Dr. Kathrin Knöfler

I work as Senior Counsel in our corporate team in Düsseldorf, advising German and international clients in all M&A, corporate and restructuring matters and joint ventures. I also focus on the drafting and negotiation of complex purchase and sales agreements, cooperation, distribution and service agreements – an area where I have profound expertise in particular through my secondments in various industries.

Today, my practice focuses on the drafting and negotiating of share and asset purchase agreements, investment and shareholder agreements, joint venture agreements, distribution agreements as well as project management work. I have extensive experience in successfully managing and legally implementing projects of any kind – from the management of tenders and the negotiation of the underlying contracts in favour of my clients to the subsequent management of the client's commercial contract portfolio in accordance with the current legislation and needs of my client. My clients know that I put my heart and soul into my work and will do whatever is legally necessary to bring the project to a successful completion. Another key area of my practice is the provision of corporate secretarial services as well as contract management.

Through my several years' experience in secondments to a number companies in chemicals, electronics and automotive I have gained in-depth knowledge of the tailored drafting, efficient negotiation and consecutive supervision of commercial contracts. This experience also equipped me with the deep understanding of the relevant industries and the clients' expectations, which helps me with a smooth and efficient transition into the matter.

My doctoral thesis on the topic 'Legal Consequences of a Due Diligence with regard to Company Acquisitions' reflected my continuous interest in M&A, it was published in 2001 by Peter-Lang-Verlag. I also manage our firm's Corporate Legal Update and regularly publish new articles myself.

• Highlights:
• Lufthansa: Advising on the establishment of various joint ventures.
• Dun & Bradstreet: Advising on the sale of various markets in Europe.
• Grünenthal: Advising on the sale of its Eastern European business.
• Secondments at Tronox, Nokia, Renesas and Cummins.