CLIFFORD CHANCE LLP
Clifford Chance LLP formed in 1987 and established its German presence through a merger in 2000 with Pünder Volhard Weber & Axster. Clifford Chance Germany has three offices in some of the country’s leading business centres: Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich. The firm provides excellent local services with a global capability and attracts the very best national and international companies, banks, and investors as clients. Providing these clients with advice that looks beyond borders and spans multiple practice areas, the firm achieves 29 listings in 17 of the following practice sectors.
The firm’s strongest performance is in the banking chapter, with four lawyers highlighted for their exceptional abilities. Alexandra Hagelüken is an “excellent” lawyer and advises on financing related to acquisitions, corporate loans, and restructurings. Barbara Mayer-Trautmann specialises in acquisition finance, structured finance and secured and unsecured bank lending and is considered “first rate” by peers. The “brilliant” Bettina Steinhauer focuses her practice on structured finance, acquisition finance and general bank lending.
In capital markets three lawyers are listed, among them the “pre-eminent” Sebastian Maerker is “highly knowledgeable” in debt and equity capital markets and is noted for his “considerable expertise” in stock exchange listings. Michael Weller also features in the banking chapter and acts mainly for financial institutions. His recent work includes advising a banking syndicate regarding a credit facility for GAZPROM Germania GmbH to the amount of €500 million.
The firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice is widely recognised as a “market leading practice group”. Fabian von Schlabrendorff appears in both the arbitration and commercial litigation chapter and is “highly sought after” as counsel and arbitrator in corporate, banking and construction and engineering matters. Thomas Weimann is a “superb litigator” and features prominently in the product liability chapter.
In the life sciences chapter the firm receives two listings, including Ulrich Reese who receives acclaim for his “extensive knowledge” of pharmaceuticals and medical device law. The firm is equally well represented in the environment chapter and David Elshorst is praised for his “high quality” work in emissions trading.
The firm is additionally recognised in the fields of corporate governance and insurance and reinsurance with Daniela Weber-Rey appearing in both chapters, demonstrating the breadth of expertise of the firm’s lawyers. Weber-Rey specialises in public takeovers and company restructurings as well as being “greatly respected” for her advice in boardroom issues.
