Chambers Europe 2024

Chambers’ rankings are based on in-depth analysis and research conducted by an experienced research team. Each year, tens of thousands of individual interviews are conducted with references and clients to find out about clients’ experiences of the legal work provided by the firms.

These rankings provide the decision-making basis for a wide range of sectors, e.g., clients, in-house counsel, general managers and other interested professionals, to find the most suitable providers for their requirements and needs in the entire European legal market.

POELLATH has once again been awarded a top-tier ranking for its outstanding advice in the areas of corporate M&A and venture capital. A total of 12 professionals were listed for their outstanding expertise in their fields.

The firm “offers a stellar mid-market practice advising clients on M&A and corporate agreements, including public takeovers.”

In particular, Eva Nase is “really quality-driven”. She advises executive boards and founders on corporate law relating to prominent IPOs.

Her colleague Michael Inhester is “sought after by prominent corporates in the technology space for his experience handling acquisitions and startup investments”.

Founding partner Matthias Bruse is ranked as a “Senior Statespeople” for his many years of experience in advising on cross-border transactions in a wide range of industries. He is “widely appreciated for his longstanding expertise”. “He is very experienced and a nice guy.”

Chambers is impressed by the whole team, since it “is strong across different legal topics”. Clients also commend the firm: “The lawyers at POELLATH have an always-on mentality. They do everything for their clients.”

“The team were consistently good, and additional lawyers joined the team as necessary to provide band width with no reduction in quality.”

The private equity sector is also “highly regarded” for its fund-related and transactional advice. This also applies, in particular, to the venture capital sector, which also receives a top-tier ranking

This excellent ranking is not least due to the efforts of Munich partner Christian Tönies’ “excellent advice”: “Prominent private equity houses, start-ups and founders seek his advice when it comes to cross-border financing rounds, sales, investments and, last but not least, issues relating to fund formation.”

POELLATH enjoys a particularly strong standing among management boards and managing directors and is known for handling the participation programmes in larger private equity deals.

In this practice area, Munich partner Benedikt Hohaus is particularly active. He remains a “trusted adviser for management boards and private equity houses for prominent transactions and incentive programmes”.

The firm demonstrates “excellent strengths” in investments, sales and large financing rounds. The team works for well-known growth funds and international banks, as well as for domestic family offices and start-ups from the technology and finance sector, for which it also receives a top-tier ranking.

Philipp von Braunschweig is mentioned for advising investors and companies on divestitures, add-on acquisitions and strategic partnership agreements, including energy and manufacturing. His focus is on mid-cap transactions, including those involving traditional German Mittelstand companies.

The firm’s expertise in ancillary areas of transactions, such as tax, further strengthens the firm’s holistic offering.

That’s what Michael Best stands for. He is well-known for advising private equity firms and investors on fund structuring and the tax aspects of domestic and international transactions.

The firm also performs excellently in the area of investment funds.

It has a “highly regarded” funds practice with strong expertise across a variety of investment law areas. The firm excels in complex tax, regulatory and contractual issues around fund structuring. Its client list includes both domestic and international institutional investors, as well as private equity and venture capital firms.

Berlin partner Amos Veith is particularly noteworthy: “He is an excellent lawyer with a good way of moving things forward and closing deals”, and clients are downright enthusiastic about his colleague, Frankfurt partner Peter Bujotzek: “He is a real asset and provides spot-on and practical legal and tax advice in all fund-related topics.” “Peter Bujotzek is very client-oriented, provides high service levels, is very clever and possesses great market knowledge.” “He is a reliable partner for all things closed-ended funds, in particular the German tax aspects.”

The real estate practice also receives high praise for its advice, most notably for retail, office, residential and healthcare facilities. The team has extensive experience in single-asset and portfolio transactions on both the buy and sell sides and is often active on project development mandates, including forward deals. The team also advises on sale and leaseback transactions, as well as the conclusion of lease and asset management agreements. Its client base consists of investors, funds, private equity firms and financial institutions. The team often closely cooperates with its very reputable tax practice to assist with tax-related real estate questions.

Clients commend, in particular, the target-oriented working method: “We like how they work and operate in a calm and measured manner. They have worked brilliantly, it has been a seamless operation.” “POELLATH have a culture of cooperation and pragmatism when on matters, and I appreciate working with them as a result.”

Berlin partners Stefan Lebek, Timo Winkelmann and Matthias Durst receive particular praise.

“Matthias is a good team player. He is always helping to advance the deal.” “I appreciate his [Matthias’] expertise. It is always a pleasure working with him.”

“Stefan Lebek is a really pragmatic individual and is great at helping sort our problems.” “It is always a pleasure to have him on your side.”

Timo Winkelmann “is a reasonable and cooperative person to work with”. He centres his practice on facilitating real estate transactions. He is proficient in advising on portfolio acquisitions and is noted “for his comprehensive and considered approach to issues”.