ARQIS News

Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider, partner and lawyer at ARQIS, is taking on the newly created position of Partner for Legal Innovation & AI with immediate effect. In this role, he will work with a team to consolidate the firm's existing legal innovation and AI initiatives, continuing to drive the topic forward at management level.

Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider has been a partner in the Transactions focus group at ARQIS since 2013. He is supported in his new role by a team of three. "Combining my work as a lawyer with the management of the Legal Innovation and AI department isn’t a contradiction. On the contrary: I am convinced that true innovation can only come from practical experience. Above all, I remain first and foremost an M&A lawyer with full conviction, combining this role with leading the Legal Innovation and AI team," explained Dr. Schneider.

The topics legal innovation and AI have already been integral within the firm’s approach for several years. In line with this, ARQIS already uses various tools in its day-to-day work. The new role of Dr. Christof Schneider and his team will now bundle all of these topics and structure them more clearly. This also includes the offering of targeted training programs for all lawyers and employees, which will be available throughout the firm with immediate effect. Also, findings and results of the previous intensive testing of several legal AI providers will be incorporated here. ARQIS is also working on the development of its own legal tech tools.

Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS, added: "We are honored to have Christof Schneider starting this important, future-facing role. We don’t see legal innovation and AI as ends in themselves, but as a means of making our work for our clients more efficient and, above all, better. Our focus will always be on qualitative added value. This is inherently linked to personal and professionally sound legal advice."

Handelsblatt and US publisher Best Lawyers have once again honored Germany's best commercial law firms. ARQIS has once again been ranked among the top firms in 2026, improving its standing in numerous areas of law.

Top positions in national rankings

In the nationwide ranking, ARQIS is ranked in top tiers in the following practice areas: Corporate Law, Data Security and Privacy Law, Labor and Employment Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law (all Tier 2) and Litigation (Tier 3).

Strong regional presence

Regionally, ARQIS ranks Tier 1 in Mergers and Acquisitions Law in Bavaria and holds a total of eight Tier 1 positions in North Rhine-Westphalia:

• Capital Markets Law
• Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
• Corporate Law
• Data Security and Privacy Law
• Labor and Employment Law
• Litigation
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Regulatory Practice

Further regional top rankings

ARQIS also claims awards in Regional Tier 2 for Arbitration and Mediation, Employee Benefits Law and Private Equity Law (all for the North Rhine-Westphalia region). Insurance Law (NRW), Litigation and Corporate Law (both Bavaria) are also ranked in Regional Tier 3.

Newcomers and rising stars

Especially impressive: Intellectual Property Law in Bavaria has risen from Tier 3 to Tier 2.

Appearing in the ranking for the first time and also awarded:

• Public Law (NRW, Tier 2)
• Media Law (Bavaria, Tier 3)
• Product Liability Litigation (NRW, Tier 3)

The Best Lawyers Special ranks law firms in 60 legal practice areas according to the number of rec-ommendations, divided into a national and a regional ranking. In addition, the ‘Law Firm of the Year’ award is granted in 23 legal practice areas considered to be particularly important according to Best Lawyers. For the evaluation, Best Lawyers uses a peer review survey in which lawyers vote for those colleagues they consider especially recommendable.

The complete list and a detailed list of all award-winning law firms can be accessed in the Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Special.

Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner and Head of the HR.Law Focus Group at ARQIS, has won the PMN Management Award 2025 in the Management category. This award recognizes her as one of few women who are setting new standards as managing partners and having a decisive impact on the law firm market. Each year, a jury of leading experts selects individuals who have a significant impact on law firms or auditing companies with innovative strategies and a sustainable management culture. This year’s Managing Partner received the award yesterday at the PMN Awards Gala at Düsseldorf's Medienhafen.

In their laudatory speech, the experienced jury explained their decision: “Anyone who has successfully managed a commercial law firm for many years while also continuing to provide legal advice must possess strong leadership and communication skills, resilience in stressful situations and confidence in their colleagues' innovative strength. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier has developed these key competencies at the helm of ARQIS.” With impressive results: “In its 20th year of existence, the firm [...] is firmly established among the most important law firms in Germany. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, as managing partner, contributed significantly to this success.”

Andrea Panzer-Heemeier herself emphasizes: “I am delighted to receive this award. But I also know that this dual role, advising companies as a labor lawyer and steering the firm’s fortunes as managing partner, is only possible with the unwavering support of our business services unit. My thanks go to everyone who gives their all for ARQIS every day.”

