Image of Christoph van Lier

Dr. Christoph van Lier

Counsel, Düsseldorf

Overview

Rechtsanwalt

Experience 

Specialised experience in mergers & acquisitions (including public takeovers and joint ventures) and corporate law (law on stock corporations and company groups, corporate reorganisations, corporate governance, capital markets).

Recent transactions include advising:

  • Bayer AG on the carve-out of its plastic division Bayer MaterialScience and the subsequent IPO of Covestro AG;
  • thyssenkrupp AG on the acquisition of Vale’s minority interest in thyssenkrupp CSA and the conclusion of several business agreements;
  • Funke Mediengruppe on the joint venture of an advertising company with the media company Axel Springer, on the acquisition of the local newspaper as well as the TV and women's magazine business of Axel Springer and on the sale of magazine titles to Klambt Media Group;
  • Vonovia SE on a joint venture agreement with B&O Service- und Messtechnik AG in the field of facility management and maintenance;
  • P&I Personal & Informatik AG on the entry and exit of Carlyle Group, the conclusion of a domination and profit and loss pooling agreement and the entry of HG Capital, including continuous corporate law advice and shareholders’ meeting advice;
  • Deutsche Börse AG on the planned merger with NYSE Euronext;
  • Sunways AG on the conclusion of several agreements regarding the acquisition of a majority stake by Chinese solar company LDK Solar and the subsequent public takeover offer;
  • elexis AG on the public takeover offer by SMS group;
  • GPC Biotech on the cross-border merger with Agennix Inc.
Professional experience

2016 to date Counsel, Linklaters
2011 - 2016 Managing Associate, Linklaters
2008 to 2011 Associate, Linklaters
2006 - 2007 University of Passau, Research Assistant

Education

2012 University of Passau, Doctorate
2008 Second Legal State Examination (2. Juristisches Staatsexamen)
2006 - 2008 Landgericht Passau, legal traineeship (Referendariat)
2006 First Legal State Examination (1. Juristisches Staatsexamen)
1999 - 2006 University of Passau, law studies

Languages

German, English