Dr. Sebastian Heim

The 2025 edition of the prestigious Germany’s Best Lawyers rankings, issued jointly by the Handelsblatt and US publisher Best Lawyers, features 37 attorneys from Milbank LLP. The lawyers selected from the firm’s Munich and Frankfurt offices are recognized for their strong market presence, professional excellence and outstanding reputation.~~Two Awards as "Lawyers of the Year 2025" Barbara Mayer-Trautmann (Finance) Norbert Rieger (Corporate/M&A)~~21 Attorneys Recognized in Main Category – "Best Lawyers 2025" In the main category, "Best Lawyers" the following 21 Milbank attorneys are listed: Norbert Rieger, Sebastian Heim, Steffen Oppenländer, Christoph Rothenfusser, Leopold J. Riedl, Markus Muhs, Martin Erhardt, Ulrike Friese-Dormann, Michael Bernhardt, Andrea Eggenstein, Michael Pujol (all Corporate /M&A); Barbara Mayer-Trautmann, Thomas Ingenhoven (both Finance); Marlene Ruf, Mathias Eisen (both Financial Restructuring); Rolf Füger, Matthias Schell, Thomas Kleinheisterkamp (all Tax); Alexander Rinne (Antitrust & Competition) und Philipp Klöckner, Nico Feuerstein (both Corporate Finance and Securities).~~16 Attorneys Named in "Ones to Watch" Category In addition, 16 Milbank attorneys are recognized as "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch". This category highlights emerging legal talents who demonstrate exceptional potential. Notably, seven of the Milbank lawyers are included in the list for the first time this year.~~The following attorneys are named among the "Ones to Watch": Pascal Härdtner, Andreas Rief*, Markus von Lutterotti, Sandra Feil, Sarah-Maria Resch, Sebastian Reiner-Pechtl, Steffen Post*, Steven Buschle*, Svenja Tauchmann* (all Corporate/ M&A); Thomas Möller, Alexander Lang, Gerrit Merkel, Anna Merkl* (all Finance), Moritz Lichtenegger*, Martin Juhasz* (both Antitrust & Competition) and Arne Hammerich (Tax). (*recognized for the first time)~~About the Rankings~~Best Lawyers, one of the most respected international legal directory publishers, compiles the German edition of its rankings exclusively for the Handelsblatt each year. The list is based on an extensive peer-to-peer survey in which business lawyers are invited to recommend colleagues whose work they particularly value. The German edition is published annually in exclusive cooperation with the Handelsblatt.

Jun 12

1 min

Milbank Partner Sebastian Heim Featured in Law360 Q&A on 2026 Private Equity Outlook~~Milbank LLP Global Corporate/M&A partner and Private Equity co-head Sebastian Heim was featured in a Law360 Q&A exploring how private equity sponsors are approaching AI risk, navigating geopolitical uncertainty and adapting liquidity strategies heading into 2026. In the interview, Sebastian discusses how AI exposure is reshaping both commercial and legal diligence, noting that sponsors are evaluating whether emerging AI solutions could disrupt business models within a typical three- to five-year investment horizon. He also highlights the growing importance of structural tools, such as earnouts, rollovers and downside-protection mechanisms, as funds look to capture and price AI-related risk within deal economics. Sebastian points to sustained activity in defense, healthcare, industrials and infrastructure-adjacent sectors, driven by ongoing geopolitical tensions, supply-chain priorities and national security considerations. He also discusses a potential wave of significant corporate carve-outs in the industrial space over the next 12–18 months. On the liquidity front, Sebastian observes that sponsors are increasingly relying on tools such as minority sales, continuation funds, fund-to-fund transfers and preferred structures as valuation gaps and market uncertainty continue to challenge traditional full exits. While straight sales may regain momentum in the coming year, he expects alternative liquidity solutions to remain an essential part of the sponsor toolkit. “I have heard some signs that straight sales may become more viable next year, so perhaps there will be slightly less reliance on these structures,” Sebastian explains. “But there are enough assets in the market where a traditional sale remains a challenge, and sponsors will continue to use alternatives where they make sense.” To read the full Q&A, please click here. (Law360 subscription may be required.)

