Private equity and private debt funds as well as syndicated lenders and large companies request Clifford Chance's expertise in acquisition and corporate financing. The core topics include unitranche financing, syndicated loans and ESG-related financing, with instructions increasingly pertaining to restructuring as well as private debt financing. Thanks to the internal network, the team regularly assists with international financing and restructuring, with frequent ties to large-volume corporate transformations and M&A transactions across the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Practice head Bettina Steinhauer focuses on acquisition financing and restructuring, while Christoph Nensa is an expert for structured finance matters.

Hengeler Mueller impresses with expertise in business-critical financing as well as recapitalisation and restructuring, which are regularly handled in cooperation with the firm's insolvency experts, and regularly advises both lenders and borrowers on acquisition and project financing, particularly in connection with ESG-related transformations. Henning Hilke specialises in corporate financing and is additionally well versed in ESG financing. Acquisition financing is a key strength of Johannes Tieves and Daniela Böning, who regularly support international clients, including syndicated lenders and private equity sponsors, in cross-border transactions. Nikolaus Vieten is experienced in the leveraged finance area and also a key contact for distressed financing.

Latham & Watkins LLP follows a cross-practice and cross-location approach and, accordingly, offers comprehensive advice to borrowers and lenders on all financing and restructuring matters, with the team being particularly well versed in acquisition and infrastructure financing. Matters in the acquisition financing area are handled by direct lending specialist Thomas Weitkamp thanks to his close client relationships with various private debt and private equity funds, while Alexandra Hagelüken, who is qualified in German and English law, regularly advises on the financing of international M&A transactions. Sibylle Münch is a key contact for infrastructure financing across the fiber optic, freight transport and energy sectors, while Cora Grannemann complements this with expertise in acquisition and corporate financing as well as capital markets law.

Milbank focuses on acquisition, corporate and infrastructure financing, including cross-border matters thanks to the close cooperation with locations in England and the US. The advisory offering also includes matters under German, English and New York law, thus, the practice regularly supports international private equity and private debt funds in various leveraged finance transactions and advises large companies and syndicated lenders in connection with cross-border corporate financing, particularly with ESG aspects. The latter focus area is routinely handled in cooperation with the capital markets team and leads to frequent instructions on sustainability-related financing and bonds. Co-head Thomas Ingenhoven specialises in acquisition financing and co-leads with Barbara Mayer-Trautmann, who focuses on infrastructure financing.

The Frankfurt-based finance experts at White & Case LLP act integrated into the international network and cover relevant matters under German, English and New York law, thus, the team impresses with expertise in cross-border financing. Large companies and syndicated lenders are supported in large-volume acquisition and corporate financing, including refinancing and sustainability-related financing. Led by Vanessa Schürmann, the practice also handles financing transactions at the capital markets interface, while Andreas Lischka increasingly advises on restructuring and recapitalisation.

Ashurst LLP advises a loyal client roster consisting of German and international financial institutions and private debt funds and increasingly acts on behalf of private equity sponsors in connection with acquisition financing. The practice is well versed in expansion matters and refinancing and advises various lenders on restructuring issues and corporate takeover financing. The team is led by Anne Grewlich, who specialises in cross-border leveraged buyouts, and also regularly handles complex transactions with unitranche, mezzanine and high-yield structures.

Linklaters is experienced in cross-border acquisition financing and also boasts expertise in ​​sustainable financing, where the team advises syndicated and private lenders as well as private and public companies from the energy and automotive sectors on the financing of major infrastructure projects, ESG-related corporate transformations and M&A transactions. Practice head Marc Trinkaus focuses on cross-border transactions, while Przemyslaw Lipin specialises in leveraged finance matters and is also well versed in the restructuring area.

The financing team at Hogan Lovells International LLP impresses with expertise in leveraged infrastructure financing and also supports various investment funds and banks in acquisition and corporate financing, particularly across the energy and real estate sectors. The team fields Carla Luh, who specialises in cross-border financing in the aforementioned sectors and jointly heads the practice with Katlen Blöcker; the latter comprehensively advises on financing. Other core areas include sustainable financing in the context of green corporate transformations and sustainable infrastructure projects. The team expanded its private equity client roster thanks to the arrival of Thomas Freund (formerly Eversheds Sutherland) in April 2024.

Baker McKenzie focuses on export financing as well as cross-border acquisition, corporate and project financing, where the team acts on both the lender and borrower side and regularly cooperates with the international network. The client roster includes international banks and clients from the real estate and infrastructure sectors as well as various private equity sponsors. Practice head Oliver Socher impresses with expertise in acquisition financing and is also well versed in financing issues in the restructuring context.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP’s German banking & finance team acts integrated into the wider international transaction practice and focuses on acquisition and corporate financing; these two financing areas were significantly strengthened with the addition of Matthias Weissinger (cross-border financing and restructuring) from Ashurst LLP in November 2023 and, previously, Ludwig Zesch (acquisition financing, direct lending, leveraged buyouts and corporate financing) from Latham & Watkins LLP in May 2023. Private equity investors, debt funds as well as credit institutions regularly draw on this offering. The practice is headed by Oliver Lieth in Düsseldorf, who specialises in real estate financing.

Norton Rose Fulbright focuses on acquisition, asset and project financing support and is regularly instructed on export financing by various German and international banks. The team primarily acts on the lender side, but also assists private equity sponsors and major companies from the transport sector. Practice head Oliver Sutter is experienced in acquisition and real estate financing as well as restructuring and insolvency issues.