Dr Michael Bormann
Areas of practice
Michael Bormann primarily advises on corporate transactions, joint ventures and reorganizations. He additionally provides advice on general corporate law issues, in particular, corporate governance and capital raising and capital maintenance issues. He has great expertise in the energy & infrastructure sector. Beyond that, he advises clients in the automotive & industrial sectors, and the food & beverages business. His clients include both financial investors as well strategic clients.
Vita
After successfully completing his training to become an industrial business management assistant (Industriekaufmann) at a medium-sized construction company, Michael Bormann studied law at the University of Göttingen (Germany) from 1992 to 1998 and, in 2001, obtained his doctorate in law from the University of Heidelberg (Germany).
Before starting his legal training, Michael Bormann worked for BCG for three months, in 1999/2000; in this period of time he advised a predecessor company of E.ON on its entry to the gas market. Whilst carrying out his legal training at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court of Hamburg (Germany), he also worked as a research assistant for a well-known insolvency administrator. His legal training included working for international law firms in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main (Germany) and New York (USA).
Michael Bormann was admitted to the German Bar in 2002. From 2002 to 2006, he worked in the Düsseldorf office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in the area of Corporate/M&A. In 2006, he moved to Simmons & Simmons, where he was made partner in 2008 and was, from 2012 up until he moved to Luther, head of the German practice group Corporate & Commercial.
In addition to his client work, he also regularly publishes articles on corporate law, insolvency law and accounting law issues. He inter alia commented on the provisions relating to preferred shares in Spindler/Stilz (commentary on the German Stock Corporation Act), on the provisions relating to auditing and approving annual financial statements in Wachter (commentary on the German Stock Corporation Act) and on the provisions relating to auditing financial statements in Münchener Kommentar zum Bilanzrecht (commentary on accounting law).
Honors and distinctions
- Chambers Global 2025: Ranking in "Corporate/M&A Mid-Market", Band 5 ("Michael Bormann is very hands-on and has an extremely high level of service understanding.")
- Chambers Germany 2025: Ranking in "Corporate/M&A Mid-Market", Band 5 ("Michael Bormann thinks outside of the box and always has commercial goals in mind.")
- JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in ), "M&A" (first listed in 2008/2009, "profound and at the same time pragmatic advice, focus on the economic interests of the client", client), in "Corporate Law" (first listed in 2010/2011, "has a lot of experience in restructuring", client) and in "Regulated Industries - Energy Law" (first listed in 2020/2021, "Very good lawyer with an eye for the economic drivers of a transaction")
- The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Mentions in in "Industry Focus - Energy" (first mention in 2019) and the categories "M&A" (first recommendation in 2024, first mention in 2013, "Michael Bormann: Good strategist, strong negotiator, trusted advisor also for sensitive issues."), "Corporate Law" (first mention in 2019, "Dr. Michael Bormann: Very strong and experienced in corporate law and M&A; trusted advisor also for sensitive issues.") and in "City Focus Düsseldorf"
- Lexology Index 2025 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Recommendation "National Leader" in “M&A” (first recommendation in 2024) und "Energy" (first recommendation in 2023)
- Lexology Index 2024 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Recommendation “Global Leader” in “M&A and Governance – M&A"
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommendation in "Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice" (first recommendation in 2017), "Corporate Law" (first recommendation in 2010) and "Mergers and Acquisitions Law" (first recommendation in 2021)
Clients
- VNG AG – Advised on the sale of a minority stake in BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH to an investment company of DIF Infrastructure VII Coöperatief U.A. and on the conclusion of a shareholders’ agreement on future cooperation
- EnBW – Advised on, among other things, the reservation of import capacities at the Stade LNG terminal
- E.ON – Advised on various M&A and joint venture projects, among other things
- Global mineral oil and energy company – Advised on the establishment of two joint ventures for the large-scale industrial production of green hydrogen
- State of Berlin – Advised on the bidding process for the acquisition of Vattenfall Wärme Berlin AG, including the option to acquire Vattenfall’s stake in GASAG AG
- Energy providers and financial investors – Advised on the acquisition of wind and solar parks in Germany and abroad
- Various harbour companies – Advised on project developments and on M&A and joint venture projects
- Douglas GmbH – Advised on M&A transactions, cooperation agreements and general corporate law issues
- Haus Cramer Group (“Warsteiner”) – Advised on commercial and corporate law issues, as well as on restructurings, mergers and acquisitions
Ahmed Zoughbi
Associate
Dusseldorf
Lara Zölck
Associate
Berlin
Jan Zimmer
Senior Associate
Singapore
Prof. Christian Zanner
Partner
Berlin
Martin Zackor, LL.M. (UCD)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Cornelia Yzer
Of Counsel
Berlin
Hla Yadanar Win
Associate
Yangon
David Wölting
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Frances Wolf
Senior Associate
Hamburg, Hanover
Dr Karina Wojtowicz
Senior Associate
Hanover
Artur Winkler
Counsel
Hamburg
Susanne Winkler, LL.M.
