Overview
Dr. Christopher Wolff is a partner in the Corporate practice and chair of the Paul Hastings' Frankfurt office. He is a member of the Paul Hastings M&A and Global Restructuring Team and advises clients on all types of general corporate transactions, mergers & acquisitions, private equity, debt restructuring transactions, lenders in acquisition financings, asset-based lenders, distressed asset transactions such as "special situations" investors in private debt, including the sale and purchase of nonperforming/sub-performing loan portfolios. He also advises on private equity and venture capital transactions.
In particular, over the course of the past few years, Dr. Wolff has permanently advised banks and alternative lenders on cross-border M&A and Private Equity transactions
Dr. Wolff studied law at the University of Constance, the University of Lausanne and Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich. He completed his first bar exam in 1996, and his second in 1998 at the same university. Dr. Wolff completed his doctoral thesis on Competition Law in 2000 and is admitted to practice in Germany.
Recognitions
- Praised by clients for his "expert contract drafting and superb negotiating skills", according to Chambers Europe, 2009, Corporate/M&A
- Complimented on his "quick and creative approach" in Chambers Europe, 2009, Restructuring/Insolvency
- Described as "a market-leading lawyer and a real asset to the firm" in Chambers Europe, 2010, Corporate/M&A
Education
- University of Greifswald, Dr. iur., 2000
- Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 2 St Exam, 1998
- Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, 1 St Exam, 1996
- Admitted to practice in Germany
Representations
- Bregal Unternehmerkapital L.P., Jersey and its advisors Bregal Unternehmerkapital GmbH, one of the leading investment companies in Germany based in Munich on their acquisition of DPG Deutsche Pflegegruppe GmbH and its subsidiaries. Bregal Unternehmerkapital GmbH is an investment company with an investment volume of approx. 1 billion euros. DPG Deutsche Pflegegruppe GmbH (DPG) is a healthcare company with its head office in Hamburg and which provides services in the outpatient sector
- Bregal Unternehmerkapital L.P. which disposed their majority stake in the DAVASO Group, Germany, to Montagu Private Equity for an undisclosed amount. The DAVASO Group, which is headquartered in Leipzig, Germany, is active in the provision of data-processing and outsourcing services linked to invoicing. The target focuses primarily on public healthcare insurers and is one of the largest employers in the region with circa 1100 employees. Under the terms of the deal, Bregal retains a substantial stake in the DAVASO Group
- GENUI Partners, a leading private equity firm focused on mid-market investments in German-speaking countries in its significant investment in Germany-based, GastroHero GmbH, in the form of a capital increase. GastroHero GmbH was established at the end of 2013 by three businessmen, Mark Baukmann, Jens Schütte and Andreas Korsus. The startup's main activity is online selling of catering products. The company has more than 100 employees at locations in Dortmund and Cologne
- Apollo, on the sale of an office portfolio comprising 52 buildings. The deal was structured partially as a share sale and partially as an asset sale. This is believed to be one of the single-largest portfolio transactions of 2017
- GENUI Partners GmbH, a leading private equity firm focused on mid-market investments in German-speaking countries on the acquisition of a majority stake in Luxury Fashion Trade GmbH, the leading online shop for designer handbags and high-quality accessories
- Capvis Equity Partners AG, a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in middle-market companies across a range of industries in Switzerland, Austria and Germany in its acquisition of a majority stake in German automotive sector player, Felss Group, for an undisclosed amount from sole owner, Christine Kienhofer. Under the terms of the deal, the seller retains a substantial stake in the target. The target has circa 600 employees in six production sites across Europe, Asia and the US
- Capvis Equity Partners AG, a private equity firm focused on leveraged buyout and growth capital investments in middle-market companies across a range of industries in Switzerland, Austria and Germany, on the acquisition of Rena, the global leading supplier of production equipment for wet chemical surface treatment. With more than 600 employees, the company achieves annual sales of around EUR 100 million supplying key industries such as renewable energy, the healthcare sector and electronics
