Drawing upon an 'extensive knowledge of both current trends and likely future approaches to matters', the 'exceptional' team at A&O Shearman provides 'top quality legal advice' to a raft of blue riband sponsors across the full spectrum of corporate advice, including M&A transactions, disposals and exits. Across all these areas the team often works alongside other practitioners throughout the international network and excels in providing a joined-up and holistic service (often including tax and finance input) on major cross-border transactions. 'Based on his deep knowledge and experience', both on a fee-earning front and his role as a board member of the Luxembourg Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (LPEA), Peter Myners is able to provide 'outstanding' advice across both the corporate aspects of Luxembourg investment platforms and pursuant downstream investments. In his role as overarching corporate head, Fabian Beullekens handles a significant amount of buy and sell-side private equity work, and Jacques Graas provides 'very efficient, knowledgeable and responsive' advice to financial sponsors /sovereign wealth funds on the Luxembourg law advice pursuant to large-scale cross-border transactions. Sylvain Cailleau is also key to the team's success in the sector and is recognised by one client as 'their "secret weapon" who is taking even the most complicating cases and always finding a solution'.

Led by Adrian Aldinger , Arendt & Medernach's 'proactive, hardworking and smart' multidisciplinary team has the strength-in-depth and resources to handle a tremendous range and volume of work for many of the largest global private equity sponsors, from the initial fund structuring, ongoing regulatory advice and on the pursuant downstream M&A. Laurent Schummer has wide-ranging sectoral knowledge (including in tech-heavy industries) which he implements to good effect on venture capital/growth capital mandates through to core private equity leveraged buyout (LBO) work. Pierre Beissel has deep insight into the private equity space not only through the institutional knowledge garnered through his many years' in private practice but also his affiliation with major trade associations, including the LPEA.

Closely integrated with the office's investment management and tax groups as well as the firm's broader international resources, Clifford Chance is well-positioned to provide 'technically excellent' advice to high-profile international sponsors, including Permira, KKR and EQT, on the Luxembourg aspects of many big-ticket cross-border M&A transactions. This  globally integrated, multi-disciplinary approach was recently exemplified by the firm's representation of BlackRock on its $12.5bn acquisition of Global lnfrastructure Partners, involving as it did corporate and regulatory advice from Luxembourg, London and Europe. Katia Gauzès had a key role in the aforementioned mandate and successfully balances her duties as office managing partner with a still thriving fee-earning practice. Saskia Myners is well-versed at advising funds on their own or as part of a co-investment strategy across a wide range of sectors, including energy, infrastructure and real estate. Christian Kremer is also recommended.

Working directly with sponsor clients as well as in a referral capacity from international law firms, longstanding independent Luxembourg heavyweight firm Elvinger Hoss Prussen is regularly engaged to advise on the domestic law advice pursuant to many large cross-border M&A transactions. Praised for her ability to provide 'technically excellent and creative' advice, Toinon Hoss is a favourite among many large financial sponsors, including Cinven and Hellman & Friedman, on complex transactions involving nuanced structuring and is recognised by one client as 'the Luxembourg lawyer you want in your corner'. Anna Hermelinski-Ayache 'is always available to address any queries' on the buy or sell-side and is a key member of the practice that also includes Katia Panichi, who co-heads the team alongside Hoss.

Providing 'solutions-oriented and pragmatic advice' at all levels of seniority, Linklaters' Luxembourg team is a key component of the firm's overarching global private equity practice, regularly being plugged in to provide the relevant domestic law advice on large M&A transactions spanning multiple jurisdictions. The team, which is now headed by the 'creative and commercial' Rémy Bonneau, following the retirement in May 2024 of Nicolas Gauzès, is appreciated for its close working arrangement with clients, which according to one, feels more akin to being an 'extension of our legal department rather than the use of a third party service provider'. Bonneau excels in navigating through complicated and unusual structures both for financial sponsors acting on their own as well as part of a co-investment strategy, and is also well-versed in advising on portfolio company restructuring matters.