Associate
Stuttgart
Prof. Dr Herbert Willems
Partner
Essen
Simon Wickel
Associate
Dusseldorf
Magnus Wessels
Associate
Essen
Guido Wenzel
Partner
Hamburg
Jan-Patrik Welter
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Thomas Weidlich, LL.M. (Hull)
Partner
Cologne
Quirin Wedel, LL.M. (London)
Associate
Hamburg
Dr Gregor Wecker
Partner
Cologne
Vera Wechsler, LL.M. (Tulane)
Associate
Dusseldorf
Julian Wantzen, LL.M. (Wellington)
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Julia Walther
Associate
Leipzig
Matthias Wagner
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Clara von Wolffersdorff
Associate
Leipzig
Dr David von Saucken, MJur (Oxon)
Partner
Berlin, London
Dr Eberhard Vetter
Partner
Cologne
Dr Melanie Verstege
Counsel
Essen
Dr Andreas Vath
Partner
Munich
Constance Xue Yao Valsemey, LL.M.
Associate
Singapore
Dr Angelo Vallone
Partner
Dusseldorf
Marc Urlichs
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Knut Unger
Partner
Singapore
Denis Ullrich
Partner
Leipzig
Andreas Tüxen, LL.M. (American University / WCL)
Partner
Berlin
Jenny Tsynn
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dr Claus Trenner, LL.M.
Partner
Singapore, Delhi-Gurugram
Volkan Top
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Stefan Hubertus Tolksdorf, LL.M. (King's College London)
Senior Associate
Hanover
Jade Timmermann, LL.M. (London)
Associate
Leipzig
Benedict Tobias Tiemann
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Jörgen Tielmann, LL.M.
Partner
Hamburg
Thiri May Thu
Associate
Yangon
Luca Thönes, LL.M. (Miami)
Senior Legal Consultant
Hamburg
Ruth-Maria Thomsen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Marc Theiner
Associate
Singapore
Saw Thaw Tu Htoo
Associate
Yangon
Dr Frederic Tewes
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Johannes Teichmann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Eric Sublon
Senior Partner
Luxembourg
Arne Stumpe
Associate
Hamburg
Dr Sven C. Stumm MJur (Oxon)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Gerd Stuhlmacher
Partner
Munich
Michael Ströbel, LL.M. (University of Auckland)
Partner
Stuttgart
Daniel Stracke
Associate
Berlin
Dr Karl-Christian Stopp
Of Counsel
Leipzig
Martina Steude, LL.M. (Cape Town)
Senior Associate
Hanover, Hamburg
Morten Steimann
Associate
Essen
Dr Holger Stappert
Partner
Dusseldorf
Anton Spinty
Senior Associate
Berlin
Yann Spiegelhalter
Counsel
Luxembourg
Dr Björn Simon
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Lisa Marie Siewer, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Ulrich Siegemund
Of Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr SHEN Yuan / 沈媛 博士 LL.M. (CUPL/Köln)
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Markus Sengpiel
Managing Partner
Cologne
Vivien Insa Seifert
Associate
Hanover
Dr Frank Seidel
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Hendrik Bernd Sehy
Counsel
Hanover
Dr Denis Schütz
Senior Associate
Essen
Hannah-Laura Schütte
Senior Associate
Stuttgart, Dusseldorf
Dr Clara Schulze Velmede
Associate
Leipzig
Prof Dr Florian Schulz M.B.A. (Nimbas)
Partner
Hamburg
Sophie Schulz
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Daniel Schubmann
Counsel
Hanover
Nadine Schreiber, M.A.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Christoph Schnoor
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Zacharias-Alexis Schneider, LL.B., LL.M.
