act legal Romania is reinforcing its defense capabilities by welcoming two new lawyers in litigation and white-collar crime

act legal Romania has been on a streak of new additions and this trend continues, the firm now strengthening its expertise in both litigation and white-collar crime.

Ana Mihai is joining as Counsel in the Litigation department, bringing with her an excellent track record. She specializes in providing expert legal advice, assistance, and representation in administrative matters, arbitration as well as tax, civil and commercial disputes. Her skills extend beyond the courtroom, including the management of diverse client portfolios and the delivery of tailored solutions for both local and international companies. Ana has also demonstrated leadership in managing large teams of senior and junior lawyers.

Cătălin Apătean is contributing to the firm’s expertise in criminal law and criminal procedural law. As an Associate in the White-Collar Crime practice, he focuses on assisting and representing parties in criminal prosecution and trial stages. Cătălin has been actively involved in cases related to fraud, abuse of office, forgery, corruption, and customs offenses.

About act Botezatu Estrade Partners (act legal Romania)

act legal Romania is the local office of act legal, a European law firm with presence in 11 countries. act legal is a one-stop shop, providing a full range of cross-border legal services to companies and investors who intend to enter the continental European markets or are already present in the region.

For more updates on the firm’s activity, you can follow us on our LinkedIn page.

Reorganisation: Experienced and well-established ACT team responsible for the self-administration of Alpha Real Estate Holding and 13 subsidiaries

Alexander Höpfner, Sven Tischendorf and Felix Melzer as well as Tara Kamiyar-Müller (Real Estate) have been responsible for the self-administration of the Germany-wide asset and investment manager and leading company in the privatisation of residential real estate – Alpha Real Estate Group – since 27 November 2023.

The entire property and construction industry in Germany is currently struggling with the consequences of high interest rates, rising construction costs and uncertainty in the face of falling property prices. In recent months, for example, the major nationwide property project developer Gerch and Euroboden in Munich, Nuremberg-based Project Immobilien and the Düsseldorf-based property companies Centrum and Development Partner have already had to file for insolvency.

Due to the economic challenges posed by the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis and, in particular, the drastic rise in interest rates and the resulting restraint on the financing and investment market, Alpha Real Estate’s business model has now also found itself in a precarious situation. business model of Alpha Real Estate also found itself in a precarious situation, which led to liquidity bottlenecks and the need for comprehensive restructuring.

With the subsequent applications for self-administration for Alpha Real Estate Holding and 13 of its subsidiaries, which the Mannheim Local Court decided in favour of, the starting signal has now been given for successful and far-reaching restructuring and reorganisation measures towards a repositioning and realignment in the current market. Jens Lieser from the insolvency law firm Lieser Rechtsanwälte, which specialises in insolvency law, has been appointed as provisional administrator.

With a transaction volume of 1.4 billion and a portfolio of 350 thousand square metres of residential and commercial space, the Mannheim-based investment house has been successfully designing and developing investment properties for private investors, tenants and owner-occupiers as well as institutional investors throughout Germany for 10 years with its full-service concept. Alpha Real Estate’s range of services covers the entire property value creation process, from buying and selling to active and value-enhancing asset and property management.

The ACT team is optimally positioned for the planned reorientation, as in addition to the well-known insolvency and restructuring practice of Sven Tischendorf and Alexander Höpfner, the strong expertise of the ACT Real Estate division under the leadership of Tara Kamiyar-Müller, which focuses on special property law situations/restructurings, will also be deployed here.

