SJ Berwin

Since its establishment in 1982, the fundamental objective of SJ Berwin has been to provide outstanding legal advice in a dynamic environment. The firm takes pride in its ability to devise innovative and commercially viable solutions to complex problems. It understands its clients’ businesses and is always willing to challenge orthodox views.

These skills and values have driven its success. In a relatively short period, SJ Berwin has built a reputation that is the envy of many longer-established firms. Unhampered by the bureaucratic attitudes that exist in many older firms, SJ Berwin operates in the type

of open, accessible and fast moving atmosphere that promotes progressive thinking and a creative approach to meeting clients’ needs.

Working with a total of 117 partners and more than 364 non-partner lawyers from London, Brussels, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich, Berlin and Paris the firm has the resources

to handle major cross-border transactions. It has established close contacts with leading law firms in Europe and worldwide, enabling it to obtain immediate advice and action in all jurisdictions.

Several prestigious awards reflect the firms leading reputation in private equity. In 2000 the private equity team at SJ Berwin won the European Venture Capital Journal Private Equity Law Firm of the Year award. This followed on from the firm being awarded the title Joint Law Firm of the Year by Private Equity Online and short-listed for the Corporate Team

of the Year by Legal Business.

SJ Berwin Germany

The partners at SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger are highly experienced in structuring comprehensive, integrated solutions for their clients’ commercial objectives. They do not merely combine legal and tax experience, but design consistent business solutions which take into account all relevant financial aspects, always aiming at solutions that add value.

SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger has extensive experience in national, cross-border and international M&A transactions including more specialised areas such as private equity and venture capital transactions, leveraged buyouts and management buyouts, particularly representing the investment side. The values of commercial acumen and tax-awareness drive the transactional work carried out by SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger.

As well as advising private equity houses on the acquisition and disposal of investments in German companies, the firm’s clients include a broad range of investors and companies from the UK, the US and elsewhere who are looking to take advantage of the investment opportunities both in Mittelstand companies and in start-ups in Germany. Such investment may take the form of a straight acquisition or, as is often the case, a deal with key members of the German management to structure a buyout with the client as major investor. Alternatively, foreign companies may wish to structure a more formal joint venture driven by their need to find a German partner. SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger can advise on all aspects of such investment, particularly with regard to optimising the client’s tax position, but also on

all matters ancillary to establishing a presence in Germany, such as intellectual property and employment law aspects.

In addition to the traditional M&A areas, the partners of SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger also have a proven track record in advising the successful flotation of growing companies and divestitures by way of Initial Public Offering (IPO), in particular on the Neuer Markt, as well as in advising going private transactions.

The continuing development of the German economy and the transformation of the Mittelstand should ensure that Germany remains a rich source of investment opportunity for the foreseeable future, and SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger is ideally placed to help investors take advantage of this opportunity.

For further information on SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger, especially on going private transactions, please contact: Thomas Pauls or Dr Christoph Brenner at:

SJ Berwin Knopf Tulloch Steininger

Maria-Theresia-Str. 5

81675 Munchen

Germany

Tel: +49 (0)89 89 0 81 0

Fax: +49 (0)89 89 0 81 100

Email: munich@sjberwin.com