A&O Shearman provides a ‘high-quality and responsive service’ to a swathe of large international sponsors and multinational corporates on the Luxembourg structuring associated with their cross-border transactions, as well as often taking the lead in domestic mandates. Appreciated for his ‘strong technical skills and pragmatic and results-oriented approach,’ team head Fabian Beullekens is recognised as ‘one of the best M&A practitioners in Luxembourg.’ Peter Myners is one of ‘the stars of the practice’ and is also key to the firm’s success at handling sponsor-led transactions, adding a degree of continuity to clients by virtue of his regular involvement of on the initial fund establishment. Jacques Graas is a popular choice across a range of cross-border public and private M&A and corporate transactions, specifically within the financial services, real estate and asset management sectors. Sylvain Cailleau advises clients on pre-litigious corporate matters with a view to realising an M&A transaction. As part of his broad corporate expertise, Marc Tkatcheff excels at handling Latin American mandates, while the vastly experienced Marc Feider remains active in his role as a senior consultant.

The ‘client focused and efficient’ team at Arendt & Medernach provides a ‘very pragmatic’ service to domestic and international clients across a wide array of transactional and ongoing corporate governance and commercial work. As well as advising major multinational corporates, financial institutions and asset managers, the team has also gained a strong reputation within emerging sectors, including fintech and digitech. Laurent Schummer is one of the key practitioners in relation to work in emerging sectors, as well as regularly advising financial sponsors and large corporates on higher-value M&A matters. Guy Harles provides ‘solutions-oriented advice’ on the buy and sell side on high-value cross-border M&A matters, while Bob Calmes also regularly advises on cross-border mandates, including those involving a US angle. As well as his work on conventional M&A, restructuring and JV transactions, Alexander Olliges has also gained a strong reputation advising on SPAC and subsequent de-SPAC mandates. Carsten Opitz is particularly adept at advising on corporate governance issues and co-heads the team alongside Schummer.

The ‘responsive and business focused’ team at Clifford Chance has an excellent reputation among myriad domestic and international corporates and private equity sponsors, which are appreciative of its ability to combine in-depth local knowledge with an international mindset enhanced by the firm’s global network. Combining strong financial services regulatory nous with significant corporate transactional sensibilities, senior partner Christian Kremer remains a popular choice among financial institutions and insurers on M&A matters. Saskia Myners also continues to impress since joining the firm in 2022 from PwC Legal Luxembourg, providing ‘efficient and very business focused’ advice to clients, particularly in the context of private equity and real estate transactions. Managing partner Katia Gauzès rounds out the offering at a partner level and co-heads the team alongside Kremer and Myners.

Leveraging ‘in-depth knowledge of the Luxembourg legal jurisdiction,’ Elvinger Hoss Prussen is well-placed to advise local and multinational corporates on both domestic and cross-border M&A transactions. In this context, the ‘very experienced’ Toinon Hoss has an excellent reputation among international referring law firms, as well as financial sponsors, for providing ‘solutions-focused’ advice on the Luxembourg structuring aspects of cross-border mandates. Pit Reckinger‘s wide-ranging corporate expertise encompasses transactional, including financial services and insurance M&A in adddition to corporate housekeeping and governance advice. Philippe Hoss‘ transactional prowess includes both traditional strategic and sponsor-backed M&A, as well as work on de-SPAC mandates. Karl Pardaens is ‘very technical,’ ensuring that he is a popular choice for clients on M&A in highly regulated sectors, as well as advice in relation to fintech matters. Katia Panichi, who co-heads the team alongside Philippe and Toinon, is well-versed in private equity and venture capital transactions.

With a ‘deep understanding of Luxembourg corporate laws and regulations,’ allied to an international mindset and a collaborative approach to working with lawyers across the firm’s global network, Linklaters is well-placed to advise corporates, financial services entities and private equity firms across a wide range of domestic and cross-border mandates, from ongoing corporate governance and commercial contracts advice through to big-ticket M&A transactions. The ‘technical but pragmatic’ Rémy Bonneau is recognised for his ability to ‘navigate through complicated and unusual structures,’ including on private equity-led M&A mandates, as well as in relation to de-SPAC business combinations. Nicolas Gauzès retired.

Applying a ‘practical and business-oriented approach,’ Loyens & Loeff has ‘deep expertise in thinking through complex M&A projects.’ Drawing upon strong relationships with UK and US referring law firms, as well as directly from large financial sponsors, much of this work relates to private equity-led M&A matters, where the firm adds a degree of continuity on the downstream investment front, having often previously also handled the underlying fund structuring. Mathilde Lattard is active on both the upstream and downstream elements of private equity work. This fluid approach is also demonstrated by the firm’s work within the SPAC arena, where having been involved in many original SPAC listings, the team has then handled many of the subsequent de-SPAC business combinations. Here, Guy Palmaers, who is lauded for his ‘exceptional strategic thinking,’ has developed particular experience, work which he handles alongside his more conventional sponsor-side M&A work. Michael Scott is regularly instructed by bondholder creditors, as well as debtors. Frédéric Franckx heads the team and is noted for his US and UK-related private equity work, including advice on bolt-on transactions and public-to-privates. Ana Andreiana, who was promoted to partner at the beginning of 2023, is also recommended.

