Dr Christian Johnen
Christian is a corporate Partner with particular expertise in all aspects of M&A and corporate law.
Christian focuses on advising multinationals, financial investors and family-owned businesses in relation to mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring and corporate advisory. Christian regularly advises on corporate cross border transactions, joint ventures and corporate law issues, including complex corporate reorganisations and restructurings. Christian also assists shareholders as well as management and supervisory boards on corporate governance and compliance. His recent experience covers regulated industries (such as defence and financial services), consumer products, and general industries.
Further, Christian has significant experience in advising on FDI regimes and their implications for transaction structures.
Accolades
- Rising star in M&A, JUVE Handbook 2025/2026
- Frequently recommended lawyer for M&A, JUVE Handbook 2024/2025
- “Skilled negotiator, assertive yet empathetic”, (competitor quote), JUVE Handbook 2024/2025
- “Hands on, pragmatic, negotiates with pinpoint accuracy”, (client quote), JUVE Handbook 2024/2025
- Recommended in several further directories, including by F.A.Z. Institut.
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- Rheinmetall on the acquisition of Lürssen's naval division NVL
- T&D Holdings as part of a consortium with Allianz and BlackRock on the acquisition of a majority stake in Viridium Group from Cinven
- Avedon Capital Partners on acquisition of IoT business from Silverlake
- Deutsche Lufthansa on the sale of LSG Group to private equity investor Aurelius Group (global business) and to airline caterer gategroup (European business), as well as on contractual aspects of pilot dispute
- Comcast on sell-side transactions, restructurings and refinancings
- Yokoy (Swiss AI platform provider) on its acquisition by TravelPerk
- SoftBank Robotics Group on the sale of its French subsidiary SoftBank Robotics Europe to United Robotics Group
- The Ardonagh Group on acquisition of the business of Hemsley Wynne Furlonge LLP
- Rheinmetall on the acquisition of EXPAL Systems, a globally active ammunition maker
- thyssenkrupp Marine Systems on joint venture with Kongsberg Group regarding production and sale of submarine fleet to Norwegian navy
- Deutsche Post DHL on various transactions (buy side)
- Global investor with respect to intended acquisition of significant life insurance portfolio issued by German insurance company
- Fujitec on divestiture of German elevator business
- a German retail bank on the regulatory licensing requirement of non-fungible tokens (NFT) and potential set ups to enter the German NFT market
- flaschenpost on its sale to Dr. Oetker group, one of the largest ever VC exits in Germany
- a multinational Japanese industrial corporation on its proposed acquisition of a segment from a German blue chip
- Several Japanese multinationals on various mid cap transactions and corporate matters
Sectors
Background
Christian graduated from the University of Münster in 2008 and holds a doctor of laws (Dr. iur.). Before joining the firm, he worked for a leading German based international law firm.
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