Andrea Panzer-Heemeier regularly receives awards not only for her role as managing partner. Her professional expertise is also consistently recognized – for example, by Personalmagazin and Handelsblatt, who have honored her as leading labor lawyer and top dealmaker in the German economy. Still, success in this dual role remains rare in the law firm market.

The PMN Awards, presented annually since 2009, recognize excellence in management at professional service firms. The Management category honors leaders who bring about lasting change in their organizations, introduce innovative processes and create sustainable structures. Other awards are presented in the categories of Business Development, ESG/Sustainability, Communication, Human Resources, Legal Tech and Newcomer. The jury comprises renowned personalities from the fields of law, media and academia. Members are Dr. Marion Welp, FAZ-editor Marcus Jung, experienced law firm manager Dr. Stefan Kraus, Prof. Dr. Marion Halfmann (Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences) and Andreas Kurz, deputy editor-in-chief of the business magazine Impulse.

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to the newly founded KOMI Group on the acquisition of the IT infrastructure business spun off from Konica Minolta. The spin-off took place as part of a complex carve-out. In the course of this, KOMI Group was repositioned as an independent IT service provider with a clear focus on medium-sized businesses. Konica Minolta will focus on the remaining areas of professional printing and digital business models in the future.

The new provider, KOMI Group, offers managed services, IT security solutions, infrastructure consulting and modern applications for the digital workplace for medium-sized companies. KOMI is also taking over the existing customer and project structures of Konica Minolta's former IT infrastructure business.

An ARQIS team headed by Partner Dr. Mauritz von Einem and Counsel Dennis Reisich provided comprehensive legal support to KOMI Group throughout the carve-out, acquisition and restructuring of the business. In addition to corporate law aspects, including a new corporate structure, ARQIS, headed by Lisa-Marie Niklas, advised on the carve-out from an employment law perspective. ARQIS has been working regularly for Liberta Partners for several years on transactions, successful platform investments such as the current carve-out and fund structuring.

The Munich-based investment company Liberta Partners supported the transaction as a capital provider and active sparring partner. As an entrepreneurial investment company, Liberta invests in medium-sized companies with development potential and aims to support them financially as well as develop them structurally and operationally.

Advisor to KOMI Group/Liberta Partners
ARQIS (Munich): Dr. Mauritz von Einem (Partner, Lead, Transactions), Lisa-Marie Niklas (Partner, Co-Lead, HR Carve-Out, Düsseldorf, HR Law), Dennis Reisich (Counsel, Co-Lead, Transactions/Tax), Partners: Johannes Landry (Düsseldorf, Financing), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Düsseldorf, Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Düsseldorf, Data Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann, Diana Puchowezki (both Düsseldorf, Real Estate), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Dr. Lina Alami, Luzia Schulze Froning (Düsseldorf, both HR Law), Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Paulina Hüttner, Dr. Julia Wildgans (both IP), Johanna Klingen (Düsseldorf, Data Law), Giulia Kögel (Transactions), Legal Specialist: Konstantinos Strempas (Transactions)

ARQIS has provided comprehensive legal advice to Katjes International on the acquisition of a sixty percent majority stake in Willy Bogner GmbH. Katjes International is acquiring the Bogner Group through its wholly owned subsidiary Katjes Quiet Luxury. 40 percent of the shares will remain with the Bogner family. The transaction, which is expected to be closed in September 2025, is still subject to approval by the German antitrust authorities. Katjes International is considering a possible increase in its existing shareholding to finance the purchase price.

Katjes International GmbH & Co. KG, with its sister companies Katjes Fassin GmbH & Co. KG and Katjesgreenfood GmbH & Co. KG, is part of the Katjes Group. Originally from the confectionery industry, Katjes International is acquiring established brands across the consumer goods sector in Europe as part of its growth strategy.

The internationally operating Bogner Group, particularly known for its ski and outdoor collections under the “Bogner” and “Bogner Fire + Ice” brands, is the largest family-run luxury clothing brand in Germany. The group focuses on premium sports and leisurewear. With over 670 employees in around 50 countries worldwide, Bogner achieved net sales of almost EUR 200 million in the 2024/25 financial year and is profitable.

ARQIS, headed by Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, regularly advises Katjes International on transactions.