The ‘incredibly responsive and innovative’ team at Baker McKenzie is ‘well-versed at handling complex transactions,’ particularly in the context of cross-border matters, where it can effectively leverage its global network. Much of this work relates to private equity-backed M&A, where the firm is also appreciated for its seamless multidisciplinary offering that often incorporates tax and fund structuring. The ‘experienced, knowledgeable and pragmatic’ Jean-François Findling is key to much of this private equity work, and is also noted for his M&A expertise for banks and insurance companies. Elodie Duchêne excels at handling M&A, as well as providing advice on group reorganisations and the establishment of corporate structures in Luxembourg. The ‘outstanding’ Jean-Philippe Smeets co-heads the team alongside Findling and Duchêne.

Private equity is the centrepiece of NautaDutilh's transactional offering, with the flexible and adaptable team providing ‘technical, business-oriented, and efficient’ advice across corporate structuring, financing requirements and restructuring matters. The ‘outstanding’ Romain Sabatier provides ‘pragmatic and reactive’ advice both at the front end of deals, as well as in any pursuant distressed matters, including on matters within the technology space. The ‘client-oriented’ Margaretha Wilkenhuysen heads the team, which has strong relationships with US and UK law firms and is also able to provide a holistic service on Benelux matters by virtue of its network in the region.

Often working in a co-ordinated fashion with finance, funds and tax specialists at the office, as well as with lawyers based out of the Netherlands and Belgium, Stibbe is noted for its ability to provide ‘high-quality’ Luxembourg corporate structuring associated with cross-border private equity-related transactions, both on the seller and on the acquirer side. Team head Gérald Origer has ‘outstanding knowledge and large experience in broad cross-national private equity projects,’ regularly handling work for a number of major private equity houses. Claire-Marie Darnand is a ‘very approachable, responsive and commercially minded lawyer’ who handles a wide range of domestic and cross-border corporate matters.

Bonn & Schmitt is well-versed in advising on local and cross-border M&A matters for corporates and private equity sponsors. In addition, the team regularly handles day-to-day corporate compliance matters, as well as advice on JV and share purchase agreements. In addition to advising on some Luxembourg law structuring advice associated with cross-border M&A, team head Cedric Bellwald also regularly handles domestic transactions, including those with underlying real estate assets. Chantal Keereman is one of the main contacts for private equity work.

The ‘highly experienced’ team at BSP has strong ties with a number of major international referring law firms and global private equity sponsors, which are appreciative of the ‘practical and commercially minded’ manner in which the team dispenses local structuring advice on cross-border M&A mandates. The ‘technically excellent’ Linda Harroch has gained a reputation as ‘one of the go-to M&A lawyers in Luxembourg,’ in part due to her market visibility on behalf of high profile private equity clients. Michaël Kitai is also a key contact and regularly advises major banks in relation to both corporate and financing work.

Drawing upon ‘a high level of expertise’ both from Luxembourg and its international offices, CMS is well-placed to advise clients on domestic and cross-border M&A and JV transactions, as well as in the context of the structuring and restructuring of corporate groups. In his role as head of the office’s corporate and private equity practices, a significant proportion of ‘seasoned’ team head Gérard Maîtrejean's transactional deal flow relates to sponsor-led mandates. In addition, he is adept at assisting companies with corporate governance, joint venture transactions and corporate migrations.

Balancing ‘technical expertise with a congenial nature,’ Dentons provides an ‘effective and approachable service’ to local and international clients across the full spectrum of corporate work, ranging from relatively commoditised issues relating to incorporation, through to local law structuring issues on complex M&A matters. ‘Very experienced and knowledgeable’ team head Namik Ramić provides ‘solutions-oriented and pragmatic advice,’ including in relation to the recent trend of structuring co-investment and JVs to facilitate M&A mandates. Clients also benefit from access to the firm’s international network.

DLA Piper Luxembourg delivers ‘commercial and extremely responsive’ advice to a growing number of domestic clients, as well as providing the Luxembourg law structuring advice for global entities. The alternative investment management sector informs a significant volume of the deal flow, with the team regularly handling downstream investments and establishing co-investment platforms in relation to LBO mandates and real estate transactions. Country managing partner Catherine Pogorzelski heads the team and provides a holistic service to funds, both on the initial fund structuring and the subsequent downstream work. ‘Very knowledgeable’ counsel Céline Pignon is also recommended.

