Franz Schaefer

Dr. Tobias Schönhaar is one of Germany's leading lawyers in venture capital, private equity, and M&A. Based in Munich, he advises national and international clients, from early-stage founders and business angels to established PE and VC funds and strategic investors, across every stage of the company lifecycle. His practice covers the full range of growth and transaction work: financing rounds, deal structuring, mezzanine and venture debt instruments, employee participation programs,...

Dr. Tim Kaufhold is a partner and co-lead in M&A and private equity at POELLATH in Munich. He primarily advises private equity investors on M&A transactions and corporate law as well as management teams within the context of private equity transactions. Tim has been listed several times in relevant rankings for his expertise in the M&A and private equity sector. Clients appreciate his comprehensive economic understanding, as well as his pragmatic approach to finding solutions.

Steffen Schmidt is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Intellectual Property Law. Steffen practices law in Munich, Germany Best Lawyers has recognized Steffen Schmidt since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Steffen Schmidt is held by other lawyers.

Matthias Heilmeier is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Asset Finance Law and Restructuring and Insolvency Law. Matthias practices law in Munich, Germany Best Lawyers has recognized Matthias Heilmeier since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Matthias Heilmeier is held by other lawyers.

Dr. Dorothea Hofer joined Prüfer & Partner in 1993 and has been a managing partner since 1998. After gaining her PhD in physics from the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, she worked for Siemens in the area of semiconductor technology. Dr. Hofer’s practice includes: patent and utility model infringement proceedings before the Regional Courts of Munich, Düsseldorf, Mannheim and Hamburg, and before the competent higher regional courts; opposition proceedings before the ...

Founding partner Dr Maren Gräfe is a proven expert in advising on tax law and corporate law. She specialises in tax, legal and strategic asset structuring and succession planning, family and corporate governance issues as well as the establishment of professional asset and family office structures from a legal, tax and economic perspective and investment taxation. She is a member of the supervisory board of Carl Hanser Verlag and a member of the scientific advisory board of the IVS Insti...

Tobias Geerling is a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges Munich office. His practice focuses on transactional work, advising in particular on tax, cross-border private equity and M&A transactions as well as on international corporate partnership real estate, insolvency and exempt organization tax issues. He has extensive experience handling tax-efficient structuring of M&A transactions, corporate re-organizations, fund structuring and tax-driven derivatives. His experience expands i...

Dr. Gerhard Hermann is a patent attorney based in Munich, Germany, with Vossius & Partner Patentanwälte Rechtsanwälte mbB . His practice focuses on intellectual property law , including patent opposition, revocation, and patent infringement proceedings, as well as matters related to trademark law. Dr. Hermann studied physics at the University of Stuttgart and earned his Ph.D. while serving as a research fellow supported by the German Research Association and the Max Planck Socie...

Founding partner and lawyer Frank Eckstein advises and represents companies and executives, as well as their employees, in particular with regard to commercial criminal law and criminal tax law. Mr. Eckstein has more than 35 years’ professional experience in this very specialized field. His particular expertise lies in defence at trial, particularly in large scale cases such as Cum-ex and fraud proceedings. Mr. Eckstein also has many years of extensive experience in compliance consultin...

Christian Schmitt is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Restructuring and Insolvency Law. Christian practices law in Munich, Germany Best Lawyers has recognized Christian Schmitt since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Christian Schmitt is held by other lawyers.