Latham & Watkins LLP > Munich, Germany > Firm Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Germany > Antitrust Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP has a high level of expertise in the areas of digitisation and technology, where the representation of Meta in connection with the §19a GWB as well as the Digital Market Act was a significant mandate. Other mainstays include the advice on market power abuse matters and cartel damages compensation claims as well as internal investigations, antitrust litigation and the advice on alleged antitrust violations. This offering is complemented with expertise in transaction-related antitrust law, including FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) and FSR (Fusion Control Regulation). The key contacts include Max Hauser, who is experienced in cartel disputes, litigator Michael Esser and Jan Christoph Höft (merger control and defense against cartel damages claims). Jana Dammann de Chapto, who is experienced in merger and investment control, joined the partner roster in March 2024.

Banking and finance > Lending and borrowing Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP follows a cross-practice and cross-location approach and, accordingly, offers comprehensive advice to borrowers and lenders on all financing and restructuring matters, with the team being particularly well versed in acquisition and infrastructure financing. Matters in the acquisition financing area are handled by direct lending specialist Thomas Weitkamp thanks to his close client relationships with various private debt and private equity funds, while Alexandra Hagelüken, who is qualified in German and English law, regularly advises on the financing of international M&A transactions. Sibylle Münch is a key contact for infrastructure financing across the fiber optic, freight transport and energy sectors, while Cora Grannemann complements this with expertise in acquisition and corporate financing as well as capital markets law.

Capital markets > Debt capital markets

High-yield advice represents a particular strength of Latham & Watkins LLP's practice, especially in the real estate sector the DACH region. This partly due to its integrated corporate finance approach as well as its extensive expertise under German, English and US law. This skill set is also called upon for the set up of high-yield products in the European market as well as in the context of innovative financing solutions, including sustainable financing such as green bonds and sustainability-linked bonds. Led by Rüdiger Malaun, the team primarily acts for corporates and sponsors, although its client base also includes banks. Malaun is supported by, among others, Alexander Lentz, who also comprehensively covers the high-yield and leveraged finance areas.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences

Information technology > Data protection Tier 1

Latham & Watkins LLP impresses with market-leading support in fines and claims for damages in connection with data breaches, which was most recently demonstrated in various proceedings before the European Court of Justice. Other mainstays include the advice on the deletion of data and information claims as well as the support in internal investigations and cross-border administrative proceedings. Practice head Tim Wybitul comprehensively advises on all aspects of data protection, cyber and technology law and most recently took the lead in proceedings before German and European data protection authorities pertaining to the processing of biometric data in the context of iris scans. Isabelle Brams also focuses on administrative and court proceedings and complements this with expertise in employee data protection. Ulrich Wuermeling retired in 2023.

Private equity > Transactions

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.

Banking and finance > Financial services: regulatory Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP impresses with the support for sector-specific M&A matters, including private equity transactions, where the team regularly advises on cross-border matters, while the assistance with investigations and enforcement proceedings of the ECB and BaFin is another core competence. Markus Krüger and Axel Schiemann regularly cover both segments and jointly lead the team, both are also well versed in regulatory and payment transaction law in connection with fintech matters.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP's fintech experts act integrated into the financial institutions group, which is jointly headed by Axel Schiemann (crypto assets and fintech innovations) and Markus Krüger, who is well versed in transaction support to financial and fintech companies. Thanks to the international network, the team regularly acts across borders on behalf of investors, financial institutions and fintech companies and has recently increasingly been instructed by crypto trading platforms. Other mainstays include the advice on blockchain and cryptocurrency, the Payment Service Directive, transactions, data protection and the implementation of new business models; the practice also impresses with client-oriented tools.