Enhanced by the firm's complementary funds, tax and finance offerings, Loyens & Loeff is well-placed to provide 'solutions-oriented' advice to private equity firms across the panoply of their needs, from advice on the initial fundraising project, advising on the Luxembourg investment vehicle to facilitate the downstream M&A, and on the exit process. Under the leadership of Marc Meyers and Frédéric Franckx, the team has established excellent ties with a multitude of US and UK international law firms, in particular, which regularly refer work to it to advise on the relevant Luxembourg structuring associated with complex cross-border mandates by virtue of the firm's ability to provide 'very clear and seamless solutions for the execution of complex transactions and processes'. With strong connections within the Luxembourg ecosystem, as a result of connections built up through many years' fee-earning and through trade body leadership roles, the 'very knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic' Mathilde Lattard has developed strong ties with many leading financial sponsors including EQT and Capvis, acting for the former on a host of acquisitions and divestitures during 2024. Drawing from 'a wealth of experience and insight' as a partner, Frédéric Lemoine also handles work for the aforementioned clients, recently advising Capvis on the  €130m sale of portfolio company, Visable, to Alibaba. Combining corporate and restructuring skills, UK and Luxembourg-qualified partner Michael Scott regularly advises on distressed M&A matters for sponsors, as well as often being engaged in corporate restructuring work for portfolio clients. Ana Andreiana also handles some distressed investment work (and restructurings) as well as conventional private equity-led M&A and exits via IPO.

Co-headed by Cedric Bless and Nicolas Marchand, the corporate team at Benelux firm AKD continues to perform well in the private equity market since opening its doors almost a decade ago. In particular, it has developed robust ties with a number of major international law firms acting as local counsel on large cross-border M&A deals, as well as generating some increasingly strong ties directly with a number of major financial sponsors, including Bridgepoint and Pictet Alternative Advisors.

Baker McKenzie's cross-disciplinary private equity group, which draws from the office's corporate, tax and investment funds practice areas, handles work for sponsors throughout their investment life-cycle. On the downstream investment front, the team regularly works alongside other offices from the firm's expansive international network to provide a one-stop-shop service on cross-border mandates. Jean-François Findling is key to the firm's M&A in the sector, including for private equity funds acquiring assets in the financial services sector and for infrastructure funds on their transactional work. Elodie Duchêne also handles a considerable amount of private equity-related investment work, as well as regularly providing advice on management incentive plans.

Leveraging strong ties with a number of leading private equity sponsors, as well as being a popular choice among international law firms serving in the role as local counsel on big-ticket cross-border mandates, BSP continues to receive a significant flow of work in the sector. Within the 'dedicated, hardworking and efficient' team a number of individual practitioners have developed strong and loyal ties with some leading players, including practice head Linda Harroch who remains Advent's go-to practitioner for Luxembourg investment structuring. Michaël Kitai is also a key member of the team and has nurtured an excellent relationship with Goldman Sachs' asset management division, regularly advising it on Luxembourg-related issues pursuant to their cross-border transactional work.

Deploying a multi-disciplinary approach to work in the sector, CMS utilises the expertise of corporate and funds lawyers to provide a 'very reactive and professional' service on behalf of a strong and growing roster of private equity sponsor clients. While it does generate some of its own work, many of the instructions flow from other offices at the firm, with the CEE region a particularly fertile source. Key practitioners include head of corporate Gérard Maîtrejean and Pawel Hermelinski, who both handle private equity-related M&A and JV transactions.

Gaining greater visibility and a broader field of expertise since recently rebranding as Mourant, legacy private equity boutique Lexfield is even better-equipped to handle referral work from a loyal roster of international law firms, in particular, on the Luxembourg structuring aspects of complex cross-border M&A mandates. ‘A true mastermind in the Luxembourg private equity legal sphere’, team head Aldric Grosjean stands out for ‘his exceptional experience and knowledge on cross-border complex transactions’. Jan Dobrzensky, who joined in May 2024 from Arendt & Medernach also enhances the team in light of his ‘excellent knowledge of the private equity market’.

