Dr. Holger J. Jakob

FPS has profound expertise when it comes to the foundation of companies, regardless of the legal form. We advise on the foundation of new companies as well as the establishment of real estate funds and also provide the necessary legal support.

It is not uncommon for a developing company to have to adapt its structure. We help our clients to devise and implement such reorganisation measures. In doing so, we find individual solutions that take into account aspects covered by corporate law as well as tax, employment, commercial and antitrust law.
In addition, we also advise on transformations, including changes of legal form, mergers, spin-offs and company demergers, and help to implement these processes.

Successful transactions require careful planning and structuring, both in terms of content and time. Our M&A experts not only perform due diligence and draft the contract, but also handle the subsequent contract negotiations and manage the project in the post-closing phase.

We advise domestic and foreign companies on both the buyer and seller side on M&A projects, private equity and venture capital transactions, management buy-ins and buyouts and corporate cooperation projects (joint ventures). Here, we draft and negotiate confidentiality and exclusivity agreements (letters of intent) as well as contracts covering company acquisitions and investment agreements.

In all M&A transactions, we establish a close and trusting working relationship with our clients’ auditors and tax consultants, determine how to optimally structure the transactions for tax purposes and ensure compliance with antitrust requirements.

Succession planning is of crucial importance, especially for medium-sized and family-owned companies. FPS advises domestic and foreign clients on succession arrangements with interdisciplinary teams of lawyers and notaries specialising in corporate, inheritance and tax matters. We solve any such issues in close cooperation with the contact persons at the auditing firm and tax consultancy or other advisors working on behalf of our clients. Together, we devise tailored solutions for our clients when implementing risk prevention measures, drawing up succession arrangements (such as transfers during someone’s lifetime or testamentary arrangements in the event of death, contracts of inheritance, sales scenarios), optimising tax affairs upon succession and executing wills. In addition, we provide representation and mediation in connection with inheritance disputes.

FPS is on hand to support companies during dynamic times and necessary change with its expertise on all legal, tax and business matters. We help with restructuring plans – and corporate restructuring plans in particular – and with the structuring of (re)financing measures. This may also include support in drawing up and implementing reorganisation concepts.

Matters concerning the management’s duty to provide information and take action are among our key areas of expertise. We advise credit institutions, debt funds and financiers in the event of non-performing loans and NPL transactions, while safeguarding the interests of suppliers, customers and shareholders. Other areas covered by our restructuring advice include transformation measures, carveout concepts, liquidation plans, trustee concepts and insolvency filing obligations.

If a restructuring plan fails, our experts are on hand to support not only business owners and management teams, but also stakeholders, including in relation to insolvency law issues and challenges. In the event of a crisis involving a business partner, this starts with advising companies on maintaining and continuing business relationships and extends to safeguarding and asserting security rights and claims, both before any insolvency proceedings have begun and after. FPS also advises on matters concerning supplier and banking pools. Other areas covered by our insolvency law advice include issues relating to IP/IT law, tax law and tenancy and real estate law.

Our experts actively support companies in judicial reorganisation proceedings. Insolvency protection proceedings and company voluntary arrangements for reorganisation proceedings can significantly contribute to the success of reorganisation measures. With our many years of experience in dealing with insolvency proceedings and our broad set-up in all relevant areas, we are a strong partner in difficult times. In their roles as chief restructuring officers and authorised representatives, our lawyers make a responsible and significant contribution to a company’s reorganisation.

Mergers and acquisitions are part of any commercial law firm’s standard repertoire. In exceptional situations, however, such as an economic crisis where there is considerable time pressure and many interests, special knowledge and experience are required. By adopting an economic and strategic perspective, we advise sellers and buyers in the context of corporate transactions in a crisis environment – in pre-insolvency share or asset deals, in reorganisation measures by transfer in the context of insolvency proceedings, or by way of an insolvency plan.

Our lawyers assist companies and management teams as well as creditors and insolvency administrators in all proceedings relating to insolvency law. This particularly applies to representation in avoidance proceedings, but also in all matters concerning the liability of different parties involved in insolvency proceedings.

Wide-ranging and complex tax law issues arise in any type of business transaction. Working alongside our specialists in corporate law, among others, we structure and optimise every transaction in the interests of our clients.

Detailed tax advice is essential when dealing with estates and business succession plans. Failure to put an optimal tax structure in place can soon become disadvantageous. We have the appropriate expertise and find solutions with our clients’ interests in mind.