Partner
Hanover
Leif Dustin Schneider
Counsel
Ho Chi Minh City
Lisa Jennifer Schmölz
Counsel
Munich
Leon C. Schmitter, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Dr Barbara Schmidt
Partner
Leipzig
Jan-Christian Schmid
Senior Associate
Leipzig, Hamburg
Jenny Schindler
Senior Associate
Munich
Robert Schindler
Counsel
Essen
Georg Scherpf
Partner
Hamburg
Fabienne Scharfe, LL.M. (Tulane, New Orleans)
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Klaus Schaffner
Partner
Leipzig
Andy Schaal, LL.M.
Counsel
Berlin
Selin Sahin
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Joanna Rupa-Sträßer, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Niklas Roth
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Nurolhaq Rostamzada
Senior Associate
Cologne
Sabrina Rosbroj
Associate
Singapore
Falco Rohrberg, LL.M. (Uppsala)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Elisa Röhr
Associate
Dusseldorf
Prof. Dr Jörg Rodewald
Partner
Berlin
Dr Stephan Rippert LL.M.
Partner
Munich
Charlotte Riese
Senior Associate
Berlin
Anna-Sophia Riebeling
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Elena Recklin
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Timo Reckert
Associate
Hanover
Benedikt Rechner
Counsel
Berlin
Tim Rauschning
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Pia Rademaker, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Munich
Stephanie Quaß
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Henner M. Puppel
Partner
Essen
Julian Pöhler
Counsel
Hamburg
Florian Plambeck
Associate
Hamburg
Johannes Pieper, LL.M.
Counsel
Singapore
Dr Ulrich Philippi
Partner
Stuttgart
Thi Thuy Trang Phan, LL.M.
Partner
Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City
Michael Pfeiffer
Associate
Hamburg
Sarah Peuser
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Eckart Petzold
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Marc Peters, LL.M. oec.
Counsel
Cologne
Frederike Peters
Senior Consultant
Berlin
Ulf-Dieter Pape
Partner
Hanover
Tobias Osseforth, Mag. rer. publ.
Partner
Munich
Kevin Oestreich
Senior Consultant
Essen
Theresa Oesch
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Samantha Oehlke
Associate
Singapore
David Nückel
Associate
Dusseldorf
Lisa Niesen
Senior Associate
Essen
Marco-Marcel Niebuhr
Senior Associate
Hanover
Ngoc Nhu Nguyen
Associate
Leipzig
Katja Neumüller
Counsel
Cologne
Dianusch Nazari
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Daniel Naumann
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Amos Münch
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Cédric Müller, LL.M. (Bristol)
Partner
Essen
Pauline Müller
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Axel Mühl
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Alexander Mönnig, LL.M. (Manchester), E.M.L.E.
Counsel
Hamburg
Julian Monden
Senior Associate
Hanover
Mee Foo Moh
Of Counsel
Singapore
Maung Maung Min Khaung
Associate
Yangon
Dr Andreas Meyer-Landrut
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Sophia Meyer, Maître en Droit
Associate
Berlin
Annkatrin Merzig
Senior Associate
Essen
Marius Merfeld
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Moritz Mentzel
Counsel
Berlin
Dragana Mendes-Bozic
Luxembourg
Vanessa Meireles Schilling, LL.M. (Geneva MIDS)
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Achim Meier
Partner
Essen
Matthias Mehlwitz, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Alexander Masson, LL.B.
Senior Associate
Essen
Mirjam Marte
Associate
Stuttgart
Maria Marinez
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Andreas Mally
Counsel
Leipzig
Dr Mathias Mailänder
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Stefan Mager
Partner
Essen
Dr Oliver Maaz
Partner, Principal Consultant
Cologne
Marielle Lorraine
Associate
Munich
Fabian Lorenz, M.A.
