Image of Christian Hilmes

Dr Christian Hilmes

Partner

Christian’s practice covers all conceivable aspects of real estate, from property purchase and project development, through leasing out commercial and residential property, property and asset management and use of real estate collateral, right up to sale transactions and restructurings.

Christian represents real estate investors, project developers, as well as users and providers of real estate. His advice is truly European, as the object portfolios he advises on often extend to up to 17 jurisdictions.

Regardless of the fact that Christian has excellent expertise in almost all real estate asset classes, he can demonstrate particular successes in retail and logistics projects and also focuses on the sectors of (renewable) energy and (digital) infrastructure.
 
Christian is a member of our Alternative Investments group.

Experience

Representative matters

Viridium Group on the EUR2.7bn sale of Generali Lebensversicherung AG's "Millennium Portfolio" to Commerz Real. The portfolio comprises 26 office, 14 residential and 9 retail properties with a total rental space of over 352,000 square metres in premium locations in Germany's top cities.

An investment company on the acquisition of a real estate portfolio consisting of 35 properties with mainly commercial use and office space in Germany, the Netherlands and France. Volume: EUR780m.

Värde on the sale of a real estate portfolio to Gateway Real Estate AG. The portfolio comprises 21 commercial properties (offices, restaurants, hotels and retail spaces) which are located across Germany.

DigitalBridge on the acquisition of a majority stake in GD Towers, the mobile telecommunications tower business of Deutsche Telekom AG, in partnership with Brookfield.

Ivanhoé Cambridge on the acquisition of the H&M logistics hub "Flagship" in Hamburg – its first logistics acquisition in Germany.

A real estate fund which was set up for Bavarian pension scheme manager Bayerische Versorgungskammer (BVK) on the Luxembourg platform of Universal-Investment on the acquisition of the Zalando Headquarters in Berlin.

A leading data center operator on real estate-law aspects of the acquisition of the relevant pieces of land and the grid connection of new data centers in Germany.

American Tower Corporation, the global communications infrastructure leader, on its agreed acquisition of Telxius Towers from Telefónica S.A. The deal comprises approximately 31,000 existing communications sites in Germany, Spain, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina and the total consideration for the transaction is approximately EUR7.7bn.

Hapag-Lloyd AG on real estate law in connection with the entry into the JadeWserPort (JWP). To this end, Hapag-Lloyd has acquired a 30 percent stake in Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven (CTW) and a 50 percent stake in Rail Terminal Wilhelmshaven (RTW) from the Danish AP Moller-Maersk Group (AP Moller - Maersk).

The Riverside Company on real estate law in connection with the acquisition of Dastex Reinraumzubehör GmbH & Co. KG, a leading provider of cleanroom clothing and consumables in the DACH region and branches in Benelux.

Published Work

  • Hilmes C., Krueger M.J. (2009) "Das Schattendasein des Dauernutzungsrechts", ZfIR (Zeitschrift fuer Immobilienrecht), Issue 5-6, page 184-194
  • Hilmes C. (2006) "Die Europaeische Union als Partei voelkerrechtlicher Vertraege" (The European Union as party to international legal treaties), Dissertation (Nomos 2006)

Recognition

They are solution-oriented and I am very impressed by the co-ordination of cross-border work
(Client)
They are absolutely exceptional, head and shoulders above their competitors. They have worked themselves ahead of the field
(Client)

Qualifications

Admissions

Referendar, Germany, 2003

Assessor, Germany, 2007

Admitted as German Rechtsanwalt, 2007

Academic

First German Law Degree, University of Münster, Germany, 2003

Dr iur, Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2006

Second German Law Degree, Higher District Court of Hamm, 2007

Languages

English, German
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.