International & Cross-Border Transactions | Global

In Germany, Freshfields is widely recognised as a market leader across a number of transactional areas. The law firm's M&A group is geared towards advising on high-value international deals, with members of the team exhibiting industry and jurisdictional specialisms. Clients seeking advice in relation to the full suite of international financing and capital markets transactions are also expertly advised by top-ranked teams, with the law firm's private equity offering also being recognised as top-tier. Freshfields also boasts one of the foremost energy practices in Germany, which attracts a number of the country's leading corporations, and it also maintains a solid investment funds practice in the region.

Linklaters' German M&A team has a strong track record of handling high-end, cross-border deals, particularly those relating to the energy sector and other regulated industries. The law firm also maintains a market-leading financing practice, offering clients UK, US and German law advice in-house. Debt capital markets is another area in which Linklaters works effectively on an international scale, providing issuers with expert advice on the full suite of products, and the law firm also possesses strength in investment funds.

As with many of its European offices, Clifford Chance's German offering enjoys a market-leading reputation for its banking practice. Germany acts as a hub for the law firm's cross-border lending and acquisition finance practice, and the firm boasts one of the strongest projects teams in the jurisdiction. The law firm's excellent investment funds team is highly attuned to the needs of international clients, while its M&A and private equity lawyers regularly work in tandem with overseas colleagues to provide high-quality cross-border advice to a diverse client base. Clifford Chance also houses a strong offering in capital markets, covering both debt and equity issuances.

Baker McKenzie is held in particularly high regard in Germany for the strength of its contentious capabilities, with its Frankfurt office acting as a hub for the law firm's international arbitration practice. The disputes team is accustomed to providing cross-border support to clients in both litigation and arbitration proceedings, especially those involving Asian jurisdictions and those that relate to the energy, construction and life sciences spaces.

One of the largest practices in Germany, CMS combines deep-rooted local knowledge with considerable international expertise. With eight offices in the region, Germany functions as a vital hub for CMS's global operations, acting as an epicentre of the law firm's excellent European network. Members of the team regularly coordinate multi-jurisdictional projects on behalf of an impressive roster of German-headquartered entities, as well as overseas players. 

With offices in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich, DLA Piper operates a full-service model which represents a broad client base made up of mid-market entities, multinationals and DAX companies. Forming an important part of the law firm's excellent global network, its German hub attracts considerable inbound and outbound activity, and international mandates are commonplace within the team's caseload.

Hogan Lovells is held in particularly high regard for its cross-border disputes capabilities. The law firm's intellectual property and life sciences practice groups remain among the strongest in Germany, and its practitioners are highly adept at advising on large, multiparty claims and product recall efforts. Members of the team in Germany are able to draw on the resources of Hogan Lovells' excellent global network and often work closely with colleagues overseas. Hogan Lovells' German offering also offers solid capabilities in compliance and competition/EU law matters.

From Germany, Milbank boasts a highly-regarded transactional practice which is largely international in its focus. The law firm's Frankfurt and Munich offices function as important hubs for its activities throughout Europe. Teams based in Germany often quarterback deals involving other European jurisdictions, and regularly play a leading role on transactions that involve the USA. Advisers in Germany are well equipped to advise foreign investors into the German market, as well as domestic clients who have interests overseas, with the law firm's clientele benefiting from Milbank's close ties to excellent UK-based and US offerings.

Noerr is consistently recognised as a high-performing independent law firm with a clear international outlook. Offering an impressive breadth of expertise from its six-office German base, Noerr meets the cross-border needs of its clientele through its membership of the elite legal network Lex Mundi, as well as by leveraging its comprehensive network of offices in Central and Eastern Europe, which add to strategically located teams in London and New York and an IP-focused office in Alicante.

Sullivan & Cromwell maintains a focused and highly-regarded practice in Germany, with particular strengths demonstrated in  cross-border transactions. The law firm's Frankfurt office sits alongside strategically located teams in Europe and plays an important role in the firm's global practice, regularly cooperating with its London office and excellent teams based in the USA. The law firm's Germany team skilfully handles a combination of inbound and outbound transactions for both prominent domestic clients and multinational entities.

White & Case's M&A group exhibits considerable strength in handling cross-border matters. Multi-jurisdictional transactions involving the energy, automotive and technology sectors are a particular area of focus for the team, which also demonstrates a strong track record of handling deals involving China. The law firm's project finance group is also internationally focused, with practitioners advising on a multitude of infrastructure and energy projects, notably those involving Scandinavia.

Dentons' M&A group is held in particularly high regard by mid-market clients. The team demonstrates a strong track record of advising on multi-jurisdictional transactions, especially deals that are coordinated from Germany. The team's caseload is highly international, and transactions relating to a diverse range of industry sectors can be handled by the law firm, including those relating to the energy, infrastructure, automotive and life sciences spaces.

Jones Day is a strong performer on cross-border M&A and is regularly engaged by prominent German entities and an impressive international client base. Advisers stationed in Germany are able to take the lead on truly global mandates and frequently work on matters involving Asia. Capital markets specialists are routinely sought out for their international expertise, particularly in relation to securitisations and IPOs, and the law firm's TMT lawyers regularly advise on international matters, assisting clients with the implementation of multi-jurisdictional data projects.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is a widely respected law firm that offers both national and international clients solid cross-border expertise from its Frankfurt and Munich offices. The law firm offers highly-adept cross-border capabilities in transactional work. Gibson Dunn's offices operate as an integrated service, enabling clients to draw on the depth and experience provided by its multi-office structure in a seamless manner.

Heuking is a widely-respected German independent practice which demonstrates a clear commitment to handling cross-border mandates across a broad range of legal areas. The law firm services the international needs of its clientele primarily through its connections with partner law firms in jurisdictions across the globe. Heuking is the German member of the World Services Group and exhibits a clear track record of working alongside partner practices to assist domestic clients with overseas matters, as well as international entities seeking guidance in relation to German markets.

SZA Schilling is an independent outfit with bases in Frankfurt, Mannheim and Munich. The law firm's international practice is centred largely on cross-border M&A, which is enhanced by impressive competition law capabilities and a team strategically placed in Brussels. SZA Schilling supports its clientele on multi-jurisdictional matters largely through its effective collaboration with overseas firms, regularly playing a coordinating role in international projects.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher is a US-headquartered law firm that has developed a strong presence in Germany for cross-border transactions. The law firm's Frankfurt office sits alongside strategically located teams in Europe that cover all the major business centres. The firm has a coast-to-coast offering in the USA, allowing the German offices to advise on international matters and providing clients a well-coordinated, integrated service.