Key Takeaways
- • Latham & Watkins recruits four senior private equity and M&A partners from Freshfields—Markus Paul, Wessel Heukamp, Verena Nosch, and Carsten Haak—to expand its Germany and European practices, bringing decades of combined experience in leveraged buyouts and cross-border transactions.
- • The hire strengthens Latham's market position following strong 2025 performance: the firm achieved #1 global rankings for M&A by both deal value and deal count, plus #1 for global private equity M&A by deal count (Bloomberg), with additional #1 rankings across Europe for M&A, private equity M&A, and mid-market private equity M&A.
- • The incoming partners bring deep expertise advising leading private equity sponsors, financial institutions, and corporates on complex domestic and cross-border transactions, with particular focus on leveraged buyouts and financial sponsor advisory work.
- • Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins, described the additions as "an important milestone in the continued growth of our private equity and M&A practices in Germany and Europe" and noted they further enhance the firm's position as "one of the elite M&A law firms globally."
Summary
Latham & Watkins announced the recruitment of four prominent private equity and M&A partners from Freshfields—Markus Paul, Wessel Heukamp, Verena Nosch, and Carsten Haak—marking a significant expansion of the firm's European private equity and M&A capabilities, particularly in Germany. The partners bring collectively decades of advisory experience on sophisticated transactions and are widely recognized among Europe's most experienced private equity lawyers.
The incoming team will advise a broad range of private equity and other financial sponsors, as well as corporates including financial institutions, across a variety of transaction types. Their expertise centers on leveraged buyouts and complex domestic and cross-border M&A work. This hire represents a strategic investment in Latham's European footprint, positioning the firm to better serve the region's active deal market.
The timing of this expansion follows Latham's strong market performance in 2025. During the first three quarters of the year, the firm achieved top-ranking positions globally: #1 for M&A by both deal value and deal count, and #1 for global private equity M&A by deal count, according to Bloomberg. In Europe specifically, Latham ranked #1 for M&A, private equity M&A, and mid-market private equity M&A by deal count, underscoring its dominance in the region's deal activity.
Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins, emphasized the caliber of the incoming partners, stating they are "highly accomplished lawyers with outstanding reputations in the market" who bring "deep relationships, top-notch skills and an exceptional track record in sophisticated transactions." Trobman characterized the addition as strengthening the firm's ability to deliver premium advisory services and further consolidating Latham's position among elite global M&A law firms.
The incoming team will advise a broad range of private equity and other financial sponsors, as well as corporates including financial institutions, across a variety of transaction types. Their expertise centers on leveraged buyouts and complex domestic and cross-border M&A work. This hire represents a strategic investment in Latham's European footprint, positioning the firm to better serve the region's active deal market.
The timing of this expansion follows Latham's strong market performance in 2025. During the first three quarters of the year, the firm achieved top-ranking positions globally: #1 for M&A by both deal value and deal count, and #1 for global private equity M&A by deal count, according to Bloomberg. In Europe specifically, Latham ranked #1 for M&A, private equity M&A, and mid-market private equity M&A by deal count, underscoring its dominance in the region's deal activity.
Rich Trobman, Chair and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins, emphasized the caliber of the incoming partners, stating they are "highly accomplished lawyers with outstanding reputations in the market" who bring "deep relationships, top-notch skills and an exceptional track record in sophisticated transactions." Trobman characterized the addition as strengthening the firm's ability to deliver premium advisory services and further consolidating Latham's position among elite global M&A law firms.
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