Partner
Bangkok
Alexander F. Liebing, LL.M.
Counsel
Leipzig
Wolfgang Liebau
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Tiffany Lessing, LL.M.
Associate
Singapore
Simone Lersch
Counsel
Cologne
Elisabeth Lepique
Managing Partner
Cologne
Clemens Leitner, LL.M. (UCL)
Partner
Singapore
Prof. Dr Tobias Leidinger
Partner
Dusseldorf
Mathieu Laurent
Partner
Luxembourg
Aurélien Latouche
Partner
Luxembourg
Dr Stephen Lampert
Counsel
Munich
Jan Lachhein
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Piotr Kwiatkowski, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Paul Jakob Kurz
Associate
Leipzig
Dominique Kurtz
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Michael Kunkel, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Dr Thomas Kuhnle
Partner
Stuttgart, London
Christiane Kühn, LL.M. (Hong Kong)
Partner
Munich
Alina Kühn
Associate
Essen
Johannes Kugler
Associate
Munich
Philipp Kropatscheck Nguyen, LL.M.
Of Counsel
Singapore
Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)
Partner
Singapore
Nils Kramer
Senior Associate
Essen
Oliver Krall, LL.M. (Wellington)
Of Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Doreen König
Partner
Berlin
Christoph Kolb
Associate
Leipzig
Thomas Köhler
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Karsten Köhler
Partner
Leipzig
Oliver Köhler
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Stefan Kobes
Partner
Berlin
Dr Rolf Kobabe
Partner
Hamburg
Dr.iur. Andreas Knaul, LL.M. diap (ENA)
Berlin
Nina Klünker, LL.M. (KCL)
Associate
Berlin
Dr Andreas Kloyer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M., London
Katharina Klenk-Wernitzki, Dipl. Reg.-Wiss
Partner
Berlin, Cologne
Lukas Kirchhof, LL.M. (Hong Kong)
Senior Associate
Kuala Lumpur
Shi Yin Khoo, M.A. (Cantab)
Senior Associate
Kuala Lumpur
Philipp Kersting
Partner
Jakarta
Dr Sonja Daniela Kellermann
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Lena-Annika Kauer
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Jana Karras
Associate
Leipzig
Lida Karra
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Gerd-Ulrich Kapteina
Partner
Essen
Tillmann Kamp
Associate
Cologne
Jens Kaiser
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dr Oliver Kairies
Partner
Hanover
Dr Ann-Kathrin Jungen
Associate
Cologne
Charlotte Jodocy
Senior Associate
Essen
Tobias Jedermann
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)
Partner
Brussels, Dusseldorf
Dr Guido Jansen
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Bela Jansen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Sebastian Felix Janka, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
Munich
Dr Jan-David Jäger
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Maximilian Issels, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Associate
Munich
Felix Imelmann
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Thomas Hufnagel
Partner
Singapore
Ramona Hubracht, LL.M. Taxation
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Ekkehard Hübel
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Benjamin Hub
Partner
Hamburg
Marie Hoster, LL.B.
Associate
Essen, Dusseldorf
Sarah Hossenfelder
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Christian Horn, LL.M. (Tulane)
Partner
Berlin
Rares Holonec
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Anneleen Hofkens
Counsel
Luxembourg
Daniel Hilmer
Associate
Hamburg
Mike Hillers
Associate
Hanover
Dr Marilen Hilbert
Counsel
Stuttgart
Leonie Herwarth von Bittenfeld, LL.B., M.A.
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Paul Herter
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Florian Hensel, LL.M.
