Chambers EMEA 2012

Chambers EMEA 2012 ranked P+P in all its core practice areas; more than half of its partners are recognized as leading experts in the fields of corporate M&A, private equity, investment funds, real estate and tax. P+P has a "market leading" fund formation practice with a "leading reputation in real estate funds", combined with "notable strength in tax and fund structuring", with Andreas Rodin, Amos Veith and Patricia Volhard as listed partners. In particular, Andreas Rodin is renowned as a "hard worker who provides extremely well-structured advice". Frankfurt-based Patricia Volhard is well-known for her fund structuring and regulatory law practice" and Berlin partner Amos Veith impresses clients for being very confident and knowledgeable, despite being quite young". All in all, sources comment: "The lawyers are responsive and knowledgeable with excellent commercial nous". Not only in fund formation but also in tax, Andreas Rodin is a "popular choice amongst his clients" and a "clear market leader for very complex tax-driven fund structuring work". Clients applaud Munich partner Michael Best, commenting "He is very plugged in to the German market and provides pragmatic advice. He also makes sure we understand everything we need to make a business decision." His Berlin colleague Thomas Töben is known for his focus on the tax aspects of corporate and real estate transactions, whereas tax advisor Richard Engl has a broad practice, encompassing transactional expertise, cross-border corporate tax planning, group taxation and transfer pricing. According to sources, P+P's "exceptional German team certainly has the most responsive external advisers I have ever worked with: they are almost like a part of our in-house team".
P+P has also a reputation in the real estate field. "This established firm remains a popular choice for investment managers and project developer with real estate issues". According to Chambers' sources, P+P is "top-class" with a "hands-on approach". Matthias Durst is highly valued by clients for his "negotiations skills and long-standing experience in the real estate arena", whereas Stefan Lebek is singled out as having a "rising market profile". Carsten Führling "gets to the point quickly and offers straightforward advice" and Wolfram Pätzold is a "talented" real estate practitioner".
P+P also belongs to the top tier firms in private equity, owed to the combined efforts of Munich partners Matthias Bruse, Benedikt Hohaus, Andrea von Drygalski, Michael Inhester and Otto Haberstock and their "strong transactional capabilities". P+P is "one of the best firms for venture capital" and the team is known for having "excellent ideas"; clients state, "I go to it if I need a top lawyer". Michael Inhester wins "glowing feedback for his venture capital work", whereas Matthias Bruse is "highly recommended" for private equity and deserves his top-tier position his "long standing experience"... Sources applaud Benedikt Hohaus for his expertise and commercial awareness in investment matters. Clients describe him as a "great practitioner: very commercial and understanding of our requirements. He never makes outrageous proposals and is great to work with". His colleague Otto Haberstock is known for his private equity and tax advice to investors, business owners and management teams. Philipp von Braunschweig is recognized for his work on debt financing, corporate restructuring and management equity programs, as is Jan Wildberger for his transactional advice, who "maintains his prolific activity in this sector". His broad practice covers private equity, joint ventures and LBOs. P+P offers 'broad ranging' corporate and M&A advice, including tax, fund structuring, private equity and venture capital transactions, with Matthias Bruse and Reinhard Pöllath as leading figures for the firm's reputation. Chambers' sources value Matthias Bruse as "extremely personable and down-to-earth" and appreciate his "calm and considered approach to negotiations". The whole team impresses by being "cost-efficient, very hands-on and reliable".