Oliver Felsenstein, Global Chair of the Private Equity & Investment Funds Practice and a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee, helps private equity firms navigate every stage of the investment life cycle, from acquisition through exit. Widely recognized among the world’s leading private equity lawyers, Mr. Felsenstein advises private equity firms on many of their largest and most complex transactions involving target companies in Germany and internationally. His several decades of experience span well more than 100 completed transactions exceeding €100 billion in value across a diverse range of industries, including technology, industrials, and healthcare. A strong relationship builder and keen strategist, Mr. Felsenstein serves as a trusted advisor to many of the world’s most prominent private equity clients. He brings a commercial perspective to clients’ most significant business challenges and drives consensus in negotiations. Mr. Felsenstein regularly leads large, international Latham teams and acts as the primary liaison for clients throughout all phases of a transaction. Mr. Felsenstein is a member of the curatorship of the Foundation Deutsche Sporthilfe, an organization supporting the German Olympic team.
Europe - Germany • Private equity
Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP assists clients with mid- and large-cap transactions, where the team regularly draws on the international network in cross-border transactions. Here, practice head Burc Hesse focuses on cross-border leveraged buy-out transactions. Other key contacts are Oliver Felsenstein, who comprehensively advises private equity companies on the entire investment value chain, and Rainer Traugott, who acts at the corporate law interface. The team’s industry expertise was strengthened with the additions of Alexander Rieger (infrastructure) from Hogan Lovells International LLP in May 2023 and Carsten Loll (real estate) from Linklaters in October 2022; both joined with a team of associates. Transaction expert Stephan Hufnagel made partner in January 2023, while M&A expert Stefan Widder joined Gleiss Lutz in September 2023.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Wide range of experience and expertise; Strong ability to process cross-border transactions. '
'Extremely competent, reliable and always able to bring in very competent colleagues from other countries.'
'Burc Hesse is an extremely experienced and commercially minded lawyer who thinks and acts in the interests of his clients.'
'Strong PE practice; very high quality standard. Always commercial, practical and solution-oriented advice.'
'Rainer Traugott, Oliver Felsenstein, Stephan Hufnagel are all prime examples of an excellent consultant.'
Key clients
- Activant Capital
- Advent
- Apollo
- Ardian
- Bregal Unternehmerkapital
- CVC Capital Partners (CVC)
- DBAG
- DPE Deutsche Private Equity
- EMZ Partners
- Global Infrastructure Partners / KKR
- HANNOVER Finanz
- Hg
- IK Partners
- L Catterton
- Oakley Capital
- OMERS
- PAI Partners
- Partners Group
- Perusa Partners
- TA Associates
Work highlights
- Advising Advent International on the establishment of a global joint venture for technical high-performance polymers with the specialty chemicals group LANXESS.
- Advised Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) & KKR in connection with a strategic partnership with Vodafone to invest in Vantage Towers, a telecommunications tower company in Europe.
- Advising Apollo Global Management on a €1 billion structured/preferred equity investment in a portfolio of high-quality residential properties held by Vonovia and valued at €3.3 billion.
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.
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Burc Hesse