NautaDutilh is well-versed at handling a myriad private equity transactional work, including on behalf of some high-profile and loyal sponsors, with work running the gamut from advice on LBOs and public-to-private transactions through to secondary transactions and exits through an IPO process. The majority of the work is of a cross-border nature, and as well as regularly acting alongside international law firms as co-counsel, the team is also able to provide a one-stop-shop service on Benelux-centred mandates by virtue of also having lawyers based in Brussels and Amsterdam. Team head Margaretha Wilkenhuysen regularly handles private equity-led M&A and is also adept at advising portfolio companies on restructuring matters. Other key members of the team include Caroline Notté, who often handles work for Partners Group, and Romain Sabatier, whose workflow includes conventional and distressed M&A for fund clients.

Delivering 'very high quality legal advice in a timely fashion', Stibbe's three-partner M&A/private equity team maintains strong ties with a number of loyal high-profile financial sponsors, as well as oftentimes advising on the Luxembourg law aspects of cross-border matters in collaboration with international firms based in the US and UK, in particular. Clients also benefit from access to tax, fund structuring and finance experts within the office with deep knowledge in the private equity sector, ensuring that they are well-served throughout the life-cycle of a deal. 'Outstanding' team head Gérald Origer has excellent market credentials as result of his ability to provide 'accurate and valuable' advice to the likes of KKR and Investindustrial on complex cross-border transactions. Bernard Beerens is also key to the firm's private equity-led M&A work, including within the telecoms and tech sectors, while Claire-Marie Darnand rounds out the team at a partner level.

The 'very hands-on and flexible' team at independent Luxembourg law firm Bonn & Schmitt has, over the years, established a strong reputation among referring law firms and directly from sponsors for its ability to advise on corporate matters throughout the life cycle of a transaction, from acquisition to sale.  local and cross-border acquisitions. Senior counsel Chantal Keereman and Cédric Bellwald are highly skilled in structuring private equity transactions using Luxembourg investment holding platforms. Keereman is also particularly adept at handling restructuring work in this area.

Since recently establishing as a spin-off firm from the now defunct Wildgen, Brouxel & Rabia Luxembourg Law Firm has made a strong impact in the investment fund sector. Founding partner Samia Rabia , 'who offers the flexibility and availability needed for M&A-related private equity deals', has been particularly active and involved in some significant transactions in the EU involving a Luxembourg nexus.

Mirroring the firm's overarching strength in the private equity field, Dechert Luxembourg is 'up to date on all new and upcoming regulations and changes in Luxembourg and the EU', ensuring that the office is well-placed to work alongside other core offices, including London, to provide the Luxembourg structuring on cross-border M&A mandates. Team head Jean-Louis Frognet is well-versed at setting up Luxembourg vehicles for private equity, as well as advising on the underlying transactional work.

Deploying a transversal approach which leverages the firm's M&A, funds, tax and finance offerings, PwC Legal Luxembourg provides 'solutions-oriented and pragmatic' advice to private equity funds across a wide range of their structuring and investment needs. The 'responsive and focused' Catherine Baflast is key to the team's success in the space, regularly advising private equity clients on the establishment, acquisition, and sale of investment structures, targets, and joint ventures.

Increasingly focused on private equity-led M&A work since the arrival of Michaël Meylan and Vanessa Schmitt from Stibbe in June 2022, the 'outstanding' team at business law firm boutique Strelia 'stands out for its seamless combination of legal excellence with a highly client-focused approach'. Under their expert leadership, as well as providing some advice as lead counsel (particularly on sell side roles), the team regularly works alongside international law firms providing the relevant Luxembourg structuring pursuant to cross-border M&A transactions, including a considerable amount with a French connection.

Playing an increasingly important role within the firm's global private equity offering since it was formally established in March 2022, White & Case S.à r.l.'s small team provides 'commercially minded and pragmatic' advice to institutional firmwide sponsor clients, including CVC and Oaktree, on the applicable Luxembourg structuring in relation to global M&A transactions. Thomas Glauden takes the lead on much of the work, regularly working alongside colleagues from key European offices, including London, on real estate and infrastructure projects, inter alia. Splitting his time between Brussels and Luxembourg, Thierry Bosly co-heads the team alongside Glauden and has particularly strong ties with Belgian private equity sponsors.