Alpha Real Estate self-administration:
act AC Tischendorf Rechtsanwälte, Frankfurt: Dr. Alexander Höpfner (lead, general representative, CIO), Dr. Sven Tischendorf, MBA (lead, general representative, CRO), Dr. Felix Melzer (general representative, restructuring), Dr. Tara Kamiyar-Müller (real estate restructuring), Dr. Fabian Laugwitz, MBA, LL.M. (real estate, commercial)

act legal Czech Republic je opět nejlepší advokátní kanceláří na právo životního prostředí

act legal Czech Republic (act Řanda Havel Legal) v letošním ročníku prestižního hodnocení advokátních kanceláří Právnická firma roku společnosti EPRAVO.CZ obhájila loňské vítězství v kategorii Právo životního prostředí. K vítězstvím v kategoriích Energetika a energetické projekty, Pracovní právo a Telekomunikace a media z minulých let tak přidala další nejvyšší ocenění. Kromě toho act Řanda Havel Legal uspěla v dalších 16 kategoriích. 

act legal Czech Republic kromě práva životního prostředí uspěla i v dalších odborných kategoriích. V konkurenci téměř 80 českých i mezinárodních advokátních kanceláří je velmi doporučovaná v oblastech energetiky a energetických projektů, řešení sporů a arbitráží, práva hospodářské soutěže, developerských a nemovitostních projektů, restrukturalizace a insolvence, telekomunikací a medií, práva informačních technologií, veřejných zakázek, pracovního práva, firemního compliance, zdravotnického práva, a také je velmi doporučovaná ve zvláštní kategorii Česká firma na mezinárodních trzích. 

Doporučovaná je pak pro oblasti fúzí a akvizic, bankovnictví a financí, práva obchodních společností a duševního vlastnictví. 

Kontinuální úspěšnost v žebříčku kvality právních služeb dlouhodobě řadí act legal Czech Republic mezi absolutní špičku advokátních kanceláří v České republice.

act legal Romania assisted Louis Delhaize in the sale of Cora Romania to Carrefour following Competition Council’s clearance

act Botezatu Estrade Partners (act legal Romania) assisted Louis Delhaize in the sale of Cora Romania to Carrefour following clearance by the Competition Council. The transaction, initially subject to approval by the Competition Authorities, has now received the green light, allowing all parties involved to raise a glass of champagne in celebration of the successful completion of this deal.

The act legal Romania team was led by M&A Partner Laura Estrade, Real Estate Partner Mihaela Poșircă, and Competition Partner Stefan Botezatu, with strong involvement and full dedication of Counsel Iustina Sima, Managing Associate Ruxandra Liștea, Senior Associate Andrei Petre, and Associate Lorena Samoilă.

„I had full confidence that act legal Romania team would successfully drive this deal to completion. After working together for such a long time, we couldn’t have expected any other outcome. ‚Forward-thinking‘ is not just a strapline for them; it’s their essence. Thank you, everyone!“ stated Olivier André, General Counsel of Louis Delhaize Group.

“I’ve heard a joke that said “Why did the lawyer’s computer go to therapy after closing a deal? Because it had too many attachment issues!” – while we’re not sending laptops to therapy, we have been genuinely attached to this deal, or more accurately, to our client. Our longstanding cooperation and the successful completion of this landmark transaction are things we’re extremely proud of!“ shared Stefan Botezatu, Managing Partner.

About the transaction

Cora Romania, owned by the Louis Delhaize Group, comprises 10 hypermarkets, 9 cora Urban stores, and employs over 2,010 professionals. This sale represents a noteworthy development within the Romanian food retail landscape.

Louis Delhaize’s exit from the Romanian market follows the sale and leaseback of seven Cora commercial centers in late 2021 and early 2022, transactions by which Cora sold its real estate properties and continued as tenant. act legal Romania, as the longstanding legal counsel to Louis Delhaize for Romania, provided its assistance in all these strategic transactions.

About act Botezatu Estrade Partners (act legal Romania)

act legal Romania is the local office of act legal, an international law firm with a presence in 11 European capitals. act legal is a one-stop shop, providing a full range of cross-border legal services to companies and investors who intend to enter the continental European markets or are already present in the region.

For more updates on the firm’s activity, you can follow its LinkedIn page.

act legal Germany advises the shareholders of CRS medical on the sale to Asker Healthcare Group, Sweden

act legal Germany has provided legal and tax advice to the shareholders of CRS medical GmbH („CRS medical„) on the sale of all shares in CRS medical to Asker Healthcare Group („ASKER„).