ARQIS (Düsseldorf): Core Deal Team Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead, Partner), Jasmin Grünen, Severin Steffens (Managing Associates, all Transactions), Partner: Thomas Chwalek, Johannes Landry (both Transactions), Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (HR.Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (Munich, IP), Dr. Mirjam Boche, Dr. Nicolas Rücker (both Risk), Counsel: Christian Judis (Munich, Compliance), Jens Knipping, Dennis Reisich (Munich, both Tax), Nora Stratmann (Munich, Commercial), Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Managing Associates: Dr. Maximilian Backhaus (Transactions), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Rolf Tichy (Munich, IP), Luise Schüling (Regulatory), Associates: Dr. Lina Alami (Munich), Dr. Tim Weill (both HR.Law), Dr. Maximilian Camphausen (Risk), Rebecca Gester, Paulina Hüttner (both Munich, IP), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Tim Meyer-Meisel, Steffen Schubert (both Transactions), Lia Papismedova (Real Estate), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia (Transactions)

MARCK (Düsseldorf): Dr. Georg Schmittmann (Antitrust)

ARQIS has advised VR Equitypartner (VREP) on the sale of its stake in Bielefeld-based refrigeration, air conditioning and ventilation specialist Zimmer & Hälbig to VINCI Energies.

Zimmer & Hälbig will be integrated into the VINCI Energies Building Solutions network, which comprises 150 business units in Germany, thereby expanding the range of multi-technical solutions for buildings.

The transaction is still subject to approval by the German competition authorities.

Zimmer & Hälbig was founded in 1974 and employed 310 people in Germany in 2024. VREP acquired a significant minority stake in Zimmer & Hälbig in 2022 as part of a management buyout and has since supported the management in implementing its growth strategy.

VR Equitypartner, a subsidiary of DZ BANK, is one of the leading equity financiers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. VREP's portfolio currently comprises around 40 investments with a total investment volume of EUR 400 million.

ARQIS, headed by Dr. Lars Laeger, regularly advises VREP on M&A transactions and also assisted VREP with its entry into Zimmer & Hälbig in 2022.

Advisors to VR Equitypartner
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Dr. Lars Laeger (Lead), Thomas Chwalek (both Corporate/M&A), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR Law), Johannes Landry (Financing), Counsel: Benjamin Bandur (Corporate/M&A, Munich), Jens Knipping, Dennis Reisich (Munich, both Tax), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Conrad Wiza (Corporate/M&A), Associates: Dr. Lina Alami (HR Law), Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia (Corporate/M&A), Legal Specialist: Konstantinos Strempas (Corporate/M&A), Trademark Professional: Carolin von Fritsch

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to CURA Unternehmensgruppe on the sale of its two clinic locations in Bad Saulgau, Baden-Württemberg. Following completion of the transaction, MEDIAN Group will take over Klinik am schönen Moos and Akutklinik Bad Saulgau from CURA, both specialized in acute psychosomatic and rehabilitation medicine. With around 150 employees, the facilities treat approximately 2,200 patients annually. The completion of the transaction is still subject to merger control approval.

CURA Unternehmensgruppe is a private provider of healthcare services and has been operating retirement and nursing homes as well as rehabilitation clinics since 1995. The group employs over 5,300 people at 46 locations across Germany.

MEDIAN Group is a leading European provider of services for mental health, specialized care and rehabilitation. With over 31,000 employees in 410 facilities in Germany, the UK and Spain, MEDIAN cares for more than 309,000 patients and residents annually.

An ARQIS team headed by Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze advised CURA Unternehmensgruppe on all legal aspects of the transaction. The sale of the hospital sites was the result of a bidding process. Dr. Ulrich Lienhard, partner in the Real Estate practice at ARQIS, advised with a team on real estate law related aspects. ARQIS has provided legal support to CURA on numerous occasions. WMCF acted as M&A advisor to CURA.

Advisor to CURA Unternehmensgruppe
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Düsseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Partner, Lead), Severin Steffens (Managing Associate, both Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Partner, Real Estate), Partner: Thomas Chwalek (Transactions), Counsel: Jens Knipping, Dennis Reisich (Munich, both Tax), Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Managing Associates: Laura Ally Rizzi, Dr. Maximilian Backhaus (both Transactions), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Marina Bumeder (HR.Law, Munich), Luise Schüling (Regulatory), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Associates: Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Lia Papismedova (Real Estate), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia (Transactions)

ARQIS has advised Brüggemann Holding GmbH and its managing director, Tobias Brüggemann, on the sale of his remaining shares in the Saint-Gobain-Brüggemann-Holzbau-Group to the French building materials manufacturer Saint-Gobain.

