Ashurst LLP focuses on supporting strategic investors in traditional PE transactions across the mid-cap segment, including equity investments, debt funds, distressed M&A and minority investments. Florian Drinhausen took over the management of the German corporate practice following the departure of Benedikt von Schorlemer (cross-border transactions in the renewable energy and infrastructure sectors) to McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP in April 2024.

Clifford Chance supports all major private equity houses, institutional investors and their portfolio shareholders in complex mid- and large-cap PE transactions and recently assisted with acquisitions, strategic cooperations and GP-led secondaries. The team routinely acts across the technology, healthcare and financial services sectors and is jointly led by M&A and corporate lawyer Christoph Holstein and Jörg Rhiel, who is experienced in exits. Anselm Raddatz is a key contact for cross-border transactions and regularly supports PE and infrastructure funds. Sonya Pauls complements these PE capacities with expertise in fund structuring.

Dechert LLP's mid-cap expertise is regularly called upon by investors, PE shareholders and portfolio companies from the technology, fintech, life sciences, TMT, financial services and real estate sectors. The team frequently supports cross-border transactions thanks to the international network. Practice head Federico Pappalardo advises PE companies, family offices and financial investors on all aspects of financing and acquisition transactions. Kai Terstiege (PE transactions and corporate investments in the technology sector) joined the practice from WilmerHale in April 2023.

Dentons focuses on the mid-cap segment and advises along the entire investment value chain, including the longstanding experience in buy-outs, fund structuring and distressed transactions for investors. The practice regularly cooperates with the locations in London, Paris and the US, accordingly, the team frequently assists with cross-border matters. Volker Junghanns (telecoms, multimedia and renewable energy sectors) and Robert Bastian (leveraged buyouts and venture capital funds) jointly lead the team.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP impresses with cross-border competencies, thanks to the frequent close cooperation with the locations in the US and UK. The mainstays include the advice to major PE funds and investors on cross-border PE transactions, including delistings, squeeze-outs, majority participations and carve-outs. Dirk Oberbracht is a key contact here and regularly advises on cross-border transactions across both the large-cap and mid-cap areas. Lutz Englisch (M&A) retired in December 2023, while Sonja Ruttmann (M&A, in particular carve-outs, and corporate law) was appointed to partner in January 2024.

Investors and portfolio companies regularly instruct Greenberg Traurig Germany on mid-cap transactions. Here, the team advises on the entire PE value chain, including buy-outs and exits, all investments, management participations and buy-and-build strategies as well as cross-border support thanks to the international network. The PE practice acts integrated into the corporate group and, accordingly, is led by the two co-chairs of the German corporate group Peter Schorling and Henrik Armah as well as Nicolai Lagoni, who has experience in cross-border transactions, particularly in the pharmaceutical and life sciences, technology and real estate sectors.

Hengeler Mueller is experienced in advising PE houses, family businesses and international investors; the latter frequently instruct the team thanks to its experience and good relationships with German medium-sized companies. The practice has expertise in sales, acquisitions, including public takeovers, exits and public-to-private transactions and is well versed in both buy- and sell-side transactions; here, the practice most recently took the lead in the large-cap segment pertaining to the renewable energy, healthcare and biopharma sectors. Key contacts include Hans-Jörg Ziegenhain, who advises DAX companies, family businesses and PE investors, and Elisabeth Kreuzer, who is experienced in auction procedures, co-investments and carve-outs. Christof Jäckle (corporate law, M&A and PE) retired in December 2023.

Latham & Watkins LLP follows a cross-location approach in the large and mid-cap segment, including the US, London, Milan and Paris locations. Accordingly, the practice is well versed in complex cross-border transactions, including acquisitions and portfolio investments, majority participations, sales as well as exits and acts with an industry focus on the technology, energy, infrastructure, healthcare and life sciences sectors. Practice head Burc Hesse is experienced in leveraged buy-outs, while Oliver Felsenstein boasts expertise in advising major PE investors on national and cross-border transactions and Rainer Traugott acts at the interface between private equity and corporate law. Recent team changes include the appointment of Christina Mann (carve-outs and joint ventures) to partner in March 2024 and the departure of Nils Röver (cross-border PE transactions) in the same month to Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, as well as the departure of Tobias Larisch (cross-border M&A transactions and public takeovers) to Kirkland & Ellis International LLP in August 2024.

