Chambers Europe 2020
Chambers Europe ranks lawyers and law firms across Europe in 52 jurisdictions. A team of 26 researchers, many of whom are native speakers, conducts interviews in 15 languages. P+P is represented with 12 partners, many of whom are listed in several work areas and received top tier listings in the areas of venture capital and corporate M&A mid-market.
P+P owes this top ranking for corporate M&A, in particular, to the reputation of partners such as Matthias Bruse, also ranked in tier 1 as "one of the top players in the German M&A market" who "maintains a long-standing reputation for his expertise in transactions with an emphasis on private equity", where he is also listed for his expertise. Founding partner Reinhard Pöllath is listed among the "Senior Statespeople" and has a "long-standing reputation as an outstanding transaction lawyer". The whole team is known for its "stellar mid-market practice" and is "available at any time, flexible" and delivers "prompt and proper work". The firm advises on both domestic and international transactions and collaborates closely with the "highly regarded" private equity practice and the venture capital team, advising founders and start-up companies.
The venture capital practice also receives a top-tier listing, with Christian Tönies listed in tier 1 for his "foresight", his "practical approach and solution-oriented advice". He handles the "whole gamut of venture capital mandates, from financings to exits" and is "astute in deals". He co-heads the department with Michael Inhester, who advises clients "on a variety of venture capital deals". The team has a "powerful outfit" to advise on the "whole raft" of venture capital matters across a "wide spectrum of industries". It is lauded for its "excellent expertise" and "truly outstanding performance", as well the team's "speed, quality and reliability". In particular, Munich partner Philipp von Braunschweig wins praise for his "great commercial sense and deal-making skills". His colleague Andrea von Drygalski is commended for her "experience and targeted advice" and Benedikt Hohaus is renowned for his management participation advice. Market sources highlight his "outstanding strength and experience". The advisory spectrum includes also tax advice on M&A, private equity and property deals, as well as company reorganisations for private equity investors and real estate companies.
P+P has "additional strengths in handling tax audits, succession planning and issues of international tax law for family-owned companies and high net worth individuals".
The whole team is "creative in solving complex problems" and the lawyers are "very close" to "ongoing legislative procedures, in order to be able to take action early on". Also, the team's integrity and "honest advice" is much appreciated.
Munich-based partner Michael Best receives particular praise as a "well-known and respected" tax advisor, who advises investment companies on domestic transactions but also on international tax issues and the structuring of private equity funds. His Frankfurt-based colleague Andreas Rodin is nominated among the "Senior Statespeople" and lauded for his tax and his private equity funds practice as "one of the most experienced players in the German market" and a "first-rate private equity tax lawyer with incredibly wide technical knowledge". According to clients, he "explains things directly, hitting the nail on the head". Other sources highlight: "He is someone I hold in high esteem, he is a pioneer in the field".
Andreas Rodin is also listed for his investment funds competence along with Berlin-based Amos Veith, who is described as a "very experienced adviser". The investment funds practice is "highly regarded" and clients enthuse about the whole team, which is "highly motivated to support us in all necessary matters. They always have the right person who can give the best expertise on how to handle different issues. They are very trustworthy and keep the set deadlines".
P+P's "reputable" tax team also works closely with the real estate experts on all tax-related real estate matters. "Notable practitioners" include Matthias Durst; clients appreciate that "he doesn't just delegate things, but handles them himself und is always well-prepared and ready to answer questions without making us wait". Stefan Lebek, also recommended as "notable practitioner", enjoys the full respect of his clients: "There is great commercial understanding between us so it takes me a short time to explain what I want, and to get it; he's totally focused on the essentials". All in all, clients appreciate in particular the "high partner attention from senior partners", but also that the team is "very responsive and very efficient, with great understanding". It consists of "strong negotiators with excellent legal knowledge who are able to process complex projects and know the market very well; they have a strong service mentality" and also "the younger lawyers are highly trained and dedicated".
