ALLEN & OVERY LLP
Allen & Overy LLP enjoys 16 listings across 11 practice areas. The firm is one of the biggest in the world for international business law, and the German inclusions reflect this reputation. With notable representations in capital markets, banking and corporate tax, the firm continues to showcase its corporate talent.
The banking team is well represented with two lawyers ranking highly. Walter Uebelhoer’s practice is mainly centred on syndicated loans, acquisition finance, new money deals and restructurings. Neil George Weiand is “well known and established in the market, acting for corporate borrowers” and has been involved in deals for Abu Dhabi MAR, SAP AG and GEA Group. His specialisms are syndicated lending, acquisitions and real estate financing. The firm enjoys two mentions in the capital markets chapter. Head of the equity capital markets group in Germany, Oliver Seiler is an experienced equity and debt advisor, with a focus on IPOs, convertibles, bonds and block trade transactions. Gernot Wagner heads the US law group in Frankfurt where he assists on IPOs, second offerings, liability management, high yield bonds, financings and recapitalisations. Corporate governance expert Hans-Christoph Ihrig has advised Bilfinger Berger on its legal entity transformation and corporate restructuring. He has also worked with SAP AG on its $8.6 billion takeover of a NASDAQ listed software company. The “highly rated” Ellen Braun is a competition practitioner with dual qualification in Germany and New York. She advises multinational companies and financial institutions on regulatory compliance, merger control and cartel investigations. She counts Rosneft Oil Company, Commerzbank and leading Russian insurers Ingosstrakh among her clients.
Two corporate tax experts are included. Head of department Eugen Bogenschuetz has over 20 years experience in IPOs and debt securities, while managing partner and global head of tax Gottfried Breuninger is “highly regarded” and an “outstanding lawyer”. He focuses on the tax implications of M&A transactions and post-acquisition structure.
The arbitration chapter features two listings: Daniel Busse and Jan Schaefer. Based in Frankfurt, Busse heads the firm’s dispute resolution practice and concentrates on institutional arbitration proceedings. He received a large number of votes from clients and peers for his advisory work on procedural matters in banking litigation and post-M&A disputes. Schaefer is an international arbitration expert and regularly chairs proceedings. He has wide ranging experience in a number of commercial fields.
The firm fields two lawyers in the management labour and employment chapter. Thomas Ubber is the head of the firm’s Germany employment practice and counsels clients on industrial action, reorganisations, restructurings and “is the definitive collective bargaining specialist”. Hans-Peter Loew is “very prominent” and is “one of the most experienced lawyers at the firm” for mass dismissals, insolvencies, employment aspects of M&A deals and financial services union issues.
Further listings in the aviation, environment, insurance and project finance chapters demonstrate the strength and depth of the firm’s German offices.