Linklaters follows an integrated approach and comprehensively advises clients from regulated sectors, including energy, healthcare and digital infrastructure, on mid- and large-cap PE transactions, including investments, leveraged finance transactions as well as related tax issues and exits. The team regularly acts on behalf of financial investors, including infrastructure sector clients, US asset managers, family offices and PE funds, as well as portfolio companies. Practice head Ralph Drebes is experienced in the comprehensive support to PE, infrastructure and financial investors in M&A transactions.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP focuses on the mid-cap segment and regularly advises investors and portfolio companies, including from the healthcare and life sciences sectors, on transactions, such as buy-outs and majority acquisitions. Co-head Holger Ebersberger is regularly instructed by financial investors and co-leads with Michael Cziesla, who frequently acts across the technology and regulated industries sectors. The team was strengthened with the arrival of Benedikt von Schorlemer and Maximilian Uibeleisen (both PE with a focus on energy and infrastructure) from Ashurst LLP in April 2024 and Matthias Weissinger (national and cross-border financing) from the same firm in November 2023.

Private equity companies, sponsors and investment shareholders regularly instruct Milbank on mid- and large-cap transactions, where the practice comprehensively advises on the acquisition and expansion of portfolio companies as well as exits. The team frequently supports cross-border matters in cooperation with the firm's international network, including the locations in the US, London and Hong Kong; this is complemented by interfacing expertise in corporate, finance and tax law matters. Norbert Rieger advises on public takeovers, public-to-private transactions and advises on tax matters in the context of PE mandates, while Sebastian Heim regularly assists with cross-border PE transactions, including LBOs and minority participations. Both are key contacts for PE matters and act integrated into the corporate team.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises national and international investors and funds, including North American financial investors, on PE transactions across the mid-cap segment and offers comprehensive support in regulatory and sector-specific matters pertaining to the technology, healthcare, life sciences and finance sectors. Practice head Frank Henkel is well versed in buy- and sell-side transactions for investors and portfolio companies from the financial, technology and automotive sectors. In February 2024, Sebastain Frech joined GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB, while in May 2024 Sven Schweneke moved to Taylor Wessing.

The private equity team at Sidley Austin LLP advises national and international investors, PE sponsors as well as portfolio companies on mid-cap transactions with an interdisciplinary approach, which includes corporate, M&A, finance and tax law matters. Practice head Christian Zuleger also co-heads the European private equity team and most recently advised on add-on transactions.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP supports European and US companies, investors as well as family offices in cross-border mid- and large-cap transactions, where the team is particularly well versed in the infrastructure and renewable energy sectors. Practice head Jan Bauer comprehensively covers PE matters and boasts expertise in cross-border transactions, here, clients also benefit from the close cooperation with the London location. Rüdiger Schmidt-Bendun was appointed to partner in April 2024 and regularly assists PE investors with complex transactions.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP offers transaction support in the mid- and large-cap segments and advises along the entire investment value chain, including secondary buy-out transactions, add-ons, delistings and acquisitions of majority participations. The firm advises PE funds, investors and their portfolio companies as well as companies and recently increasingly supported technology and IT companies. Gerhard Schmidt heads the team and is experienced in distressed and buy-out transactions.

White & Case LLP focuses on PE transactions across the large- and mid-cap segment, including carve-outs, majority participations and strategic cooperations, and offers additional expertise in relevant capital markets, corporate, M&A as well as regulatory issues. The client roster includes investors, portfolio companies and companies from the technology and healthcare sectors. Practice head Stefan Koch regularly advises major PE firms on domestic and cross-border matters.