6
M&A
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP advises national and international blue chips, major German corporations and private equity companies, primarily from the insurance, industrial, infrastructure and energy sectors, on mid-cap transactions and joint ventures. This also reflects the focus of practice head Sönke Becker, while Christian Johnen, who made partner in May 2023, focuses on advising financial investors and family-run companies. Nico Abel (M&A in the financial, technology and energy sectors) joined Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in September 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Christian Johnen and Sönke Becker impressively represented the client's interests and ensured the high quality of the documentation.'
- 'Sönke Becker: One of the best negotiators there is on the market. Always on task, even in the final stages of a deal. He knows when to pass the ball to others and is strategically and rhetorically brilliant.'
- 'The team has distinguished itself through its enormous competence, willingness to perform, availability and sympathy.'
Work highlights
- Advising Lufthansa Group on the sale of its global catering division LSG Group to private equity company Aurelius Group.
- Advising APEX Group, a leading developer and operator of green hydrogen electrolysis plants, on the sale of all shares in the company to Prime Standard-listed investment holding company exceet Group SCA.
- Advising Rheinmetall AG on concluding a purchase agreement with MaxamCorp. Holding SL, Madrid, to acquire all shares in Expal Systems SA.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sönke Becker