JUVE Handbook Commercial Law Firms 2014/2015

JUVE’s German Commercial Law Firms Handbook is researched by an independent editorial team. In the 17th edition, 820 law firms were analyzed and ranked according to their strengths and weaknesses.

Once again, P+P was positively ranked in all of its core practice areas. The leading advisors are Christian Tönies for venture capital, Stefan Lebek for real estate law, Thomas Töben for tax law, Dieter Birk for tax litigation, as well as Reinhard Pöllath and Andreas Richter for succession and wealth management advice.
In this practice area, P+P has a long-standing reputation and is known for its relationships over several decades with the largest German fortunes and most important family-owned companies. The firm demonstrates an “impressive presence within the most significant German fortunes" and the leading Berlin partner Andreas Richter is “increasingly requested on cross-border matters (e.g. foreign foundations, international succession regulations)”. Although still young, the team understands “how to combine the strengths of the firm, in particular in investment and tax law, with inheritance and succession expertise.” In addition to Andreas Richter (“unchallenged professional excellence, reliable strategic judgment, outstanding rating” competitor) and Reinhard Pöllath, the most frequently recommended partners are Stephan Viskorf, Matthias Bruse, Wolfgang Grobecker and Andreas Rodin.
According to competitors and clients, Mr. Rodin is also "excellent" and "irreplaceable" in the fields of tax law and funds, which continues to ensure the firm’s dominance and leading market position in the fund structuring practice area. The firm therefore has an "excellent reputation" with "very good connections to the leading funds". The clients appreciate the fact that the firm prepared in a timely manner for the extensive legislative amendments in relation to supervisory law and, accordingly, this ensures demand for their advisory services. Frequently recommended attorneys also include Uwe Bärenz, Amos Veith and the Frankfurt partner Patricia Volhard.
In addition to Andreas Rodin, the leading Thomas Töben, the leading tax litigator Dieter Birk, as well as the Munich partner Michael Best ("very well-versed, pleasant“, competitor) also represent the tax law practice.
P+P appointed three new young lawyers as partners – Peter Peschke, Hardy Fischer and Barbara Koch-Schulte – and thereby ensured that this practice area will remain an "established entity". In addition, the positive development of the private equity sector and the increased activities of fund houses also increase the need for tax law advisors, since advice at the interface between these disciplines is one of the specialties of the tax team. The firm has an "excellent reputation in tax disputes" and is therefore particularly in demand to represent companies in fiscal court proceedings, as well as in relation to preventive compliance advice.
The corporate law practice at P+P has developed into "one of the highest caliber practices". This practice area handles a remarkable spectrum of mandates, including public takeovers, complex structural measures and integrations, as well as corporate litigation, documented by an "impressive client base”. "Many much larger, internationally connected law firms would give a lot to have comparable access to large German group companies and international financial investors." For the minority shareholders, the team advised on one of the largest public M&A deals and was also involved in complex restructuring measures and legal form conversions. Michael Inhester, Reinhard Pöllath and Wolfgang Grobecker are all frequently recommended. Mr. Grobecker "has ensured sustainable and significant expansion of the range of advisory services through his comprehensive expertise in corporate litigation".
The real estate legal team also expanded last year with the inclusion of financing expert Jens Linde, who is well-known for his transactional real estate advice, as well as his project development and asset management advice. In addition to the leading Berlin partner Stefan Lebek ("very structured work style, profound know-how", client; "one of the best", competitor), other frequently recommended partners include Carsten Führling and Matthias Durst ("very reliable, very effective", competitor).
P+P is also one of the frequently recommended firms for M&A and advised on "some of the most prominent transactions of the year". The many other transactions on which P+P has advised may be credited to its good contacts with owner-led companies and family offices, as well as close relationships with many portfolio companies. The firm also has "established promising contacts to major investors". Matthias Bruse, Andrea von Drygalski, Philipp von Braunschweig, Otto Haberstock und Georg Greitemann are all frequently recommended transactional experts.
P+P also has an "impressive track record“ in advice on private equity and venture capital deals in the mid-cap sector. The "broad spectrum of advisory services" includes advising funds, in particular on buy-outs, advising minority shareholders, venture capital and advising management. The firm has an "excellent reputation“ due to the Munich partner Benedikt Hohaus, who is the "uncontested market leader in management advice (competitor)“.
The Munich partner Christian Tönies is "leading" in the VC sector. Clients praise him as being "an excellent lawyer, productive and swift". Other frequently recommended attorneys include Matthias Bruse, Andrea von Drygalski ("extremely present", competitor), Otto Haberstock, Philipp von Braunschweig and Michael Inhester. Barbara Koch-Schulte’s appointment as partner further strengthened the buy-out and participation practice.