Jan 5

1 min

Kirkland & Ellis has bolstered its European corporate practice with the hire of Sebastian Heim, who joins as partner across its Munich and London offices. Heim, a Milbank London partner, has advised on deals including Carlyle’s €7.7 billion ($8.9 billion) acquisition of BASF’s coating business and General Atlantic’s $5.7 billion public offering of SMG Swiss Marketing Group, at the time the largest European IPO of the year. Heim joined Milbank in 2011 as an associate, according to his LinkedIn. “Sebastian is one of the go-to private equity lawyers in Germany,” said Jon A. Ballis, chairman of Kirkland’s executive committee. Heim’s regularly advises clients on corporate law, M&A, and growth equity matters. “Sebastian is an extraordinary lawyer with a stellar reputation,” said Benjamin Leyendecker, a corporate partner in Kirkland’s Munich office. The move comes just 18 months after Kirkland opened its Frankfurt office in August 2024. The hub cooperates closely with Kirkland's Munich office, which has been described by Leyendecker as “key pillar of our strategy”. Heim is joining the Munich office, which has 17 partners listed on Kirkland’s website. Kirkland saw record lateral hires and partner promotions globally in 2025 alongside seven lateral hires in Germany since opening in Frankfurt. Kirkland’s German partners have also been in demand elsewhere, however, with former restructuring partner Leo Plank moving to Gibson Dunn in February. Milbank has been contacted for comment.

Mar 3

1 min

Milbank LLP has advised General Atlantic, a leading global investor, on the sale of its stake in ISS STOXX, a leading data, analytics and index provider, to Deutsche Börse Group. Milbank previously advised General Atlantic on the acquisition of its stake in ISS STOXX (formerly Qontigo) in 2019 and on the combination of Qontigo and ISS in 2023. The Milbank team was led by partners Sebastian Heim and Pascal Härdtner (both Corporate/M&A) and included partners Rolf Füger (Tax), Alexander Rinne (Antitrust, all Munich) and Alexandra Grant (Leveraged Finance, London), special counsel Thomas Möller (Leveraged Finance, Frankfurt), as well as associates Manuel Bogenreuther, Rabea Regh (both Corporate/M&A, Munich), Lukas Krogmann (Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Arne Hammerich, Jil Windau (both Tax, Munich), Katherine Williams and Joshua Bourke (both Leveraged Finance, London).

Feb 17

1 min

Linklaters is advising Deutsche Börse on a €1.1 billion ($1.3 billion) acquisition of the remaining 20% minority stake in data analytics provider ISS STOXX held by General Atlantic. It is the second proposed acquisition this year for Deutsche Börse, owner of Germany’s DAX stock exchange, following its €5.3 billion ($6.2 billion) all-cash offer for Allfunds in January, Germany’s largest transaction of the year so far. Milbank's Munich-based team is led by corporate M&A partners Sebastian Heim and Pascal Härdtner with tax partner Rolf Füger and antitrust partner Alexander Rinne. Linklaters’ team in Germany includes global chair corporate/co-head M&A Ralph Wollburg, PE head Ralph Drebes, and corporate/M&A partner Staffan Illert, according to a person with knowledge of the transaction. Both firms have previously advised their clients. Milbank counselled General Atlantic on its 2019 acquisition of a stake in ISS STOXX (formerly Qontigo) and again on the 2023 combination of Qontigo with ISS. Meanwhile, Linklaters advised Deutsche Börse on a proposed merger with the London Stock Exchange Group, blocked by the EU Commission on competition grounds, and on a proposed tie-up with NYSE Euronext which was also blocked. Illert has the firm's repeat client on various transactions, including its acquisition of Kneip Communication.

Feb 24

1 min