10 professionals ranked in „Chambers Europe 2022“
The Chambers Ranking Guide employs a total of over 200 research analysts, of which almost 50 analyze 52 jurisdictions in Europe alone; the results are published in the current Chambers Europe Guide.
Once again, POELLATH is represented by 10 professionals and receives a Top-tier ranking for its excellent corporate M&A and venture capital advice.
The firm offers a “stellar mid-market practice” advising clients on M&A and corporate agreements, including joint venture deals. The “market-leading team” acts for German companies in both domestic and international transactions. It advises company management on the corporate aspects of IPOs and collaborates closely with the firm’s “highly regarded” private equity practice. POELLATH also demonstrates an affinity for advising start-up companies and their founders.
Market sources confirm that “POELLATH is an excellent firm, doing work for impressive clients”. “The lawyers… are technically good at what they do and have a good track record on mid-sized deals, particularly for clients with a family-owned background.” Notable practitioners include Matthias Bruse, who is renowned as “a senior practitioner and excellent transaction lawyer”. “He has abundant experience in private equity transactions and corporate law advice, as well as assisting family offices with succession planning.” His colleague Michael Inhester is also included in the corporate M&A rankings as “a very respected and knowledgeable corporate lawyer” due to his increased visibility advising on cross-border transactions, most notably in the technology industry.
Michael is also ranked as a “great lawyer” for his private equity and venture capital knowledge. Alongside Michael, his colleague Christian Tönies is commended as a “reliable partner who is fun and good to work with”. Prominent private equity houses, start-ups and founders seek his “excellent advice” on cross-border financing rounds, sales and investments, as well as fund formation issues.
Thus, the firm houses a “renowned venture capital practice” with “excellent strength in investments, sales and large financing rounds”. The firm also enjoys a “strong standing” in the private equity industry, often assisting international investors with small to medium-cap transactions across the German technology and energy sectors, as well as with strategic partnership agreements.
Clients applaud the firm’s “very good private equity expertise”, being “pragmatic and goal-oriented while offering high expertise and experience”.
Particularly recommended lawyers include Munich partners Andrea von Drygalski, Philipp von Braunschweig and Benedikt Hohaus, who “remains a trusted adviser” for management boards and private equity houses for transactions and incentive programmes, mid- to large-cap acquisitions and divestments. POELLATH also enjoys a “particularly strong standing” among management boards. The holistic offering is further strengthened and rounded off by its tax expertise.
In this specialist area, Michael Best is “well-known” for advising private equity firms and investors on fund structuring and the tax aspects of domestic and international transactions.
The team is “renowned” for its handling of the taxation of M&A, property deals and company reorganisations for both private equity houses and real estate companies.
The firm is further praised for its “pragmatic advice”. A client notes: “They provide an outstanding, hands-on work relationship: you get answers and a risk assessment and not a 25-page document where you cannot find a message between the should, could and woulds.” The firm has “additional strength” in handling structural advice, succession planning and issues of international tax law for family-owned companies, as well as high net worth individuals. It is also known for advising investors on the taxation of private equity and other investment funds.
Not only is the tax handling of funds praised, but clients also highlight the “good hands-on and direct advice” in the investment funds area. “POELLATH puts client requirements before anything else and if needed they will deliver things tomorrow. They are client-oriented, pragmatic and solution-oriented rather than billing-oriented, and work towards results.”
The law firm has a “highly regarded funds practice with strong expertise across a variety of investment law areas” and “considerable experience with complex tax, regulatory and contractual issues pertaining to fund structuring”. POELLATH is further noted for its “comprehensive services regarding fund launches, as well as cross-border fund M&A and portfolio acquisitions”.
POELLATH’s client roster includes national and international investment companies, with “particular standing” among private equity and venture capital firms.
In particular, Amos Veith is an “established practitioner who advises well-known national and foreign investors on all matters pertaining to fund structuring, including tax, regulatory and contract law”. Clients praise his commercial mindset and pragmatism: “Amos Veith is extremely commercial, solution-minded and not dogmatic. Rather than insisting on what is ‘right’, he tries to elaborate on solutions that work for both parties. This makes him stand out.”
Clients are also enthusiastic about the real estate advice: “POELLATH is extremely knowledgeable about all legal issues and knows all market standards”, adding that “they are always available for us and can process complex transactions within a very short time”. “They work very well together and cover the full breadth of matters”, further praising the team for its “full-service legal advice”.
It has extensive experience in single-asset and portfolio transactions on both the buy and sell side, and is often active on project development mandates, including forward deals, sale and leaseback transactions, as well as the conclusion of lease and asset management agreements. The team often closely cooperates with its “very reputable tax practice to assist with tax-related real estate questions”. Notable practitioners include Matthias Durst, who is considered by clients to be “skilled, good at negotiation and easy to communicate with”, as well as “analytical, pragmatic and deal-oriented”. His colleague Stefan Lebek is praised as “a very good negotiator who knows the market well”.
