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„Per aspera ad astra“

Astera excels in exceptional performance. We aim to set shining precedents through our counselling services. Loyalty, integrity and reliability are the foundations on which our mandates are built.

Our unique approach and our highly specialised, long-standing finance expertise enable us to shape the course of business on behalf of our clients. We strive to empower German mid-caps, to position mid-caps as viable players for years to come and to ensure our clients succeed by providing them with the best possible advice in every respect.

Our top-class professional, international and yet deeply people-oriented advice re-defines the role of legal advisors in managed firms.

Our team

  • Profilbild Dr. Bernd Egbers

    Dr. Bernd Egbers

    Partner

    To CV
  • Profilbild Isabell Hitzer

    Isabell Hitzer

    Partner

    To CV
  • Profilbild Philipp Hogrefe

    Philipp Hogrefe

    Senior Associate

    To CV
  • Profilbild Benedikt Ruck

    Benedikt Ruck

    Associate

    To CV
  • Daniel Kriesmair

    Daniel Kriesmair

    Associate

    To CV
  • Profilbild Zacharias Woltering-Schlenker

    Zacharias Woltering-Schlenker

    Senior Transaction Analyst

    To CV
  • Profilbild Claudia Kupka

    Claudia Kupka

    Transaction Analyst

    To CV

Finance

We are a boutique law firm specialised in Finance advising on all types of national and international complex financing structures.

Our focus lies in the area of transactional business. In particular, we advise on acquisition financing, primarily through private equity, as well as on strategic transactions.

Furthermore, we advise both companies and financial institutions on corporate financings. Our clients include private equity houses, debt funds and financial institutions as well as nationally and internationally operating corporate clients.

We are in regular dialogue with market stakeholders on current trends and developments in the sector and are thus able to implement the economic interests of our clients in a pragmatic and solution-oriented manner.

Due to our longstanding experience in the capital market, we guide our mandates smoothly through stages of financial restructuring.

OUR ADVISORY FOCUS IN FINANCING LEGISLATION

  • Acquisition financing

  • Refinancing
    Including syndicated loans and club deals for
    working capital financing and back-up facilities

  • Corporate finance
    Senior/junior facilities, secured/unsecured financings, mezzanine financings, restructurings, issuance of promissory notes and bonds

Rankings

According to several international rankings and awards, we rank among the top. Below we provide an excerpt from our rankings, and thank all those who have supported us in achieving these distinctions.

2023

Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers 2023

Isabell Hitzer is among the "Best Lawyers" in the areas of Private Equity, M&A, Corporate Law, Venture Capital and Litigation as well as Banking and Finance Law.

Dr. Bernd Egbers is awarded "Lawyer of the Year 2023" for Banking and Finance Law.

2022

Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers 2022

Isabell Hitzer is among the "Best Lawyers" in the areas of Private Equity, M&A, Corporate Law, Venture Capital and Litigation as well as Banking and Finance Law.

Dr. Bernd Egbers is awarded "Lawyer of the Year 2022" for Banking and Finance Law.

2021

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2021

Dr. Bernd Egbers among the "Top 30 Lawyers" Banking & Finance - Germany.

2020

Chambers Global and Chambers Europe 2020

Chambers awards Dr. Bernd Egbers for his expertise in refinancing, acquisition finance and corporate finance. One client appreciates him for his "strong technical knowledge and commercial awareness."

Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers 2020

Dr. Bernd Egbers is named "Lawyer of the Year 2019" for Banking and Finance Law.

Isabell Hitzer is among the "Best Lawyers" in the areas of Private Equity, M&A, Corporate Law, Venture Capital and Banking and Finance Law.

2019

Chambers Global 2019

Chambers recommends Dr. Bernd Egbers for the area of Banking & Finance.

Legal 500 2019

Dr. Bernd Egbers is recommended as a Banking & Finance lawyer.

Appreciated is "his very good commercial understanding and his extraordinary negotiation skills in deadlocked situations."

Best Lawyers/Handelsblatt 2019

Dr. Bernd Egbers, Partner, Munich, is awarded "Lawyer of the Year 2019 for Leveraged Buy-Outs" by Best Lawyers in cooperation with Handelsblatt.

2018

Chambers Global 2018

Chambers recommends Dr. Bernd Egbers, "Clients appreciate his very strong negotiation skills and extremely commercial understanding as well as pragmatic and solution-oriented approach."

JUVE Handbook 2018/19

Recommended lawyer for Banking & Finance is Dr. Bernd Egbers. He is appreciated by Juve as a "real expert" and described as "very competent and commercial".

Legal 500 2018

Dr. Bernd Egbers is recommended as a lawyer for Banking & Finance. Appreciated is "his very good commercial understanding and his extraordinary negotiation skills in deadlocked situations".

Best Lawyers/Handelsblatt 2018

Dr. Bernd Egbers is recommended as a leading lawyer in his field.

2017

Juve Handbook 2017/18

The recommended lawyer for Banking & Finance is Dr. Bernd Egbers. He is valued as a "real expert" and described as "very competent and commercial".

Chambers Europe 2017

Chambers Global recommends Dr. Bernd Egbers, saying he "conducts negotiations very well and eloquently."

Legal 500 2017

Dr. Bernd Egbers is recommended as a lawyer for Banking & Finance. Appreciated is "his very good commercial understanding and exceptional negotiating skills in deadlocked situations."

2016

JUVE Handbook 2016/17

The recommended lawyer for Banking & Finance is Dr. Bernd Egbers. He is appreciated by Juve as a "real expert" and described as "very competent and commercial". He is also an "outstanding corporate and M&A lawyer".

Legal 500 2016

Dr. Bernd Egbers is recommended as a lawyer for Banking & Finance. Appreciated is "his very good commercial understanding and his extraordinary negotiation skills in deadlocked situations".

Chambers Global 2016

Chambers recommends Dr. Bernd Egbers as a lawyer in his field of expertise.