Financial services

Our highly specialised German financial services team helps clients to structure their business in the most efficient way, minimising regulatory burdens while complying with relevant regulations.

Our financial services team also advises on financial services advisory and transactional matters, including new product launches and contractual documentation.

We have a particular focus on investment fund and investment management issues, helping investment managers to sell their products and expertise to German institutional and private clients.

The team works closely with our tax team, which offers indispensable assistance when it comes to structuring tax-driven investment products.

Team and reputation

The German financial services/investment management group offers full service across the retail and wholesale financial services spread of work. The 10-strong team of lawyers and tax advisors is led by partners Caroline Herkströter, Frank Herring and Martin Krause.

We have been ranked in Band 2 of Chambers 2008, according to which the “team is highly regarded by peers for its involvement in regulatory matters, particularly with regards to the implementation of MiFID. It is also active in the structuring of open-ended and closed-ended funds, hedge funds, alternative investments and non-regulated funds.”

According to the latest edition of Legal 500, “[Norton Rose’s] connections to prime brokers and hedge fund managers …, have allowed the firm to build a formidable business. The firm is particularly strong on the regulatory front, both in London and Frankfurt, and its expertise in structured products, including CDOs, is another important feature.”

And the latest edition of the German JUVE handbook ranks the team as top 10 in both financial services regulation and investment management, adding that the team “ …is highly regarded for its innovative approach. (…) The investment funds practice is also very well respected and seen as particularly entrepreneurial.”

Clients and experience

The team works for five of the Top six German asset managers. We work for several of the world’s largest investment banks and asset managers. More detailed information can be found in the description of specific areas of expertise on the left.

See also our global financial services and markets expertise page.