CRS medical has been providing services in the field of medical technology since 2004. Many years of experience and extensive knowledge in the medical technology sector have made CRS medical a dynamic and powerful medium-sized company. With over 210 employees, CRS medical is now represented on almost every continent in the world.

Headquartered in Sweden, ASKER now consists of more than 30 companies in 14 countries and 2,400 employees, supporting healthcare providers and patients to improve patient outcomes, reduce the total cost of care and ensure a fair and sustainable value chain.

CEO and founder Michael Schlapp will remain with the company in his operational role. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction.

With more than 300 professionals throughout Central Europe act legal offers sophisticated national as well as international legal advice – the attractive alternative to large international law firms.

Advisors CRS medical: act legal Germany: Christoph O. Breithaupt, M.B.L. (HSG) (Private Equity/Corporate), Sandra Brieske (Private Equity/Corporate), Dr. Stephan Schwilden, MBA (Employment law), Dr. Florian Wäßle, LL.M. (IT/IP), Dr. Fabian Laugwitz, MBA, LL.M. Eur. (Real Estate); Dr. Frank Bayer (frb-tax, Tax)

Strong for the future – Outpatient care service provider Dignicare Pflege GmbH restructures itself in self-administration

Dr Alexander Höpfner, DigniCare’s trustee: „I see a concrete need for care services, a business model that is in demand on the market and opportunities for restructuring that are also in the interest of the creditors“.

Due to the high shortage of labour and skilled workers in the care sector as well as a decline in sales of private cost coverage for certain care and nursing services, the outpatient care service with around 200 employees at 14 operating sites nationwide got into financial difficulties. Within the framework of self-administration and under the constructive support of the restructuring process by the restructuring experts of LIESER Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB and act AC Tischendorf Rechtsanwälte, who are particularly experienced in the area of nursing services/hospitals, the outpatient nursing services can be continued without restriction and interruption and the wages and salaries of the employees can be secured via insolvency benefits.

Property administration: act AC Tischendorf Rechtsanwälte – Dr. Alexander Höpfner (property administrator), Dr. Felix Melzer, Maximilian Dieler (both restructuring/insolvency)

For additional information see also our LinkedIn article (in German language only): https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ac-tischendorf-rechtsanwaelte_zukunftsstark-pflegesektor-sanierung-activity-7105924240507351040-vaXw?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

Dr. Sven Tischendorf, MBA (self-administrator) and Dr. Alexander Höpfner (self-administrator) ensure the successful conclusion of the insolvency proceedings of the Salamander Klauser shoe stores via an investor solution

Dr Sven Tischendorf in the function of CRO, Dr Alexander Höpfner in the function of CIO and Dr Christian Holzmann in the function of administrator have been responsible for the self-administration of the traditional German companies Salamander Klauser since 13 December 2022.

The shoe chains Salamander and Klauser Schuhe were taken over in 2016 by the parent company Ara, which is backed by the Röseler family of entrepreneurs. Ara manufactures shoes itself and also owns other shoe brands, such as Lloyd or Lurchi.

The unfortunate combination of the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic turbulence triggered by the Ukraine war had put a heavy strain on Salamander’s and Klauser’s retail business.

In the past months of the self-administration proceedings, the restructuring experts Dr. Sven Tischendorf and Dr. Alexander Höpfner, each as managing director, together with the two Salamander/Klauser managing directors Jens Keller and Jens Peter Klatt, got the company back on track by immediately stabilising business operations and successfully realigning it.

In parallel to the operational tasks and the securing of stable financing, an investor process was initiated on the part of the owner and property management with the aim of acquiring new owners with a sustainable continuation strategy by autumn 2023.

Within the framework of this investor process, the Prime Footwear investor group prevailed over other renowned strategists and financial investors. Prime Footwear Investors AG is an association of experienced managerial personalities with profound knowledge of the shoe industry as well as renowned retail experts: Franz W. Wiest (transformation expert), the Brandstetter-Finger family (organisational consultant with shoe retail background) as well as Convergenta Beteiligungsgesellschaft are the new main shareholders.

