As a lawyer in the field of tax law, I advise on questions of general corporate tax law, or transformation tax law and, of course, on M&A transactions. One of the main focuses of my advice is real estate tax law.
I first came into contact with tax law during my studies. I chose this area of specialisation initially because I saw it as a suitable addition to my focus on corporate law. However, I soon found that I enjoyed tax law more than anything else and this was confirmed during my placement and practical training as a lawyer.

When I tell others what I do for a living, many respond by asking, “isn’t that awfully boring?” which is probably because most people think of their own income tax returns first! However, it is really not like that. Tax law is changing constantly and questions about new approaches come up all the time. This constant challenge is what makes tax law so different and also extremely varied. Often, it is a matter of representing the tax positions of our clients in negotiations with other companies, the tax authorities or even in court proceedings.

I especially appreciate the opportunity that Freshfields offers me, to work with experienced partners on a wide range of exciting and international cases. In almost every case, questions relating to tax law come up. This means that we regularly work with colleagues from other practice groups and gain insight into many industries and areas of law. Often, tax law determines whether and how a transaction can be carried out.
One highlight is also our annual International Tax Group Conference. Tax lawyers from all Freshfields offices worldwide meet there. In addition to sharing information on new tax developments, the International Tax Group Conference offers an opportunity to personally get to know colleagues from other offices.

I got to know Freshfields during my legal clerkship in Berlin. Since I had completed my doctorate in antitrust law, I was interested in finding out whether the issues that I had dealt with in theory were also exciting in legal practice. In my interview for a position as a research assistant, I was told, “If you are interested in how products, markets and commercial enterprises function and really want to be an international lawyer, antitrust law is exactly the right area for you.” Today, I can only confirm this!

Even as a research assistant, I was able to be part of a great team and work on exciting mandates in addition to my legal clerkship. Naturally, this was even better during my training as a lawyer which I completed at the Dusseldorf office. After that, I knew that not only was the legal field the right one for me, but also that Freshfields, due to the open atmosphere, the top international clients and some amazing colleagues, was exactly the right law firm for me too.

As a lawyer, I was quickly able to see from my “own desk” that we really do cover the whole spectrum of antitrust law, and do so around the globe. During my first three years at Freshfields, I worked with colleagues in antitrust law from Brussels, London, Madrid, Vienna, Paris, Tokyo and Washington, amongst others, in advising clients on antitrust proceedings in Germany, Europe, the USA, Brazil and South Africa. We guided them through merger control and market abuse proceedings and “got them into shape” to tackle cartel-related contractual and compliance issues, or defended them in antitrust damages litigation.

In short: I can only recommend anyone who is or might be interested in antitrust law to “come and see us”. It’s certainly worth it (even if you don’t have any previous knowledge)!

My practice group deals with everything involved with data and technology. This includes data protection law, but also telecommunications, IT and issues affecting the law on competition or the drafting of contracts. As a rule, everything revolves around the topic of digitalisation, for example, connected mobility, Big Data, targeted advertising or online services. We are also working on new technologies like artificial intelligence to develop concepts for automating repetitive activities such as the screening of large data pools. This means that our team has to cover a very wide range of issues.

During my studies, I was not in the least bit interested in data protection. This totally changed when I joined Freshfields as a lawyer and came into contact with this field. I really like the variety of the subject matter, the continuous “learning on the job” and the technical challenges. We are not limited to just one area of law or to just one sector. The client’s particular product or service determines which aspects are relevant. Digitalisation affects all sectors of the economy.

We are working in a field where there is always something going on. That’s why it is so helpful to have experienced partners at our side who can give us feedback on how best to approach issues when crucial questions arise. At a firm like Freshfields, which covers the whole spectrum of the law, you are able to get experienced colleagues from other practice groups on board and find solutions together, not only for Germany, but for the whole world.

Prior to joining Freshfields in 2005, I completed two-years’ training at a major law firm in London. It was there that I discovered my passion for financial law. Our practice group advises national and international companies as well as private equity investors and financial institutions on banking and financial law. This means that we support companies in financing acquisitions, in taking up syndicated credit, promissory notes, initial public offerings and project financing.

The various finance teams in the international offices work closely together. Our contact is not just via telephone calls and emails. During the various conferences and international training programmes, we regularly have the opportunity to meet new colleagues personally and to have in-depth discussions with each other.

Our clients are very demanding, but, at the same time, very amenable. My team is extremely motivated and very open. Rather than working in isolation, we always operate as a team. My day is filled with a combination of fascinating legal issues, efficient project management and meeting tight deadlines.

No two types of financing are the same. Every case presents a new challenge. This is exactly what makes my work so exciting and is the reason why I am such a passionate finance lawyer. My enthusiasm for this area of work certainly contributed to the fact that I returned to my desk again and again even after giving birth to three daughters. My daily life is incredibly varied. One minute, I am taking part in a telephone conference to discuss contracts. The next, I am sitting in the audience admiring one of my daughters at one of her ballet performances. On the way to work in the morning, I take my oldest daughter to school and check that she has learned her vocabulary. Twenty minutes later, I am sitting in my office, totally focused, working on the completion of the next project. The challenge for me is to continuously switch from my role as mother to that of a lawyer, and to produce the very best in my job but also to be there for my family and to manage them all.