Pinsent Masons announces launch of Frankfurt presence

The Frankfurt office will focus on the technology, energy and real estate sectors initially as well developing a financial services offering.

The firm's newest location in Germany will be founded by six highly regarded partners in the Frankfurt market:

Dr. Volker Balda joins from KPMG Law where he was M&A head for Germany and co-head of the global corporate law practice. As a highly regarded M&A transactional lawyer, Dr. Balda has advised German and international clients on landmark transactions and reorganisations in the German market, including advising Itzehoher Versicherungen on the acquisition of the defence insurance business from Alte Leipziger Versicherung

Dr. Markus J Friedl joins from Dechert, where he advised clients on national and cross-border M&A transactions and restructurings. He has significant experience advising on regulations for foreign investors in Germany.

Ronald Meiβner joins from Oppenhoff & Partners where he advised German and international clients on cross-border M&A and joint venture projects as well as on group structures and corporate restructurings and reorganisations.

Dr. Tobias Nuβ joins from Beiten Burkhardt where he was a real estate transaction specialist advising on cross-border transactions as well as national and international clients on all aspects of real estate and corporate structuring.

Dr. Nils Rauer, joins from Hogan Lovells where he led the global copyright group. Nils specialises in the field of IP and IT, notably copyright law, protection and exploitation of digital assets and data. Highly experienced in strategic and litigious matters, Dr. Rauer has achieved landmark decisions both on national and EU level before the CJEU. Most recently, he has focussed on the implementation of the Digital Single Market, the utilization of data in the context of industry 4.0, as well as the challenges of geo-blocking, portability of online content and GDPR-related matters. Amongst his clients are world-leading ISPs, VOD and music providers, car manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies as well as institutions from the educational sector.

Sven Schulte-Hillen was previously at Dechert where he advised German and international clients on complex multi-jurisdictional acquisition and finance transactions, often involving major industrial operations and corporate structures globally. In addition to M&A, he also advises clients in distressed situations and on German insolvency.

This will be the third office that Pinsent Masons has opened in Germany in the last six years, following the launch of Munich in 2012 and Düsseldorf in 2016. Since establishing its presence in Germany, Pinsent Masons has now grown to a headcount of over 180 people, consisting of 38 partners and over 100 lawyers, and is ranked one of the top 50 law firms in Germany by influential legal publisher, JUVE.

The German offices have advised on a series of standout deals in the region, including advising German tech 'unicorn' ABOUT YOU (an unlisted US$1bn company) on a US$300m funding deal, completing three Frankfurt Stock Exchange IPOs, and advising Redefine International PLC on the disposal of a German retail portfolio of 66 properties for EUR 205 million.

Over the last 12 months, the firm appointed Eike Grunert in Munich and Jochen Pörtge in Düsseldorf to foster the firms global compliance and white collar investigations offering, Martin Eimer to its international finance & projects team, Marc Salevic to its global TMT practice, and Dr. Thomas Peschke in Düsseldorf to further expand the firm´s M&A capabilities in Germany and beyond.

Richard Foley, senior partner of Pinsent Masons, commented:

"Our vision is to be recognised as an international market leader in the global sectors in which we operate and our success in Germany over the last six years demonstrates that our clients value the sector specialism that we bring to the market. Pinsent Masons is a firm that grows together with clients, collaborating to drive innovation and change within their industries. Broadening our presence in the region enhances our ability to deliver this across Germany."

Rainer Kreifels, head of Pinsent Masons in Germany added:

"Establishing a presence in Frankfurt has been part of our vision for Germany from the outset. The new office in addition to our Munich and Düsseldorf locations will increase the strength and depth of our offering for clients locally and internationally. Our team in Germany has deep sector specialism, which is a core component of the commercial and legal advice we provide to clients. This will be further enhanced as we broaden our reach across the German market."