Key Takeaways
- • Baker McKenzie hired Dr. Christoph Jerger as a partner in its Munich-based Transactional Practice Group, effective September 1, 2026, to strengthen private equity and M&A capabilities in Germany and globally.
- • Jerger brings nine years of private equity and M&A experience from Kirkland & Ellis (2017–2026), with recognized expertise in domestic and cross-border transactions, public takeovers, and corporate restructurings for leading financial sponsors.
- • The hire reflects Baker McKenzie's strategic commitment to expand its German private equity practice amid rising demand for high-end M&A advisory services in the market.
- • Jerger holds established sponsor relationships and has earned industry recognition as a "Rising Star" in private equity (JUVE Handbook 2025/2026) and inclusion in JUVE's 2025 "40 Under 40" list of top German lawyers under 40.
Summary
Baker McKenzie announced the addition of Dr. Christoph Jerger as a partner in its Transactional Practice Group at the Munich office, effective September 1, 2026. The hire signals the firm's strategic initiative to build out global private equity and high-end M&A capabilities in response to increased market demand, particularly in Germany and cross-border transactions.
Jerger joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where he has practiced since 2017, bringing nine years of specialized experience in complex M&A and private equity work. His practice focuses on advising financial sponsors on acquisitions of both privately held and publicly listed companies, as well as handling public takeovers, corporate restructurings, and corporate capital markets matters. His expertise spans both domestic German transactions and complex cross-border deals.
The partner hire has garnered significant industry recognition for Jerger. He was named a "Rising Star" for private equity in the 2025/2026 edition of the JUVE Handbook of German Commercial Law Firms and was featured in JUVE's 2025 "40 Under 40" list recognizing the most accomplished lawyers in Germany under age 40. This recognition underscores his standing within the German legal market and his established relationships with leading private equity sponsors.
Christian Atzler, co-head of Baker McKenzie's Corporate/M&A Practice Group in Germany, emphasized Jerger's value to the firm: "He is a very skilled and highly regarded private equity lawyer with an established practice, strong sponsor relationships and significant experience in the German market." Berthold Hummel, co-head of Baker McKenzie's Corporate Practice in Germany, characterized the addition as "another important step in the continued development and committed growth of our German private equity practice," underscoring the firm's strategic focus on reinforcing its transactional capabilities in the region.
The hire reflects a broader trend among major international law firms of bolstering their German M&A and private equity practices to capitalize on market opportunities and respond to client demand for sophisticated cross-border advisory services.
Jerger joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where he has practiced since 2017, bringing nine years of specialized experience in complex M&A and private equity work. His practice focuses on advising financial sponsors on acquisitions of both privately held and publicly listed companies, as well as handling public takeovers, corporate restructurings, and corporate capital markets matters. His expertise spans both domestic German transactions and complex cross-border deals.
The partner hire has garnered significant industry recognition for Jerger. He was named a "Rising Star" for private equity in the 2025/2026 edition of the JUVE Handbook of German Commercial Law Firms and was featured in JUVE's 2025 "40 Under 40" list recognizing the most accomplished lawyers in Germany under age 40. This recognition underscores his standing within the German legal market and his established relationships with leading private equity sponsors.
Christian Atzler, co-head of Baker McKenzie's Corporate/M&A Practice Group in Germany, emphasized Jerger's value to the firm: "He is a very skilled and highly regarded private equity lawyer with an established practice, strong sponsor relationships and significant experience in the German market." Berthold Hummel, co-head of Baker McKenzie's Corporate Practice in Germany, characterized the addition as "another important step in the continued development and committed growth of our German private equity practice," underscoring the firm's strategic focus on reinforcing its transactional capabilities in the region.
The hire reflects a broader trend among major international law firms of bolstering their German M&A and private equity practices to capitalize on market opportunities and respond to client demand for sophisticated cross-border advisory services.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.