Chambers Europe 2018

Once again this year, P+P has received a top-tier listing for its advice in corporate mid-market matter. In this practice area, the firm offers singular advice ("stellar mid-market practice") and has "an excellent reputation for private equity-driven transactions, complemented by strong tax and venture capital teams". The firm advises financial investors on the buyer and seller sides, family-owned enterprises and Mittelstand corporates. In addition, P+P has expertise in advising shareholders and general management, as well as on public takeovers, company reorganizations, corporate governance. Sources emphasize the resolve of the advisors to complete a transaction. Each individual is "very thorough, thoughtful and transaction-oriented". When there are risks, they point them out, but "they are very geared towards closing the deal".
Reinhard Pöllath is "widely viewed as an authoritative figure in the market". He has much experience in advising on corporate law matters, as well as on M&A and private equity transactions.
Wolfgang Grobecker receives positive feedback and "vast recognition for his corporate law expertise" and thereby rises in the rankings.
Moreover, Matthias Bruse has an excellent reputation in the market for advising on M&A transactions with a particular focus on private equity. Therefore, he is also ranked as a top expert in private equity, along with his colleagues Otto Haberstock, Benedikt Hohaus, Philipp von Braunschweig and Andrea von Drygalski, as well as Michael Inhester and Christian Tönies for venture capital.
P+P's venture capital practice also receives a top-tier ranking with "unparalleled expertise in the tech/start-up environment, combining deep knowledge of both German and Anglo-Saxon legal structures and processes". Clients admire P+P's "best practice solutions, covering all the edges of advisory with specialists in different segments". The advisors are "very well organized and reliable".
Christian Tönies is "extremely responsive and attentive, with an ability to explain complex legal subject matters to a lay person in an easily accessible way". His colleague Michael Inhester is known for advising venture capital investors, growth capital financing rounds and MBOs.
Benedikt Hohaus is "widely respected in the market for his advice on management participation schemes and related tax issues". Sources emphasize that "He listens very carefully and is able to explain complex problems in an understandable way. He has a well-known reputation and a strong office".
His colleague Philipp von Braunschweig "gains recognition for his work acting for companies and investors on venture capital transactions, small and mid-cap acquisitions and MBOs". Otto Haberstock is another advisor recommended for his extensive experience "advising companies on M&A, including private equity mandates and acting for private equity houses and other institutional investors on their acquisitions". He also advises on tax matters and management participation programs. Last but not least, Andrea von Drygalski assists companies and shareholders on exits, investment acquisitions and post-closing disputes. The firm is also known for its experience in distressed M&A, restructuring and acquisition financing, as well as financing rounds and tax structuring.

Michael Best deserves particular mention as one of the top experts in the tax structuring of M&A, private equity and real estate transactions. His clients value him for being "very commercial ... and very thorough". His colleague Pia Dorfmueller in Frankfurt focuses on the financial services sector and advises financing structures, inbound and outbound investments and European holding companies on the international taxation of M&A transactions. Alongside transactional tax advice, P+P is highly regarded for its tax and regulatory advice for private funds; it thereby deals with cross-border matters and has particularly close ties with Luxembourg. Andreas Rodin is one of the experts who is listed for both his tax expertise and his competence in advising on fund structuring. Market experts virtually rave about him, saying "he is a real brain, a very smart person" and he pays "a lot of attention to details".
Clients value his colleague Amos Veith for the fact that they can always depend on his advice and that he "is able to reduce the complexity of the cases you deal with," and adding: "He can talk on a human level, he explains things so easily".
The rest of team also has a strong reputation for advising on private funds. Clients appreciate the "commercial mindedness" and practicality, "outstanding responsiveness, thoroughness, reliability, cost efficiency and subject expertise". They thereby lay the groundwork for the parties to work together on a long-term basis.
This service-oriented attitude continues to be noted in the real estate practice: Matthias Durst, who has a broad spectrum of expertise in portfolio transactions, forward trading, project development and joint ventures. According to clients, he has "extremely quick response times, as well as a goal and client-oriented way of leading negotiations". Moreover, he is "very thorough, exact and experienced on an international level". "He understands the deal's structural issues in combination with the investment side, the financials and so on, so has a very broad understanding of everything to do with real estate, which is very helpful".
Stefan Lebek is considered "very reliable, straight to the point and able to fulfil all issues and promises". He has a strong reputation for portfolio transactions, project development and joint ventures. Those interviewed value his reliability, that he "gets straight to the point" and is "able to fulfill all issues and promises".