- Weber Automotive GmbH, one of the most technologically advanced companies in the global automotive supplier industry in connection with sale of a majority interest in Weber Automotive to the independent private equity fund ARDIAN
- OCEAN Holding GmbH, a fund vehicle owned by Dr. Patrick Bettscheider, Attestor Capital LLP and another investor, on the acquisition of the Düsseldorfer Hypothekenbank AG, a major German mortgage bank with total assets estimated at €12 billion, from the US investor Lone Star
- a global hedge fund with an equity portfolio valued at US $1.2 billion, in the investment of several internet platforms of over US $15 million
- Weichai Power in the purchase of a 25% stake in KION Group, a worldwide leading provider of forklifts, warehouse equipment and other industrial trucks, and in the acquisition of a 70% stake in KION’s hydraulics business, Linde Hydraulics. Weichai Power is a leading automotive and equipment manufacturing group in China
news
- Paul Hastings advises funds managed by Apollo on the sale of listed shares in AGROB Immobilien AG to RFR InvestCo 1 S.à r.l. - November 1st, 2021
- Legal 500 EMEA Guide Recognizes Paul Hastings in France and Germany - April 21st, 2021
- Paul Hastings advises Bregal Unternehmerkapital on the acquisition of the GUS Group - August 31st, 2020
- Bregal Sells Gabo Systemtechnik to Aptiv - November 20th, 2019
- Fosun Group Buys Majority Stake in Austrian Luxury Textiles Maker - March 26th, 2018
- Ardian Acquires a Majority Stake in Weber Automotive - October 7th, 2016
- 7Days Media Services Acquires Three Swiss Companies - June 27th, 2016
- 7Days Group Acquires Güll Group - June 7th, 2016
- Paul Hastings Expands in Germany with Addition of Leading Frankfurt Corporate & Renewable Energy/TMT Partner - January 4th, 2016
- Paul Hastings Advises OCEAN Holding on Acquisition of Düsseldorfer Hypothekenbank from Lone Star - August 26th, 2014
- Paul Hastings Advises Capita Asset Services as Special Servicer in the Sale of the Xanadu Loan - January 24th, 2013
- Paul Hastings Represents Weichai Power in Investment in KION Group - August 31st, 2012
- Christopher Wolff Appointed Chair of Paul Hastings Frankfurt Office - April 12th, 2012
- First European CMBS Deal to be Extended - February 26th, 2010
- Acument GmbH & Co. OHG files Self-Administered Pre-packaged Insolvency Process - August 24th, 2009
insights
- New German Preventive Restructuring Landscape Imminent - October 30th, 2020
- PH COVID-19 Client Alert Series: Force Majeure Provisions // German Legislator Aims to Mitigate Consequences of the Corona-Pandemic by Changing Civil, Corporate, and Insolvency Law - March 24th, 2020
- First German Legislative Support Due to COVID-19 and Granting Liquidity Lifelines - March 17th, 2020
- German Real Estate Transfer Tax – Now It’s Getting Serious - May 15th, 2019
- Update: German Real Estate Transfer Tax—Intended Cutback of Share Deal Privilege - September 24th, 2018
- German Real Estate Transfer Tax – Intended Cut Back of Share Deal Privilege - June 27th, 2018
- Direct Lending – A Mature Market? - February 6th, 2018
- German M&A/PE Update – The Dangers of Knowledge Attribution via the Management Team - May 11th, 2017
- German Insolvency Reform – Introduction of Group Insolvency Proceedings (Konzerninsolvenzverfahren) - April 24th, 2017
- German Insolvency Reform – Claw-back Due to Willful Disadvantage - April 11th, 2017
- New Proposed EU Directive for Preventive Restructuring and Second Chance - November 29th, 2016
- New EU Regulation on Insolvency Proceedings - June 29th, 2015
- This Trend May Not Be Your Friend: Could Catalyst Paper Spawn a New Breed of Chapter 15 Cases for U.S. Debtors? - April 2nd, 2012
- Game Change for German Restructurings - February 29th, 2012
- Key Provisions of the German Bad Bank Concept - June 8th, 2009
- Substantial Changes with Respect to German Corporate Law Imminent - August 13th, 2008
Engagement & Publications
- Germany: Take-Off for Direct Lending AIFs, Credit Funds Spotlight, Issue 1, February 2018
- Participates in public panels on topics including recent changes of German insolvency- and corporate law
Involvement
- Lecturer at Ruprecht-Karls-University, Heidelberg, post graduate studies LL.M. Corporate Restructuring Education
Practice Areas
Real Estate
Mergers and Acquisitions
Corporate
Private Equity
Restructuring
Europe
Languages
English
German
Admissions
Germany
Education
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universitat Greifswald, Dr. iur. 2000
Oberlandesgericht Muenchen, 2 St Exam 1998
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 1 St Exam 1996