FOUR LEADING PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNERS TO JOIN LATHAM & WATKINS IN GERMANY, MARKING MAJOR EXPANSION OF TOP-RANKED PRACTICE

• Globally renowned team adds to Latham's market-leading capabilities, bringing decades of advisory experience on cutting-edge transactions.
  
  
• Significant milestone in the growth of the firm's top-ranked private equity and M&A practice, reinforcing the firm's leadership in Germany, across Europe, and globally.
  
  
• Arrival of team of dealmakers strengthens client offering with unparalleled buyout and M&A reputation, deep market insight, and integrated global capabilities.

FRANKFURT, Germany, Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Latham & Watkins is pleased to announce that four prominent private equity and M&A partners–Markus Paul, Wessel Heukamp, Verena Nosch, and Carsten Haak–will join the firm in Germany. The partners join from Freshfields, bringing decades of advisory experience on cutting-edge transactions.

Widely recognized among Europe's most experienced private equity lawyers, they bring extensive expertise advising a broad range of private equity and other financial sponsors, as well as corporates, including in the financial institutions sector, on a variety of transactions, with a particular focus on leveraged buyouts and complex domestic and cross-border M&A.

Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins, said: "Markus, Wessel, Verena, and Carsten are highly accomplished lawyers with outstanding reputations in the market. They bring deep relationships, top-notch skills and an exceptional track record in sophisticated transactions, further enhancing our ability to deliver the highest level of service to clients. Their arrival represents an important milestone in the continued growth of our private equity and M&A practices in Germany and Europe and further enhances our position as one of the elite M&A law firms globally."

Strengthening Leadership in Germany and Europe

The addition of the team builds on Latham's strong momentum in the private equity and M&A market. In the first three quarters of 2025, the firm achieved #1 global rankings for M&A by both deal value and deal count, as well as #1 for global private equity M&A by deal count (Bloomberg). In Europe, Latham also ranked #1 for M&A, private equity M&A, and mid-market private equity M&A by deal count. (Bloomberg)

Oliver Felsenstein, private equity partner in Germany, commented: "We have built one of the preeminent private equity and M&A practices in Germany, across Europe, and globally. The firm is already operating at the very top of the German market, and the addition of these exceptional lawyers raises the bar even higher. Their stellar market reputation and extensive industry networks are a perfect fit for our practice and further enhance our ability to deliver on our clients' most consequential matters. As we approach our 25th anniversary in Germany in 2026, their arrival marks another major step in the continued growth and success of our practice in Europe and globally." 

Global Platform, Local Expertise

Paul and Haak will join the Frankfurt office, while Heukamp and Nosch will join in Munich, strengthening Latham's presence in Germany's key financial and private equity centers. Working seamlessly with colleagues across the firm's European and global platform, they will provide clients with integrated, cross-border advice across all major markets. Their arrival further strengthens Latham & Watkins' ability to connect European clients to opportunities and expertise across the continent and beyond.

"We are thrilled to welcome Markus, Wessel, Verena, and Carsten to the firm," added Burc Hesse, Managing Partner of Latham's German Offices. "Their arrival is a testament to the exceptional growth we have achieved in recent years and our preeminent position in the market. The team not only strengthens our practice in Germany but also reinforces our commitment to delivering outstanding results for our clients, both in Europe and worldwide."

Charles Ruck, Global Chair of Latham's Corporate Department, added: "Private equity has long been a core pillar of our global strategy and the arrival of this fantastic team of dealmakers further strengthens our practice in every major market globally. As the only premier top-ranked firm globally across capital markets, private equity, M&A, banking, private credit, high yield, restructuring, and more, we have a unique offering for our client base and are well-positioned to meet their evolving needs, leveraging the breadth of our practice to move quickly and deliver excellence at scale."

About Latham & Watkins (lw.com)

Latham & Watkins is a leading global law firm that brings together exceptional legal talent in financial centers around the world to advise on complex transactions, litigation, and regulatory matters. The firm's deep market and product knowledge, industry experience, vast scale, and commitment to innovation and excellence help clients navigate their most critical challenges and achieve their goals.

Notes to Editors

Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company, in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office, and in Saudi Arabia through a limited liability company.

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