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  1. Our capabilities
  2. Mergers and acquisitions
Mergers and acquisitions
Our clients trust our M&A team with the world’s most complex M&A transactions. We are the firm you need when it matters most, delivering sophisticated, client-centric and commercial advice. We are consistently one of the most prolific M&A firms in the market, leading transactions in all aspects of the M&A landscape.
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Freshfields can guide you through your most critical domestic and cross-border transactions – so you can seize opportunities with confidence

Complex transactions shape and grow companies. At Freshfields, we thrive on providing tailored and commercial solutions in both public and private transactions.

Our global teams advise companies, their boards and special committees on all aspects of the M&A landscape, including public and private M&A, carve-outs, spin-offs, split-offs, joint ventures and strategic alliances. We also advise on private equity and venture capital investments.

Our multidisciplinary group also has deep experience advising on matters involving hostile M&A, takeover defense, shareholder activism and other efforts for corporate control. We proactively and successfully mitigate the impact of situations involving active shareholders.

Our integrated team includes experts in all of the key subject areas essential for M&A, including antitrust, FDI, IP/data, compensation and benefits, tax, finance and M&A litigation professionals. Our team is recognized with eight “Band 1” Chambers global rankings (across M&A, antitrust, compensation and benefits, tax, litigation, arbitration, crisis management and public international law.)

Related capabilities
Artificial intelligence
Joint ventures
Private capital
Private M&A
Public M&A
Separations and carve outs

Highlight experience

Contacts

Contacts

Meet the team
London
Andrew HutchingsPartner
New York
Damien ZoubekPartner, Co-Head of US Corporate and M&A
New York
Ethan KlingsbergPartner, Co-Head of US Corporate and M&A
Amsterdam
Hanneke RothbarthPartner
Munich
Wessel HeukampPartner
Meet the team
Awards & recognition
Lexology Index Awards 2024
M&A Firm of the Year (8x winner)
Mergermarket European M&A Awards 2024
European M&A Legal Adviser of the Year
Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Europe 2024
Most innovative lawyers (Deals and Financing; Regulatory Solutions; Pro Bono)
Mergermarket European M&A Awards 2024
MENA Legal Adviser of the Year
Finance Asia Achievement Awards 2024
Most Innovative Deals: Hong Kong SAR / APAC for our role on the Privatisation of L’Occitane
China Business Law Awards 2024
M&A (Inbound and Domestic; Outbound)
Our thinking

Our thinking

Blog
14 Apr 2025
The Dark Side of the Moon: Detecting and Scrutinizing Life Sciences M&A Remains Top of Mind at EC Expert Workshop
In November 2024, the European Commission (EC) published an extensive study on so-called ‘killer acquisitions’ in the pharma sector,...
Blog
20 Mar 2025
Netherlands next in line to introduce a “call-in” option for competition regulator?
On Tuesday 18 March, a draft legislative Act was published and opened up for public consultation (see here). Dutch Parliament has...
Blog
14 Mar 2025
The next step in the CMA’s evolving approach to M&A
On 12 March, the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) kicked off the next round of outreach in its “evolving approach to merger...
Blog
10 Mar 2025
Below threshold review: ACM calls in transaction for potential abuse of dominance
On Friday 7 March, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (the ACM) announced that it was investigating the acquisition of...
Blog
24 Feb 2025
Trump Issues Investment Policy Directive: A Return to Open Investment Policy, Except for China
I. Summary On February 21, 2025, President Trump issued a national security policy memorandum entitled America First Investment Policy...
Blog
13 Feb 2025
Freshfields' geopolitical monitor
Geopolitical risks are a significant concern for businesses and investors in the current global landscape. Understanding these risks is...
Blog
12 Feb 2025
German Election #1: Dedicated Briefings and Overviews
On 23 February 2025, almost 60 million German voters will elect a new federal parliament in snap elections after the collapse of the...
Blog
27 Jan 2025
Life sciences – what to watch in 2025
We asked more than 200 Freshfields lawyers – across geographies and practice areas: what are the 1-2 issues top of mind for you and your...
Blog
22 Jan 2025
EU to follow suit: Outbound investment control at the gates – Recommendation (EU) 2025/63
While the focus in recent years has been on regulating inbound investments, discussions around the introduction of outbound investment...
Blog
6 Jan 2025
M&A Predictions and Guidance for 2025
1. No private equity M&A boom in 2025, but….  Thousands of private equity portfolio companies are past their “sell by” dates and private...
Related capabilities
Artificial intelligenceJoint venturesPrivate capitalPrivate M&APublic M&ASeparations and carve outs
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