Key Takeaways
- • Freshfields announced six new partner promotions and hires across Germany and Austria in January 2026, including Dr. Florian Sippel as Munich-based Private Equity partner, marking a significant expansion of its Global Transactions practice group in the region.
- • Dr. Sippel, who previously spent seven years at Freshfields (through 2021) advising major PE funds including Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Triton, TPG, and Permira, returns with deep expertise in technology, e-commerce, and software sector transactions.
- • The expansion reflects Freshfields' strategic rebuild of its German private equity bench following recent competitive departures to rival firms, with the firm targeting institutional investors and PE funds across infrastructure, energy, and technology sectors.
- • Additional hires include Dr. Carsten Bork (Frankfurt, infrastructure and energy M&A), Dr. David Schwintowski, Lukas Treichl, Dr. Heiner Braun, and Dr. Stephan Waldhausen, broadening the firm's capacity across cross-border transactions and sector-specific expertise.
- • Sippel's prior work included advising Permira on its 2021 Adevinta investment and Hellman & Friedman on its 2019 AutoScout24 acquisition, demonstrating track record with marquee exit transactions and strategic acquisitions.
Summary
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announced a significant expansion of its private equity and M&A practice in Germany and Austria in January 2026, adding six partners across Frankfurt, Munich, and Vienna as part of its Global Transactions practice group. The move signals the firm's commitment to strengthening its institutional investor-facing capabilities in the German-speaking markets amid competitive pressures from rival global firms.
Dr. Florian Sippel, the headline hire, joined Freshfields' Munich office as a Private Equity partner after previously serving seven years at the firm through 2021, where he was based in Frankfurt, Munich, and London. Sippel brings sector-focused expertise in technology, e-commerce, and software transactions, with a client roster spanning leading private equity funds: Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Triton, TPG, and Permira. His prior advisory work includes counseling Permira on its 2021 investment in Adevinta and advising Hellman & Friedman on its 2019 acquisition of AutoScout24—both marquee transactions demonstrating capability on complex, large-scale private equity exits and strategic acquisitions.
Dr. Carsten Bork, based in Frankfurt, complements the private equity focus with specialization in cross-border M&A transactions within infrastructure and energy sectors, serving institutional clients including CPP Investments, Brookfield, Global Infrastructure Partners (part of BlackRock), and AXA IM. Bork previously led advisory work on a Federal Republic of Germany security agreement related to the TKMS IPO, indicating experience on complex, government-backed transactions.
The expansion also includes promotions of Dr. Heiner Braun and Dr. Stephan Waldhausen within the Munich office, alongside new partners Dr. David Schwintowski and Lukas Treichl across the region. This structural reinforcement addresses Freshfields' need to rebuild its German private equity practice bench following recent talent migration to competing firms, positioning the firm to better serve PE funds and strategic investors executing transactions across key European sectors.
Dr. Florian Sippel, the headline hire, joined Freshfields' Munich office as a Private Equity partner after previously serving seven years at the firm through 2021, where he was based in Frankfurt, Munich, and London. Sippel brings sector-focused expertise in technology, e-commerce, and software transactions, with a client roster spanning leading private equity funds: Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, Triton, TPG, and Permira. His prior advisory work includes counseling Permira on its 2021 investment in Adevinta and advising Hellman & Friedman on its 2019 acquisition of AutoScout24—both marquee transactions demonstrating capability on complex, large-scale private equity exits and strategic acquisitions.
Dr. Carsten Bork, based in Frankfurt, complements the private equity focus with specialization in cross-border M&A transactions within infrastructure and energy sectors, serving institutional clients including CPP Investments, Brookfield, Global Infrastructure Partners (part of BlackRock), and AXA IM. Bork previously led advisory work on a Federal Republic of Germany security agreement related to the TKMS IPO, indicating experience on complex, government-backed transactions.
The expansion also includes promotions of Dr. Heiner Braun and Dr. Stephan Waldhausen within the Munich office, alongside new partners Dr. David Schwintowski and Lukas Treichl across the region. This structural reinforcement addresses Freshfields' need to rebuild its German private equity practice bench following recent talent migration to competing firms, positioning the firm to better serve PE funds and strategic investors executing transactions across key European sectors.
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