Germany

Our banking and finance experts support banks, investors and corporates on complex financing transactions, including structured finance, asset-backed lending, refinancings and debt investments, delivering strategic advice across domestic and cross-border matters.

• Advised Hertz on the inaugural term securitisation of its vehicle rental fleet in Germany and refinancings – the first time in Europe that public investment grade ratings have been achieved for a vehicle rental securitisation.
• Advised HSBC on the AAA rated securitisation of truck leases and the residual value of trucks in the UK operated by a leading German truck manufacturer.
• Advised The Royal Bank of Scotland plc on their accession to a pan European bank financing of Europcar’s vehicle rental fleet in Germany.
• Advised CarVal on the financing of a non-performing loan (NPL) purchase from FMS Wertmanagement. The NPL was secured against a 312-property retail portfolio which was geographically spread across the UK, which were also acquired as part of the purchase.
• Advised on a €22m bank loan restructuring for a German–Luxembourg consortium with a Liechtenstein bank.

Our commercial lawyers advise on the full range of commercial contracts, supporting international businesses on investments, brand expansion, supply chain issues, and strategic transactions across the UK and Germany.

• Set-up of UK-based EIS film production fund, management and counsel to German fashion brand.
• Advised on the development rights for the Starbucks brand in Germany.
• Providing in-house leadership and support on M&A projects including: sale of the 150-store German business and grant of development rights sale of 25% of Topshop/Topman businesses to US-based private equity firm.

Our corporate lawyers advise on cross-border M&A, private equity investments, restructurings and fundraisings, supporting corporates, investors and management teams on strategic acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations. and complex international transactions.

• Advised CLOWD9 on venture capital investment by Cara Alternative Investments GmbH.
• Advised the shareholders of White Light Limited on its sale to d&b Audiotechnik.
• Advised Acquinex GmbH on warranty and indemnity insurance for a cross-border M&A transactions.
• Advised Apeiron Investment Group on its Series A equity investment in Olsam Group’s global online retail business.
• Acted for Allmed Medical Group founder on its international group re-organisation.
• Acted for Ilford Group on the €7.5m acquisition of German Tecco business.
• Advised on the €1.5m acquisition of Dutch business Graphic Mission BV by German Group GMG Colour GmbH & Co. KG.
• Acquisition by US Recruitment Group of a German-UK software business (GBP 12m) – lead advisor to buyer.
• Acquisition by Canadian-Dutch Group of German milling company (EUR 2m) – lead advisor to buyer.
• Lead advisor on 40% share purchase and restructuring of German fashion label and transition to UK.
• EUR 1.9m fundraising and investment & growth strategy advisor for German-Austrian based vegan juice brand – acting for shareholders and UK investor.
• Lead advisor on sale of EUR 50m German frozen food consortium – acting for owners.
• Lead advisor on EUR 22m bank loan restructuring for German-Luxembourg consortium with Liechtenstein bank – achieved 50% haircut.
• Delisting and sale of EUR 25m German listed real estate company – acting for UK shareholders.
• Advisor on EUR 8m sale and conversion of Bavarian resort into psychosomatic clinic – acting for owner.
• Advisor to Saudi hotel group on 2 property acquisitions in Germany.
• German PE investment (20% of shares – GBP 6m) in UK racing car manufacturer – advisor to acquiring holding.
• Acquisition by German Group of UK calibrations business (GBP 1.2m) – advisor to buyer.
• Acquisition by German Group of Dutch software company (GBP 2.5m) – advisor to buyer.
• German PE investment (17% shares – GBP 4m) in UK solar panel manufacturer  – advisor to investor.
• Acquisition by German Group of UK liquid level instrumentation business (GBP 3m) – advisor to buyer.
• Advisor to German PLC on hostile take-over of UK PLC traded on the open market.
• Acquisition by German company of UK pressure instrumentation business (GBP 4.2m) – advisor to buyer.
• PE Investment of GBP 4.5m by German investor in UK racing car manufacturer – advisor to investor.
• Acquisition by German group of a global supplier of electro-technical services (EUR 30m) – global lead and coordination of due diligence phase – 7 jurisdictions.