In addition, the entrepreneurs Peter Prange (former owner of Salamander/Klauser), Günter Althaus (EX-CEO ANWR Group) and Lothar Schäfer (EX-CEO of Adler Modemärkte and AppelrathCüpper) are also involved.

Both the timing and the outcome of the investor process have exceeded expectations, in particular due to the currently very fragile market environment in the branch-based shoe retail sector. As a result, the majority of the approx. 1,000 jobs will be secured both in the now total of 65 branches as well as in the head office and logistics at the Wuppertal location.

The investor group has become a shareholder in Salamander and Klauser via an insolvency plan. After the creditors have approved the insolvency plans submitted to Salamander and Klauser on the occasion of discussion and voting meetings held on 15 September 2023, the Local Court of Wuppertal will terminate the insolvency proceedings in the near future.

The aim is now to achieve/ensure the operational transition until the formal termination of the proceedings. In order to ensure a smooth transition, the team around Sven Tischendorf and Alexander Höpfner will continue to be available to the new owner of Salamander and Klauser.

With a large number of market-renowned self-administration proceedings already successfully concluded in 2020-2022, act AC Tischendorf’s insolvency and restructuring practice, led by partners Dr Sven Tischendorf, MBA and Dr Alexander Höpfner, is one of the market leaders in Germany.

Salamander/Klauser self-administration: act AC Tischendorf Rechtsanwälte, Frankfurt – Dr Sven Tischendorf, MBA, Dr Alexander Höpfner (both restructuring managing directors); Dr Felix Melzer (insolvency law, restructuring); Dr Tara Kamiyar-Müller (real estate); Dr Fabian Laugwitz, MBA, LL.M. Eur. (Commercial); Dr. Nina Honstetter (Labour Law); Maximilian Dieler (Insolvency Law, Restructuring)

act legal Czech Republic je zařazena do žebříčku IFLR1000 pro rok 2023

Mezinárodní ratingová publikace IFLR1000 již od roku 2011 svým hodnocením pravidelně zařazuje advokátní kancelář act legal Czech Republic (act Řanda Havel Legal) mezi významné advokátní kanceláře v České republice. I v roce 2023 tak act Řanda Havel Legal patří v oblastech bankovnictví & financování, fúzí & akvizic, vývoje projektů („Project development“) a restrukturalizace & insolvence k doporučovaným kancelářím.

IFLR1000 provádí nezávislý celosvětový průzkum trhu právních služeb v segmentu finančního práva a identifikuje vedoucí advokátní kanceláře v jednotlivých zemích a právních oblastech. act Řanda Havel Legal se tak i v mezinárodním měřítku zařazuje opakovaně mezi etablované advokátní kanceláře působící v České republice.

Kompletní hodnocení zde

Cross-border transaction: Private Equity Investor Nimbus sells RAMPF Group

act legal advised the private equity investor Nimbus hands-on investors in a cross-border transaction led by act AC Tischendorf Rechtsanwälte with further teams from Hungary, Poland, the US and France on the sale of the RAMPF Group, a leading manufacturer of steel molds for the concrete block industry with more than 550 employees worldwide.

Many thanks to Christian Basedow of Nimbus as well as the team of IMAP M&A Consultants AG, in particular Henning Graw, Sebastian Dinklage and Max Victor Müller, for the excellent cooperation and we are looking forward to the next transactions!

Advisors Nimbus: act legal – Dr. Fabian Brocke, LL.M. (Lead, M&A), Maximilian Dieler (Corporate, M&A), Dr. Nina Honstetter (Employment), Monique Gunawardene (IP/IT) (all Frankfurt); Dr. Weidinger Péter, LL.M., Dr. István Solt (M&A, Employment, both act legal Hungary), Marek Wojnar, Marlena Witkowska (M&A, Commercial, both act legal Poland), Todd Davidson, Emery Levine, J.D., M.A. (M&A, Employment, both USA, Maynard Nexsen), Adrien Debré, Aurélien Babin (M&A, Employment, both France, Cornet Vincent Ségurel).

Advisors M&A: IMAP M&A Consultants AG – Henning Graw, Sebastian Dinklage und Max Victor Müller

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