Although the corporate team at Hogan Lovells (Luxembourg) LLP is relatively small in comparison with some of its peers, its ‘internal co-ordination across practice areas and jurisdiction is seamless,’ ensuring that it is able to handle some cross-border mandates that belie its size. Much of this work relates to M&A in the real estate sector, where the team regularly works alongside lawyers based out of the firm’s German offices. Team head Alexander Koch is ‘highly responsive and insightful.’

The ‘proficient and skilled’ team at KLEYR GRASSO is particularly accomplished at handling growth equity and venture capital matters from funds and investees. In this regard, the ‘responsive and solutions-focused’ Delphine Tempé and Jérôme Burel continue to regularly advise TA Associates on its downstream investment work. The arrival of the ‘very well reputed’ Pierre-Alexandre Degehet, who joined in June 2023 from BSP, enhances the team in light of his broad expertise which covers private equity structuring and joint ventures, as well as capital markets and corporate governance matters.

The ‘highly responsive’ team at Luther S.A. provides a ‘business-oriented’ service to clients from a range of sectors, including TMT, real estate, gaming, luxury goods, and food and beverages, on ongoing corporate and commercial matters, and transactional matters. Eric Sublon has significant cross-border M&A experience, where he is appreciated for his ‘tailor-made advice’ and ability ‘to identify which Luxembourg law instruments are suitable‘ in each given situation. As part of his transactional offering, as well as handling work for funds clients, Sublon also regularly advises multinational telecommunication corporate Altice on the Luxembourg law structuring associated with its many M&A transactions.

The ‘very professional, efficient and attentive’ team at PwC Legal Luxembourg provides ‘sharp and to-the-point advice’ to domestic and international companies and funds across a broad range of transactional and day-to-day corporate matters. Catherine Baflast spearheads the firm’s M&A efforts, regularly handling buy and sell instructions both in relation to corporate and private equity-led mandates. Jean-Yves Lhommel leads the corporate services offering, handling M&A matters as well as advising multinational corporates on migration projects and internal corporate reorganisations and de-mergers. Both elements of the practice are also enhanced by the firm’s overarching tax advisory expertise and its international network.

 

The ‘very knowledgeable’ team at independent business law-focused boutique TS&P provides a ‘cost-effective service’ which effectively marries corporate and tax structuring prowess to good effect for an impressive and growing roster of European and US-based asset managers. The ‘very responsive and professional’  Torsten Schmitt heads the team that also includes Sabine Brandes, who provides a ‘high-quality work product’ in the context of private equity-led M&A matters, JV structuring and group restructurings.

Less siloed in its approach than many of the firm’s in the ranking, Charles Russell Speechlys' team provides overarching corporate and finance expertise to a mix of funds, corporates and high-net-worth individuals, ensuring a degree of continuity which is appreciated by clients both on transactional and day-to-day corporate and commercial structuring. The ‘very proactive and responsive’ Victor Regnard co-heads the team alongside Jean-Baptiste Beauvoir-Planson.

The ‘small but highly effective and tight-knit team’ at independent boutique CM Law provides ‘high-quality’ advice across a range of corporate and commercial matters, including advice on JVs, shareholders agreements and cross-border M&A mandates, where it frequently collaborates with international law firms. ‘Very experienced’ team head Raphael Collin takes the lead on the transactional work, adding value by virtue of his market insight and ‘360 degree view of Luxembourg and cross-border issues.’ 

Leveraging the firm’s overarching private funds strength and its international network, much of Dechert Luxembourg‘s work centres around cross-border private equity-led transactions. In this context the team, which is co-headed by Marc Seimetz and Jean-Louis Frognet, provides a very fluid offering across both corporate and finance matters.

Often working as part of a cross-office group with lawyers based in other offices throughout the network, Eversheds Sutherland (Luxembourg) LLP provides ‘a pragmatic and business-oriented approach’ to a mix of corporates and funds on the local law structuring elements of cross-border M&A matters. Splitting his time between Luxembourg and Munich, team head Holger Holle is regularly involved in matters with a nexus to Germany, including on TMT and real estate-related matters. The ‘outstanding’ Luis Aguerre Enríquez is also recommended and provides ‘creative and accurate legal advice.’

Felten & Associes provides ‘business sensitive and commercially astute’ advice to domestic and international companies across a range of ongoing corporate and commercial matters associated with conducting business in Luxembourg. Team head Bernard Felten has ‘excellent negotiation skills’ which he deploys to good effect, both at a boardroom level and on international M&A transactions.

GSK Stockmann provides ‘very responsive, pragmatic and commercial’ advice to corporates, SMEs and private equity sponsors across a range of domestic and international corporate, M&A, governance and capital markets matters. Philipp Mößner is appreciated for his ‘clear legal guidance,’ particularly in the context of real estate-related share deals for German clients. Marcus Peter co-heads the team alongside Mößner.