Associate
Munich
Dr Jan-Lukas Henkst
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Joachim Heinemann
Partner
Hamburg
Andrea Heim
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Raffaela Hauenstein
Associate
Munich
Dr Richard Happ
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Thomas Halberkamp
Partner
Hanover
Nina Hahnke
Associate
Essen
Prof. Dr Hans-Georg Hahn
Of Counsel
Hanover
Thi Ha
Associate
Yangon
Kati Gütschow
Associate
Dusseldorf
Frank Gutsche
Partner
Stuttgart
Julian Günniker
Essen
Christoph Grünenthal, MLE
Associate
Berlin
Franz-Rudolf Groß, LL.M. (London)
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Bernd Götze
Of Counsel
Singapore
Silke Gottschalk, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Thomas Gohrke
Partner
Hanover, Leipzig
Robert Goerend
Partner
Luxembourg
Patrick Gocht
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Imke Glücks
Partner
Essen
Iris Glönkler
Partner
Stuttgart
Philipp Glock
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Oliver Glasen-Nitschke
Associate
Essen
Stephan Gittermann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dennis Gerdes
Senior Consultant
Hamburg
Jakob Gauly
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Stefan Galla
Partner
Essen
Christiane Frye
Counsel
Essen
Nicole Fröhlich
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Ann-Kristin Freiheit
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Lea Franken
Associate
Dusseldorf
Katharina Stefanie Franke
Senior Associate
Essen
Katharina Foede
Associate
Berlin
Cosima Flock
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Martin Fleckenstein
Partner
Berlin
Henrik Fischer
Associate
Leipzig
Anne-Sophie Fischer
Associate
Munich
Sebastian Fedder
Partner
Hamburg
Marie Pauline Fay
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Lukas Erdmann
Associate
Berlin
Dr Gernot-Rüdiger Engel
Partner
Hamburg
Annkathrin Egerer-Tratt
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Benjamin Effler
Associate
Berlin
Nina Eckardt
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Michael Ebert
Counsel
Stuttgart
Dr Borbála Dux-Wenzel, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Jacqueline Dutz
Associate
Leipzig
Birgitta von Dresky
Partner
Singapore
Dr Philip Dohse
Partner
Hamburg
Philipp Dietz, LL.M. (Edinburgh)
Partner
Cologne
Euryale Didillon
Counsel
Luxembourg
Dr Sabrina Desens
Partner
Leipzig
Marx Dauth, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Marco Dauner
Associate
Stuttgart
Rolf Corsten
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dylan Corcoran
Associate
Luxembourg
Susanne Burkert-Vavilova
Counsel
Essen
Bernhard Burkert, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Counsel
Berlin
Prof. Dr Christian Burholt, LL.M.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff, LL.M. (Essex)
Partner
Hamburg
Charlotte Buck
Associate
Hanover
Dr Jürgen Bremer
Partner
Dusseldorf
Céline S. H. Breitenmoser, M.A. HSG
Associate
Singapore
Christian Brauns
Counsel
Stuttgart
Dr Michael Bormann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Lilith Boos
Associate
Dusseldorf
Lars Bollensen
Partner
Hamburg
Alexander Bohusch
Partner
Yangon, Singapore
Jens Bock
Partner
Berlin
Dr Andreas Blunk, MLE
Partner
Hanover
Dr Valerie Blettenberg
Associate
Munich
Nicole Bittlingmayer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Tarik Bilici, LL.M.
Junior Consultant
Dusseldorf
Anne Biebler
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Estelle Bichon Sun, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Singapore
Dr Carsten E. Beisheim
Partner
Dusseldorf
Sabrina Behbehani
Associate
Munich
Dr Arndt Begemann
Of Counsel
Essen
Prof. Dr Johannes Beermann
Of Counsel
Berlin
Dr Arnd Becker
Partner
Essen
Dr Johannes Becker
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Thorsten Becker
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Max H. Becker
Associate
Essen
Dr Stephan Bausch, D.U.
Partner
Cologne
Lukas Baumgärtner, Mag. Iur, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Bangkok
Mathar Ahmed Bajwa, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Yelena Bade
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Marcus Backes
Partner
Hamburg
Hajar Assebbane
Senior Associate
Luxembourg
Huguette Ashley Ntsangha
Senior Associate
Luxembourg
Darja Amelcenko, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Partner
Dusseldorf
Małgorzata Albe, LL.M.
Junior Consultant
Leipzig
Dr Konrad Adenauer
Partner
Cologne
Hans-Christian Ackermann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Caroline Ackermann
Counsel
Munich