Key Takeaways
- • Baker McKenzie appoints Dr. Christoph Jerger as partner in Transactional Practice Group in Munich, strengthening the firm's private equity and M&A capabilities in Germany and globally to address rising client demand.
- • Jerger joins from Kirkland & Ellis, where he has practiced since 2017, bringing established relationships with leading private equity sponsors and deep expertise in complex domestic and cross-border M&A transactions.
- • Industry recognition positions Jerger as emerging leader in German PE market: named "Rising Star" for private equity in the 2025/2026 JUVE Handbook and featured on JUVE's 2025 "40 Under 40" list of top accomplished lawyers under age 40 in Germany.
- • Jerger's specialization spans financial sponsor transactions, public takeovers, corporate restructurings, and capital markets matters, with particular focus on acquisitions of privately held and publicly listed companies.
- • Hire signals Baker McKenzie's strategic commitment to building out German private equity practice and supporting clients on increasingly complex cross-border transactions in response to market growth.
Summary
Baker McKenzie has appointed Dr. Christoph Jerger as a partner in its Transactional Practice Group in Munich, effective September 2026. The hire underscores the firm's strategic commitment to expanding its private equity and high-end M&A capabilities in Germany and globally, capitalizing on increasing client demand in this sector.
Jerger brings substantial experience as an M&A and private equity specialist, advising financial sponsors on complex domestic and cross-border transactions, public takeovers, corporate restructurings, and corporate capital markets matters. His practice has concentrated on advising leading private equity sponsors in acquisitions of both privately held and publicly listed companies, positioning him as a key addition to Baker McKenzie's transactional platform.
The appointment reflects market recognition of Jerger's expertise. In the 2025/2026 JUVE Handbook for German Commercial Law Firms, he was designated a "Rising Star" in private equity and was included on JUVE's 2025 "40 Under 40" list recognizing the most accomplished lawyers under 40 in Germany. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Jerger practiced at Kirkland & Ellis for nine years, beginning in 2017, where he established a strong track record and relationships with institutional sponsors.
Christian Atzler, co-head of the Corporate/M&A Practice Group in Germany at Baker McKenzie, commented that Jerger represents "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 hire as "another important step in the continued development and committed growth of our German private equity practice."
The lateral move exemplifies competitive talent dynamics within elite legal markets, where specialized PE and M&A practitioners command significant mobility between global firms seeking to strengthen geographic and sector capabilities.
Jerger brings substantial experience as an M&A and private equity specialist, advising financial sponsors on complex domestic and cross-border transactions, public takeovers, corporate restructurings, and corporate capital markets matters. His practice has concentrated on advising leading private equity sponsors in acquisitions of both privately held and publicly listed companies, positioning him as a key addition to Baker McKenzie's transactional platform.
The appointment reflects market recognition of Jerger's expertise. In the 2025/2026 JUVE Handbook for German Commercial Law Firms, he was designated a "Rising Star" in private equity and was included on JUVE's 2025 "40 Under 40" list recognizing the most accomplished lawyers under 40 in Germany. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Jerger practiced at Kirkland & Ellis for nine years, beginning in 2017, where he established a strong track record and relationships with institutional sponsors.
Christian Atzler, co-head of the Corporate/M&A Practice Group in Germany at Baker McKenzie, commented that Jerger represents "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 hire as "another important step in the continued development and committed growth of our German private equity practice."
The lateral move exemplifies competitive talent dynamics within elite legal markets, where specialized PE and M&A practitioners command significant mobility between global firms seeking to strengthen geographic and sector capabilities.
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