Norton Rose Fulbright > Hamburg, Germany > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

Transport > Maritime and shipping

Industry focus > Energy Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright is experienced in national and cross-border transactions, including the financing of energy projects. In January 2024, the firm strengthened its regulatory competencies with the arrival of Valerian von Richthofen from Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB. The team is well versed in ​​renewable energies and regularly instructed by financial investors, banks and energy companies on matters pertaining to geothermal energy, green hydrogen and charging infrastructure. The practice is led by Klaus Bader, who focuses on transactions in the energy sector as well as joint ventures and restructuring. M&A expert Sebastian Frech moved to GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in March 2024.

Transport > Advice to the transport sector Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright's transport practice offers combined expertise in ​​asset financing, including the advice to banks, airlines and lessors on the acquisition of new aircraft, as well as experience in supporting PPP projects pertaining to the rail transport sector. Timo Noftz is a key contact here and advises on ship, aircraft and train financing. In addition to Noftz, Markus Radbruch has further expertise in aircraft financing and supports lessors in connection with airline insolvencies. Dirk Trautmann assists public sector clients with PPP projects, including infrastructure and energy projects, and also advises private sector clients on transactions pertaining to the transport sector. Michael Jürgen Werner covers German and EU antitrust law matters across the aviation, rail and public transport sectors as well as related litigation.

Banking and finance > Project finance Tier 3

National and international banks as well as energy companies regularly instruct Norton Rose Fulbright. The team recently acted in frequent cooperation with the corporate and M&A team in connection with national and international geothermal, hydrogen, onshore wind, solar and photovoltaic projects. Other core topics include the financing of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles as well as various projects from the infrastructure sector. Munich-based practice head Dirk Trautmann is experienced in structured project financing.

Banking and finance > Real estate finance Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright's real estate finance practice acts integrated into the real estate practice headed by Maren Stölting and supports family offices, financial institutions, funds, asset managers and investment companies in financing in connection with real estate transactions and project developments. These frequently include cross-border aspects and are supported across all asset classes, with most recent instructions pertaining to office, retail, residential and logistics. The expertise in restructuring and distressed real estate complements this offering.

Capital markets > Debt capital markets Tier 3

Banks in particular instruct Norton Rose Fulbright in the DCM area and seek advice on the issuance and restructuring of bonds as well as the launch and updating of issuance programs, such as EMTN programs, debt issuance programs and commercial paper programs. Christoph Enderstein, who often takes the lead in these matters, is also an expert in related regulatory issues as well as ESG-related matters and jointly heads the capital markets practice with Frank Regelin, who focuses on ECM. Alongside banks, the firm also assists issuers, most recently particularly often in the automotive sector.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright's cross-border litigation practice has extensive expertise in complex commercial, distribution and corporate disputes and is also active in conflicts arising from insolvency-related damages claims. The practice is jointly led by Jamie Nowak, who is instructed by companies to assist with corporate, commercial, liability, insurance and general commercial conflicts, and Christian Wolf, who focuses on banking and financial services-related disputes. The team also frequently handles contentious real estate and patent cases as well as high-volume product liability proceedings. Nikolas Smirra, who made partner in January 2024, concentrates on contentious product liability matters, product recalls and international commercial and distribution issues as well as commercial disputes.

Insurance > Advice to insurers Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright's insurance practice advises insurers and brokers on W&I policies as well as regulatory and contractual issues. The practice is routinely instructed on regulatory requirements and relevant corporate law issues as well as licensing, product design and distribution issues. These capacities correspond with the key strengths of practice head Anne Fischer, who specialises in M&A transactions, corporate law and regulatory matters; she is also well versed in advising insurtechs.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright advises investors and real estate funds on cross-border individual and portfolio transactions in the office, logistics and hotel asset classes, among others. Transactional advice is complemented by expertise in related financing measures and project developments as well as tenancy law skills; thus, the group is also instructed by companies and asset managers to assist with asset leasing. Maren Stölting heads the German and the wider EMEA team and advises investors, funds and insurers on real estate transactions as well as project developments and tenancy and leasing law issues. Stefan Feuerriegel heads the global real estate practice and specialises in portfolio transactions, including club deals.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright is experienced in advising companies from the automotive, real estate and healthcare sectors on national and cross-border financial restructuring and increasingly supports creditors and creditors' committees. Other mainstays include the advice on reorganisation, distressed transactions and interfacing insolvency law matters; here, Sylwia Maria Bea-Pulverich is a key contact, she also covers issues at the interface with corporate law. Bea-Pulverich jointly heads the practice with Oliver Sutter, who routinely advises banks, sponsors and companies on recapitalisation and financial restructuring.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 4

Under the leadership of Frank Regelin and Benedikt Gillessen, both experienced in capital market transactions as well as corporate and public M&A-related matters, Norton Rose Fulbright recently advised banks and issuers on delisting acquisition offers, capital increases, IPOs and hybrid instruments. In cooperation with the London office, the group also houses US securities law capabilities.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 4

Norton Rose Fulbright advises management and supervisory boards, multinational companies, financial investors and medium-sized companies on cross-border restructurings and changes of legal status, general meetings, corporate governance and ongoing corporate issues. Sector-wise, the practice often acts in the energy, infrastructure, automotive and real estate industries. In addition to public takeovers, practice head Nils Rahlf also routinely handles M&A, PE and VC transactions. In January 2024, the firm lost Marina Arntzen (corporate law and ESG) to Ashurst LLP, followed by Sebastian Frech (reorganisations, restructurings, joint ventures) to GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB a month later.

Corporate and M&A > M&A Tier 4

German and international corporations from the energy, insurance, technology and automotive sectors regularly rely on Norton Rose Fulbright's M&A expertise in mid-cap transactions, including distressed M&A and related restructuring measures, joint ventures, carve-outs and divestments. Clients also benefit from cross-practice and cross-location collaboration. Nils Rahlf, who is experienced in cross-border M&A, PE and VC transactions, heads the practice and is supported by Katrin Stieß, who frequently assists technology companies and financial investors, among others. While the group welcomed Valerian von Richthofen (M&A in the energy sector) from Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB in January 2024, it also saw Sven Schweneke (cross-border M&A and PE transactions) leave for Taylor Wessing in May 2024.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 5

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.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 5

Private equity > Transactions Tier 5

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.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 6

Norton Rose Fulbright's antitrust practice boasts expertise in antitrust investigations and disputes, including cartel damages proceedings, compliance, market power abuse issues and transaction-related support, including merger and investment control as well as matters pertaining to FSR. Practice head Tim Schaper is experienced in distribution antitrust law and cooperations with competitors, while Jens Steger has expertise in antitrust litigation; the latter joined the team from K&L Gates LLP in February 2024.

Compliance Tier 6

Norton Rose Fulbright is regularly instructed by international companies from the industrial, aviation, automotive and consumer goods sectors on matters pertaining to the prevention of money laundering, corruption and fraud. The team is also experienced in the implementation of compliance management systems and supply chain due diligence. Practice head Alexander Cappel too focuses on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering matters. In February 2024, Jens Steger (antitrust compliance, compliance management systems) joined the team from K&L Gates LLP.

Germany > Tax Tier 6