Hengeler Mueller operates primarily on the corporate side and offers clients extensive expertise, including capital increases and IPOs. In addition, the group acts for banking consortia in dual-track procedures and provides comprehensive advice on cross-border transactions. Due to its broad capital market practice, the team is also able to cover corporate- as well as DCM-related issues, such as debt-to-equity swap structures. Key contacts include Reinhold Ernst (IPOs, public takeovers, restructuring) and Alexander Rang (IPOs, capital increases, share placements).

Latham & Watkins LLP covers the full range of ECM matters based on an integrated corporate finance approach that includes transactions in relation to DCM, restructuring as well as banking and finance. The group has particular expertise in advising on alternative forms of equity financing and assisting German issuers with IPOs in the US. Practice head Oliver Seiler is experienced in IPOs, block trades and capital increases. International public takeovers, carve-outs and transactions represent David Rath's mainstays. Associate Camilla Kehler-Weiß is another key contact and covers the ECM area comprehensively.

Linklaters‘ capital markets practice has continued to be involved in the largest transactions of recent times; symbolic of this was its advice to Porsche and Volkswagen on the IPO of Porsche AG. In addition to IPOs, the group also assists with spin-offs, capital increases and block trades, among other matters, and acts on both the bank and issuer side. Practice head Marco Carbonare particularly impresses in international transactions, for instance in relation to Scandinavia, Austria and the US, and is also experienced in corporate and M&A. Alexander Schlee‘s mainstays include IPOs and subscription rights capital increases.

Thanks to its integrated approach, Clifford Chance seamlessly advises clients on matters touching on both ECM and DCM and further impresses with close cooperation with its private equity practice. The team acts for both issuers and underwriters across various transactions, such as dual track IPOs, SPACs and capital increases as well as private placements and hybrid bonds. George Hacket has special knowledge of US securities law, which he often applies in the context of international securities transactions, and is an ECM key contact; as is Axel Wittmann, whose range of experience includes IPOs, convertible bonds and compliance issues.

Cross-border transactions, especially those with a US connection, represent a central pillar of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP's capital markets practice, which therefore often cooperates with its US offices, but also houses separate US securities law expertise in Frankfurt. In addition to classic IPOs and secondary placements, the German team's everyday business also includes SPACs and dual track financing. Practice head Stephan Hutter handles capital markets as well as compliance- and M&A-related issues. Counsels Lukas Greilich and Caspar Schmelzer both have extensive ECM expertise and therefore regularly assist with IPOs and capital increases.

CMS assists issuers and supporting banks with various capital market transactions, including IPOs, capital increases, takeovers and stock dividends, complemented by expertise in segment changes and capital markets compliance. Due to its strengths in the ​​renewable energy sector, the group also advises on ESG-related transactions and issues. Andreas Zanner is experienced not only in capital markets but also in corporate and takeover law; he jointly heads the practice with Philipp Melzer, whose expertise spans both DCM and ECM.

Gleiss Lutz predominantly focuses on advising issuers in the ECM area, while its client portfolio also includes medium-sized companies as well as large international corporations. The group has expertise in capital increases, stock dividends, IPOs as well as M&A and restructuring issues and is also well equipped to assist with cross-border transactions thanks to its close cooperation with international law firms and the London office, which opened in 2022. Practice head Stephan Aubel possesses comprehensive capital markets and corporate expertise, while Hoimar von Ditfurth (capital markets and corporate law) retired in 2023.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises on both sides of the capital market and has expertise in IPOs and capital increases as well as in stock corporation law and public M&A-related matters. The practice acts for issuers and banks in ongoing corporate and securities law issues and can also seamlessly handle cross-border matters involving its offices in London and the US. Practice heads Frank Regelin and Benedikt Gillessen both have extensive experience in stock corporation and capital markets law.

Under the leadership of Matthias von Oppen, who excels in corporate and capital markets law as well as in China-related matters, Ashurst LLP advises shareholders, issuers and banks on all domestic and cross-border transactions. Its legal expertise is complemented with competencies in the real estate, technology, digital economy and renewable energy sectors.

In close cooperation with its US teams, DLA Piper covers a wide range of ECM matters and is therefore a popular address for both German and international clients. Roland Maaß is a key contact and advises on IPOs, capital increases and SPACs, among other matters. Kerstin Schnabel complements this with expertise in capital market compliance.