The sale was preceded by the sale of the Saint-Gobain-Brüggemann-Holzbau-Group by Saint-Gobain to Köster Holding SE, a leading general contractor in building construction and civil engineering in Germany.

Saint-Gobain-Brüggemann-Holzbau-Group, based in Neuenkirchen, specializes in the manufacture and assembly of prefabricated timber construction solutions and employs more than 190 people.

Saint-Gobain is a global supplier of materials for the construction sector. Founded in 1665, the listed company employs around 160,000 people in 75 countries and generated sales of EUR 46.6 billion in 2024. In Germany, the company is best known for its building materials brands ISOVER, RIGIPS, WEBER and ECOPHON, as well as for its glass production.

ARQIS had already advised Brüggemann Holding GmbH and its managing director on the sale of the majority stake in the company to Saint-Gobain.

Advisors to Brüggemann Holding GmbH/Tobias Brüggemann
ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Andreas Dietl (Munich) Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider (Düsseldorf, both Lead, both Corporate/M&A)

Onus Consulting (Solingen): Dr. Norbert Zimmermann (Consulting)

ARQIS has provided comprehensive legal advice to biotechnology start-up EvlaBio GmbH, developer of innovative therapies for the treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic kidney disease, on its seed financing round. EvlaBio raised a total of EUR 21 million in seed capital to advance the completion of preclinical development and the transition into IND-enabling studies. The financing round was led by the French VC firm Kurma Partners, with AdBio Partners (Paris, Barcelona), Boehringer Ingelheim Venture Fund, NRW.Venture (NRW.Bank) and High-Tech Gründerfonds as co-investors. It is one of the largest financing rounds of its kind in the DACH region in recent years.

The start-up's treatment approach originally comes from Lead Discovery Center GmbH (LDC), a company founded in 2008 by the technology transfer organization Max Planck Innovation, and was developed in collaboration with KHAN Technology Transfer Fund I GmbH & Co KG (KHAN-I).

EvlaBio, with offices in Düsseldorf and Zurich, is a life science start-up specializing in the development of a first-in-class therapeutic for the treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy for patients with chronic kidney disease.

An ARQIS team headed by partner Dr. Mauritz von Einem, who regularly advises start-ups, provided EvlaBio AG with comprehensive legal advice in connection with this financing round. The mandate arose from a personal contact to the founder of EvlaBio. Advestra provided advice on Swiss law through a team led by Dr. Alexander von Jeinsen.

Advisor to EvlaBio GmbH
ARQIS (Munich): Partner: Dr. Mauritz von Einem (Partner, Transactions, Venture Capital, Lead), Johannes Landry (Transactions, Düsseldorf), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR.Law, Düsseldorf), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), of Counsel: Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem (Transactions, Venture Capital), Counsel: Jens Knipping (Düsseldorf), Dennis Reisich (both Tax), Dr. Roua Schmitz (HR.Law), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Managing Associates: Dr. Hanna Caesar (HR.Law, Düsseldorf), Anselm Graf (Transactions, Venture Capital), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associate: Giulia Kögel (Transactions, Venture Capital)

Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS, has been awarded one of 40 leading HR minds by the Haufe Group's “Personalmagazin”. Once again, she was recognized as a leader in the “Personalmagazine's” six-month, multi-stage selection process. Every two years, the renowned HR publication honors managers, advisers and scientists who are providing groundbreaking ideas for shaping a modern working environment.

Andrea Panzer-Heemeier commented on her award: "It is a great honor for me to be among the 40 leading HR minds for the second time. The award is more than just a title, it is proof that ARQIS is driving real transformation with unconventional approaches. Only those who courageously tread new paths can shape sustainable change in companies and the economy. The responsibility associated with this motivates me every day to find innovative solutions."

With the help of the list of the 40 leading HR minds, “Personalmagazin” aims to provide guidance on those who are leading in management, advisory and science. The jury's selection criteria in the advisory category are excellence in advisory practice with a focus on transformation projects, effectiveness beyond one's own consulting company and personality with integrity. A total of ten advisers were awarded in this category.