 

MOLITOR Avocats à la Cour SARL provides ‘practical and solutions-oriented advice’ to entities establishing a presence in Luxembourg, as well as in relation to general day-to-day matters, covering governance, commercial contracts and shareholders’ rights, and across a broad range of transactional matters. The practice effectively leans into its other areas of strength, including litigation, ensuring that clients recieve excellent risk management advice and are also well-served in the event of any subsequent disputes. Team head Chan Park is ‘a very high level lawyer’ who is recognised as ‘an excellent negotiator and problem solver.’

Acting on its own but more usually forming part of a multi-office, multi-disciplinary team, Norton Rose Fulbright provides ‘very commercial and responsive advice’ to companies and funds across a range of corporate and commercial work often centring on key underlying areas of industry strength for the firm including transport, financial services, energy and real estate. Luxembourg, Paris and New York-qualified team head Torsten Sauer provides ‘extremely user-friendly’ advice on cross-border M&A and general corporate matters.

 

The ‘hands on and reliable’ team at Ogier provides ‘practical, concise and easily digestible advice’ across a range of transactional and general corporate and commercial work. Much of this is of a cross-border nature, with the team best-known its joined-up advice to private equity and real estate funds on the structuring and execution of complex international transactions. Team head Bertrand Geradin provides ‘excellent advice’ on M&A mandates, as well as recently advising on a considerable volume of restructuring and reorganisation work in light of challenging market conditions. Laurent Thailly is also recommended and has a focus on private equity M&A, including within the travel and healthcare sectors.

Often working in collaboration with the firm’s broader funds, finance and tax teams, Simmons & Simmons in Luxembourg provides ‘genuinely commercial’ advice to the firm’s core roster of investment management clients on downstream investment work and JV structuring associated with private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. ‘Highly practical and commercial’ team head Thierry Somma is a ‘real problem solver, and when faced with a problem he will search for alternative solutions.’

Acting on its own, as well as often working alongside the firm’s accomplished tax team, Strelia provides a ‘flexible and adaptable’ service to clients across a wide array of general corporate advice, corporate reorganisation mandates and M&A transactions. A good deal of the workflow is of a cross-border nature, including for French clients, which the firm is well-placed to advise by virtue of having several dual Luxembourg and French qualified practitioners in the team. Etienne de Crépy is one such practitioner and is noted for his ‘concise and commercial’ advice, including on JV structuring. Vanessa Schmitt is recognised as ‘an absolutely stellar corporate lawyer,’ and along with Michaël Meylan, has enhanced the team’s offering following their arrival from Stibbe in June 2022.

AKD‘s corporate team regularly works alongside its tax team to provide ‘solutions-oriented’ advice to funds and corporates on Luxembourg law structuring associated with cross-border M&A activity. Cédric Bless provides ‘pragmatic and thoughtful advice’ to private equity firms and co-heads the team alongside Nicolas Marchand, who is ‘very experienced in Luxembourg corporate law,’ particularly in the context of the real estate market.

At Brucher Thieltgen & Partners, ‘down-to-earth’ team head Nicolas Bernardy provides ‘commercially minded’ advice to clients across a range of day-to-day governance, as well as increasingly on due diligence associated with M&A transactions.

Drawing upon a ‘deep knowledge of the law’ as well as effective use of legal technology, DSM Avocats à la Cour provides an efficient service to funds and corporates seeking advice across a range of transactional and day-to-day corporate and commercial matters, including as it relates to corporate governance and compliance. The ‘responsive and technically excellent’ Renaud Le Squeren regularly handles corporate work in the TMT space, including advice on commercial issues and digitisation projects, as well as on M&A in the sector. Managing partner Mario Di Stefano co-heads the team alongside Le Squeren, with both also regularly involved in real estate-related corporate matters.

Spearheaded by Marjorie Allo, Maples Group‘s partner-led team provides ‘effective and solutions-oriented advice’ to private equity firms and real estate funds, in particular, on cross border and joint venture transactions. Allo regularly advises US-based private equity heavyweight Bain Capital on the Luxembourg structuring aspects associated with its cross-border investments.

Although it is a newcomer to the market, Pinsent Masons has quickly gained traction as a result of existing client ties from ex-Wildgen members who joined following its dissolution in June 2022, and the ability to effectively leverage the firm’s international network. Isabelle Charlier and Yann Payen co-head the team and have longstanding experience advising domestic and international clients on cross-border group restructurings, corporate governance, M&A matters and joint ventures.

White & Case S.à r.l.'s fledgling Luxembourg office regularly works alongside European offices allowing the firm the ability to provide a one-stop-shop service offering to funds and corporates on large cross-border M&A mandates. Thierry Bosly and Thomas Glauden, who split their time between Brussels and Luxembourg, co-head the practice.