Gleiss Lutz launches capital markets group in Frankfurt

Gleiss Lutz has launched a capital markets group for the first time with four partners from its banking and M&A practices.

The new team will be based in Frankfurt and will comprise finance partners Burkhard Jäkel and Helge Kortz and corporate partners Detlef Bauer and Edgar Matyschok. In total the team will be made up of 10 lawyers, including associates.

Managing partner Martin Diller said the new group will provide a better focus for its capital markets experts and will increase the firm's visibility in Frankfurt.

Gleiss Lutz's capital markets lawyers are currently buried in other practice groups within the firm. Recent deals include a role advising global investment group Blackstone on its €3.1bn (£2.14bn) purchase of chemical manufacturer Celanese, the largest-ever German private-to-public offer.

The move will also be good news for Gleiss Lutz alliance partners Herbert Smith and Stibbe, which will hope to benefit from referrals.

Gleiss Lutz is also relocating Jan Bauer, a member of its M&A team, to Frankfurt from Stuttgart in September. Bauer has worked on deals for Blackstone and investment firm Ripplewood, and his move is expected to boost the private equity practice.