"Influencer rankings are currently popular, but these only show how well managers communicate on social media. We have compiled our 40 heads from the perspective of who has influence and is really driving the transformation of companies and the economy forward," explained Reiner Straub, publisher of “Personalmagazin”. "The 40 HR minds are the pioneers of the transformation of the world of work," he concluded.

ARQIS has provided comprehensive legal advice to BBOF VI Holding C. V. (“Bencis”) on the sale of its stake in the Elbfrost Group to NPM Capital. This is NPM Capital’s first transaction in the DACH region. Bencis entered a strategic partnership with Elbfrost in May 2022. With a growth-oriented management team and extensive industry expertise, Bencis has driven Elbfrost's expansion and laid a robust foundation for further growth. The transaction is expected to be closed in the third quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approvals.

The Elbfrost Group has been supplying institutional foodservice customers with frozen and dry products since 1990 and is established as a leading food distributor and logistics provider. Headquartered in Marl, North Rhine-Westphalia, the group supplies customers throughout Germany from several locations.

Tobias Classen, Managing Director at Bencis, stated: “We are proud to have supported the Elbfrost team on its journey over the past years. A true partnership that led to a successful transformation of the company and an acceleration of growth. We are confident Elbfrost will continue to thrive with their new partner NPM.”

Bencis has been investing in companies in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany for over 20 years. Its focus includes sectors such as industry and manufacturing, food and beverages, business and consumer services, healthcare and leisure, and wholesale and retail.

NPM Capital is a leading investment company headquartered in Amsterdam with offices in Munich and Ghent. Its investments focus on companies in the Benelux countries and the DACH region.

An ARQIS team headed by partner Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze regularly advises Bencis, in particular also on its investment in Elbfrost in 2022.

Advisor to Bencis
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Partner, Lead), Dr. Maximilian Backhaus (Managing Associate), Tim Meyer-Meisel (Associate, all Transactions), Partner: Thomas Chwalek (Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Counsel: Malte Griepenburg (Transactions), Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, Munich), Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Marina Bumeder (HR.Law, Munich), Rolf Tichy (IP, Munich), Associates: Ivo Ertekin, Steffen Schubert (both Transactions), Rebecca Gester (Commercial, Munich), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia (Transactions)

MARCK (Düsseldorf): Dr. Georg Schmittmann (Antitrust)

Poellath (Munich): Dr. Barbara Koch-Schulte, Dr. Michael de Toma (Advisor to the Management)

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to Isenau Projects on the sale of an energy storage project in Neuenkirchen (Lower Saxony) to GIGA Storage. GIGA Storage, one of the leading developers and operators of battery energy storage systems (BESS), has acquired the large-scale 350 MW/1,400 MWh energy storage facility (Project GIGA Albatross) from BESS developer Isenau Projects.

Isenau Projects, headquartered in London, develops large-scale battery storage systems, particularly with capacities over 250 MW. Isenau combines market knowledge, coordination with investors and in-depth expertise in the field of BESS projects. The company currently manages a project pipeline of around 1.7 gigawatts in Germany alone.

With this acquisition, GIGA Storage is pursuing its international expansion strategy and simultaneously establishes itself on the German market. This will empower the integration of renewable energies, frequency control and local congestion management. The acquisition is supported by InfraVia Capital Partners, one of Europe's leading infrastructure investors and the majority shareholder of GIGA Storage.

GIGA Storage, headquartered in Amsterdam, was founded in 2018 and is a leader in the field of grid-connected energy storage solutions. The company has so far been primarily active in the Netherlands, but with expanding into other countries also driving the energy transition forward across Europe.

An ARQIS team headed by partners Dr. Ulrich Lienhard and Dr. Mirjam Boche provided Isenau Projects with comprehensive legal advice on this transaction. ARQIS has already advised Isenau Projects on several occasions. The mandate came about through a recommendation from the market.

Advisor to Isenau Projects
ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Partners: Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate and Project Development, Lead), Dr. Mirjam Boche (Transactions and Insurance Law, Lead), Counsel: Jens Knipping (Tax), Martin Weingärtner (HR.Law), Managing Associates: Marina Bumeder (HR.Law, Munich), Conrad Wiza (Transactions), Associates: Lia Papismedova (Real Estate), Steffen Schubert (Transactions), Dr. Tim Weill (HR.Law)