Corporate and M&A > M&A

Latham & Watkins LLP's strength lies in cross-border matters and particularly transatlantic transactions, which is not least due to its close cross-location cooperation with offices in Europe and the US. The practice operates in both the large and mid-cap sectors and advises large German and international companies, including various listed companies, as well as investors, who often stem from the technology, healthcare, life sciences, energy and infrastructure sectors. The group is headed by Heiko Gotsche, who regularly advises listed and family-owned companies on joint ventures, reorganisations and carve-outs. Other key contacts include Rainer Traugott, who frequently assists PE houses and infrastructure investors, and Alexander Stefan Rieger, who focuses on energy and infrastructure and has been heading the continental European corporate practice since September 2024. M&A and PE expert Tobias Larisch (sector focus on energy and infrastructure) joined Kirkland & Ellis International LLP in September 2024.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP regularly acts for a range of clients, including PE houses, portfolio companies and DAX companies, in international arbitration and mediation proceedings under all arbitration rules, including commercial and investment arbitration and post-M&A disputes. Led by practice head Christoph A. Baus, the team focuses on complex commercial disputes, while Alena McCorkle has extensive expertise in arbitration proceedings, including post-M&A disputes. Anne Löhner advises companies and PE funds in complex arbitration proceedings, including commercial disputes and mass litigation.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 2

Numerous renowned companies, particularly in the technology, financial services and automotive industries, routinely rely on Latham & Watkins LLP's dispute resolution practice for complex commercial and insolvency-related disputes, competition and antitrust damages claims and insurance-related conflicts. Practice head Christoph A Baus is considered the key contact for commercial disputes, while Alena McCorkle is particularly active in consumer claims, mass litigation and post-M&A disputes. In addition to representing clients in often cross-border commercial conflicts, Anne Löhner has extensive expertise in mass litigation, post-M&A and shareholder disputes. Stefan Patzer, who made partner in March 2024, is dedicated to contentious commercial, competition and cartel matters.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 2

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 2

Latham & Watkins LLP's Restructuring & Special Situations practice offers longstanding expertise in financial and operational restructuring, including cross-border restructuring, as well as in insolvency matters and distressed M&A. Practice head Frank Grell also focuses on financial and operational restructuring and complements this with expertise in insolvency-related litigation and refinancing, which is regularly called upon by debtors, creditors and insolvency administrators. In May 2024, the restructuring experts Jörn Kowalewski, Ulrich Klockenbrink and counsel Hendrik Hauke ​​moved to Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 3

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 3

Through its integration into the international network, the German real estate practice of Latham & Watkins LLP routinely assists US private equity firms with cross-border portfolio transactions, although it continues to also advise on the restructuring of real estate portfolios, including office and residential properties. Practice co-head Carsten Loll is equally committed to advice to private equity clients, asset managers and institutional investors on large transactions across the office, retail and logistics asset classes, as well as assistance with M&A-related real estate issues in the energy and healthcare sectors, among others. Alongside him, Otto von Gruben is one of the key contacts for real estate transactions, particularly for preferred and structured equity structures. Commercial tenancy law issues are handled by counsel Sven Nickel, although he also assists with transactions.

Germany > Tax Tier 4

Compliance Tier 5

Latham & Watkins LLP's traditional strength in transaction support also extends to preventive compliance matters, where the team advises on due diligence, corporate governance and whistleblower systems. This is complemented by expertise in ESG and supply chain due diligence as well as misconduct in the workplace matters. The practice is jointly led by Thomas Grützner (criminal law and internal investigations) and Tim Wybitul (regulatory proceedings and data protection). Former co-practice head Tobias Larisch (corporate governance, corporate law and M&A) moved to Kirkland & Ellis International LLP in mid 2024.

Compliance > Internal investigations Tier 5

Latham & Watkins LLP offers forensic expertise in domestic and cross-border matters, which includes white collar crime as well as related data protection, regulatory, antitrust, employment and corporate law issues. The team assists with alleged billing fraud and misconduct in the workplace as well as ESG, supply chains, sanctions and embargoes. Thomas Grützner (human rights and HR compliance) heads the practice with Tim Wybitul, who is well versed in data protection and whistleblower systems. Former co-head Tobias Larisch (corporate governance, corporate law and M&A) moved to Kirkland & Ellis International LLP mid 2024.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 5

Germany > Employment Tier 6