Dr. Florian Dendl

Willkie advised PSG in a growth investment in Sport Alliance GmbH, a Hamburg-based provider of innovative software solutions and services to gyms and health facilities. On November 27, it was announced that PSG committed an additional $100 million to help accelerate Sport Alliance’s growth internationally, building on its initial $65 million investment in the company in 2021. Sport Alliance’s objective is to take the sports and fitness training industry to a new level with cloud-based and digital software solutions. The company serves over 8,000 sports and health facilities and over 5.2 million gym members use its app solutions. The Willkie team was led by partner Dr. Axel Wahl and counsel Dr. Florian Dendl and included partners Dr. Bettina Bokeloh and Dr. Patrick Meiisel, counsel Wulf Kring and Martin Waśkowski and associates Dr. Johanna Thieme and Melina Terwesten.

Nov 30

1 min

Willkie advised Mutares SE & Co. KGaA on its acquisition of the Engineering Thermoplastics Business in the Americas and Europe from SABIC for an enterprise value of $450 million. The Engineering Thermoplastics Business operates a broad international platform with approximately 2,900 full-time employees and eight producing facilities across the Americas and Europe. It is the world’s second-largest producer of polycarbonates, the leading producer of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene in the United States, and the sole producer of polybutylene terephthalate in the United States. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to customary approvals. Mutares, headquartered in Munich, is a listed private equity holding company focused on special situations. The Willkie team was led by partners Dr. Kamyar Abrar, Georg Linde, Dr. Florian Dendl, Esther Chang, Ryan Giggs and Simon Weiss.

Jan 12

1 min

New York, NY, February 3, 2025 -- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced today that private equity attorney Dr. David Huthmacher has joined the Firm as a partner in Germany. He is based in the Firm’s Munich office. David focuses on advising private equity funds, corporations and investors on German and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. He is also experienced in advising on public takeovers and corporate reorganizations. David has been recognized by leading German directories for his private equity and M&A practice. He teaches capital markets law and corporate law at the University of Passau. David’s addition continues Willkie’s steady growth strategy in Germany in recent years, as the Firm has nearly tripled its size in the market since 2020 to approximately 90 lawyers based there today. Willkie opened its Munich office in February 2024, and has welcomed lateral partners in Munich in the areas of private equity and restructuring this year. “David is a talented and well-respected private equity practitioner whose breadth of experience makes him a valuable addition to our growing Munich-based team,” commented Georg Linde, Managing Partner of Germany. Dr. Kamyar Abrar, Co-Managing Partner of Germany, added: “Our clients will benefit from his deep market knowledge and experience, and he will be instrumental to our continued growth in the region. We are pleased to welcome him to Willkie.” David Huthmacher commented: “I am excited to join Willkie’s growing team in Munich, and I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues in Germany and across the firm’s extensive, market-leading private equity and transactional platform.” Willkie Germany focuses on a wide range of practices including Private Equity, M&A, Insurance Transactions, Labor & Employment, Business Reorganization & Restructuring, Investigations & Enforcement, and more. Our lawyers are recognized as leaders in their field, handling complex corporate and commercial transactions and other matters that demand multifaceted legal experience. Willkie’s Munich office opened in 2024 and our Frankfurt office was established in 2000. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Our more than 1,200 attorneys across 15 offices worldwide deliver innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services across approximately 45 practice areas. Learn more at www.willkie.com.

Feb 3

2 min

New York, NY, December 16, 2025 -- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced today that M&A and private equity attorney Dr. Sebastian Häfele has joined the Firm as a partner in Germany. He is based in the Firm’s Munich office. Sebastian is a corporate attorney who focuses on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, public takeovers and corporate reorganizations. He has significant experience with German and cross-border M&A projects and has been recognized by leading German legal research guides for his M&A, private equity and corporate practice. Sebastian’s addition continues Willkie’s steady growth strategy in Germany in recent years. This year, the Firm has welcomed lateral partners in Germany in the areas of private equity, antitrust and litigation, and opened a new office in Hamburg, the Firm’s third office in Germany. Kamyar Abrar, Co-Managing Partner of Germany, commented: “Sebastian is a skilled lawyer with a diverse corporate practice spanning numerous industries. His experience and market recognition in M&A and private equity will strengthen our dynamic team in Germany, and we look forward to working with him to further extend our transactional capabilities to clients worldwide.” Sebastian commented: “Willkie has a top-ranked global private equity and transactional platform that is known for its collaborative, client-focused approach and well-established reputation in the German market. I am delighted to join this growing team of exceptional lawyers in Germany.” Sebastian joins Willkie from Kirkland & Ellis. Willkie Germany focuses on a wide range of practices including private equity, mergers and acquisitions, insurance transactions, labor and employment, restructuring, litigation and arbitration, investigations and enforcement, and more. Our lawyers are recognized as leaders in their field, handling complex corporate and commercial transactions and other matters that demand multifaceted legal experience. Willkie’s offices in Germany are located in Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg. ***************************************************** Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Our approximately 1,300 attorneys across 16 offices worldwide deliver innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services across approximately 45 practice areas. Learn more at www.willkie.com.

Dec 16

2 min

Willkie advised DEMIRE Deutsche Mittelstand Real Estate AG, an investor in commercial real estate, on a comprehensive restructuring of its listed 2019/2024 German law bond of originally EUR 600m. The restructuring was implemented on the basis of a consent solicitation process in accordance with the German Bond Act (Schuldverschreibungsgesetz). As part of the restructuring, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the bond was reduced from approx. EUR 500m to approx. EUR 253m, resulting in a significant deleveraging of DEMIRE. The restructuring solution negotiated with an ad-hoc group of bondholders and DEMIRE's major shareholder included: A buyback of bonds from DEMIRE by way of a so-called unmodified reverse Dutch auction backstopped by the ad-hoc group and other significant bondholders. A partial redemption of the bond in the amount of approx. EUR 50m at nominal value. A shareholder contribution in the amount of close to EUR 100m. Collateralization of the bond, in particular by implementation of a so-called double LuxCo structure. A comprehensive amendment of the terms and conditions of the bond, including a prolongation of its term until the end of 2027. The Willkie team was led by partner Dr. Jörn Kowalewski and counsel Dr. Jan-Philipp Praß, and included partners Joseph Marx, Cornelia Thaler and Jan Wilms as well as counsel Maximilian Mayer, Dr. Harry Nettlau and Wolfgang Münchow, and associates Dr. Axel Krohn, Christoph Schoppe, Martin Reichert, Dr. Philipp Steinhausen, Jan Reiter and Dr. Marc Dietrich. Following the move of the restructuring team around Dr. Jörn Kowalewski from Latham & Watkins, Willkie continued to advise DEMIRE. Latham & Watkins is counsel to DEMIRE on capital market law issues. A separate Willkie team led by Georg Linde and Dr. Wolfram Prusko has been advising DEMIRE's supervisory board since mid-2023 also in connection with the restructuring of the bond.

Nov 11

1 min