Clifford Chance comprehensively covers regulatory matters and frequently acts in close cooperation with the capital markets and financing teams in the advice on product-specific regulatory law. The mainstays include the support in transactions and mergers, with most recent instructions pertaining to special regulatory audits and investigations by or on behalf of supervisory authorities such as the European Central Bank and BaFin. Here, practice head Marc Benzler frequently took the lead; he also supports financial institutions in connection with the incorporation of banks and their subsidiaries, including licensing, market entry and compliance issues. He is supported by senior counsel Kerstin Schaepersmann, who boasts similar competencies.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Clifford Chance has a very broad legal expertise and unparalleled market knowledge. '

  • 'Good flow.'

  • 'A team with a broad range of personnel and expertise in banking law (and related areas). The teams can be quickly scaled if necessary.'

  • 'Marc Benzler: Excellent in the cross-border and cross-topic coordination of different CC partners and locations; billing design and control in the interests of the client; broad specialist knowledge in banking law and related areas.'

  • 'Kerstin Schaepersmann is a very well-founded organizational talent.'

Key clients

  • Bundesverband deutscher Banken
  • NatWest Bank
  • Oldenburgische Landesbank AG
  • LBS West & LBS Nord
  • EUREX Clearing AG

Work highlights

  • Advising Oldenburgische Landesbank (OLB) on the acquisition of Degussa Bank AG. The transaction is subject to the usual regulatory approvals, including approval by the ECB and BaFin. The acquisition has now been approved and the team is now advising on the integration.
  • Advising a credit institution on regulatory measures regarding a special audit of risk management by BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank as well as a special audit of securities trading business by an auditing firm on behalf of BaFin.
  • Advising a global financial investor on its majority stake in a credit institution directly supervised by the ECB, including advice on management, dialogue with the ECB, admissibility of dividend payments, and bank organisation, governance and internal rules.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Marc Benzler
Hall of fameClifford Chance
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Kerstin Schaepersmann
Clifford Chance

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Marc Benzler