Our dispute resolution specialists advise corporates, insurers and financial institutions on complex cross-border disputes, including litigation and alternative dispute resolution, handling contractual, product liability, and negligence claims across multiple jurisdictions and industry sectors.

• Acted on successful resolution of Commercial Agents Regulations dispute for Mittelstand exporter of high-tech manufacturing machinery.
• Acted for significant German automotive parts manufacturer on various supply chain disputes including force majeure issues arising out of Covid 19.
• Acted for German manufacturing company on resolution of software ransom preventing operation of a production line.
• Advised hedge fund on claim against German bank in relation to losses arising out of alleged failure by the bank to exercise a stop loss order.
• Advised fund management group on dispute with seed investor as to whether revenue sharing payment hurdle met.
• Acted for Austrian bank RZB on fraudulent misrepresentation claim against RBS in relation to a syndicated loan to Enron: Raiffeisen Bank v RBS  EWHC 1392 Comm.
• Acted for a German fund in litigation in relation to the design and construction of a shopping centre in Oxfordshire, including complex technical litigation in relation to a multi-storey car park requiring expert evidence in four fields.
• Acting for a large international contractor with headquarters in Germany in an adjudication in relation to the design and construction of an energy from waste plant involving claims totalling £10m. The main issues included delay and disruption, extension of time, defects and loss and expense.
• Acted for German-based lift manufacturer, in a claim by the owner of an office block relating to a defect which caused a catastrophic failure and lift mechanisms to fall several storeys.

Our family experts advise individuals and families on cross-border divorce, financial settlements and children matters, as well as estate planning, trusts, residency and succession issues involving assets and connections across the UK and Germany.

• Advised a German national with business interests in multiple jurisdictions on his divorce, involving valuation and treatment of business interests and advising on financial settlement.
• Advising a German lady who lives in England in relation to her divorce from her wealthy spouse (same-sex marriage), which also involves a pre-nuptial agreement signed in Brasil, assets in Switzerland and a trust in the Cayman Islands.

Our probate and estate planning specialists advise individuals, families, trustees and international clients with connections to both the UK and Germany. We guide clients through complex cross‑border estate, residency and tax considerations, ensuring assets are structured and protected efficiently and in accordance with relevant legal requirements. WE regularly advise on wills, succession planning, trusts, estate administration and the structuring of residential property purchases involving German nationals and dual‑jurisdiction families.

• Advised a German family on residency rules to ensure visits to the UK and connections to the UK do not trigger Uk residency.
• Advised trustees of an offshore trust in relation to German and UK beneficiaries.
• Advised German nationals on how best to structure purchase of UK residential property.
• Administered a cross-border estate of a German deceased and liaised with German local advisers as necessary.
• Advised a German/UK couple on wills and estate planning.

We advise lenders, investors and corporates on complex restructurings, refinancings and distressed debt trading, providing strategic guidance across insolvency, mezzanine and cross-border debt transactions.

• Advised a syndicate of second lien lenders in the restructuring and refinancing of €405 million debt of Schefenacker plc, a German car parts maker.
• Advised numerous distressed investors in relation to debt trading in investments in UK, Germany, France, Spain, Iceland, Netherlands, Greece and the US.
• Advised Chenavari on the restructuring of mezzanine debt collateralised by a German shopping centre.

Shipyards and vessel owners turn to our shipping experts for advice on shipbuilding and refit disputes, including arbitration and contract termination, handling delay, delivery, warranty, and damages claims across complex international maritime construction projects.

• Advising, and acting in several arbitrations for, a German shipyard against owners in relation to the construction of megayachts. The main issues included delay in delivery, warranty items, exterior paint finish and costs.
• Advising the owner of a passenger ferry in relation to the cancellation of the shipbuilding contract with a German yard. The main issues included termination under the shipbuilding contract and at common law, refund of pre-paid instalments and recovery of general damages at common law.
• Advising various German shipyards and owners in relation to construction, delivery and warranty issues in relation to superyachts and passenger and cargo vessels.