team at Hogan Lovells focuses on acquisition, real estate and project finance transactions, often involving various jurisdictions. The practice provides additional expertise in refinancing, debt restructuring and corporate lending, as well as assisting with amendments to existing facilities. Hogan Lovells also possesses regulatory capabilities, in particular in the areas of fintech products and outsourcings as well as bank M&A mandates. The team's advisory strength is further complemented by its ability to handle litigation in European courts pertaining to the Single Resolution Board. The law firm's clientele ranges from leading German banks and corporates to public institutions and international debt funds.

The team at Noerr offers a broad coverage of banking and finance matters, regularly advising corporates, banks and government entities. Recognised for its capabilities in transactional work, the firm further benefits from its regulatory expertise, which holistically covers issues such as MiFID II and AML as well as BaFin proceedings. The team also assists with licensing issues and online payment services as well as M&A in the financial industry.

The Frankfurt-based banking and finance team at White & Case is recognised for its ability to lead complex, international deals across all major financial markets. The firm covers a broad array of issues ranging from corporate and acquisition finance to project finance and comes recommended for term loan B facilities, particularly with regard to facility amendments. White & Case further benefits from its regulatory expertise, which forms the final pillar of the practice, with the team advising financial services providers on M&A deals, administrative proceedings and digitalisation, as well as AML compliance.