Image of Michael Weiss

Dr Michael Weiß

Partner

Michael has more than fifteen years of experience in advising companies on M&A transactions with a focus on listed companies and public takeover law as well as on all issues related to corporate and capital markets law. 

He also has extensive experience in advising on complex corporate restructurings, cross-border transactions and annual general meetings. He has a special sector focus on financial institutions and companies in the life sciences industry. Michael also regularly advises tech companies and is therefore very familiar with the effects of digitisation on the business models of his clients. He furthermore continually explores the potential of Legal Tech solutions and regularly utilises Legal Tech in matters where these solutions can help to increase efficiency.

Michael regularly publishes on various issues of corporate law.

Experience

Representative matters

  • CropEnergies AG on the public delisting offer by Südzucker AG.
  • The cornerstone investor in the IPO of Thyssenkrupp Nucera. 
  • Knorr-Bremse AG on the attempted takeover of Hella KGaA.
  • AKASOL AG’s supervisory board on the public takeover of AKASOL AG by US automotive supplier BorgWarner Inc.
  • tado GmbH, Europe’s pioneer in intelligent climate management, on its indirect public offering through a De-SPAC transaction with stock-listed GFJ ESG Acquisition I SE.
  • A global healthcare company on its EUR 150m investment in and cooperation agreement with Curevac AG.
  • Friede Springer and Mathias Döpfner on the public takeover of Axel Springer SE by KKR (including delisting offer in 2020). Transaction volume: EUR6.8bn.
  • TF1 and Ykone S.A.S on the acquisition of majority stake in German Influencer Marketing Agency COVER Communications GmbH & Co. KG and COVER PR Beteiligungs GmbH.
  • Deutsche Börse as bidder in a competitive auction process for the acquisition of all shares in MFEXMutual Fund Exchange, a leading global digital fund distribution platform from Nordic Capital.
  • Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG on a relationship agreement and corporate governance matters.
  • Elmos Semiconductor AG on the divestiture of its US subsidiary in an auction sale.
  • Dorilton Capital Management LLC on its acquisition of the Williams Formula One racing team.
  • A global financial institution on the cross border merger of one of its Spanish entities and one of its French entities into a new entity of the financial institution.
  • Universal-Investment-Gesellschaft mbH on the issuance of preference shares to Montagu and subsequent transfer to a third party investor as well as on the transfer of a substantial stake from Montagu to CPPIB.
  • Centerbridge Partners Europe LLP on the proposed acquisition of NORD/LB.
  • Gerry Weber International AG on corporate issues regarding the company’s insolvency, in particular assessing potent.
  • Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund (German Olympic Sports Federation) on corporate governance and compliance matters.
  • Nomura International Plc on the transfer of assets from branches of its U.K. licensed entity into branches of a German licensed entity in preparation for Brexit.
  • A multinational financial institution on the transfer of assets from branches of its U.K. licensed entity into branches of a German licensed entity in preparation for Brexit.
  • A global financial institution on the proposed restructuring of certain European subsidiaries, involving several cross-border mergers and asset transfers.
  • Commerzbank on the sale of its Equities and Commodities Markets business to Société Générale (previous firm experience).
  • McKesson on the public takeover offer for Celesio AG (previous firm experience).
  • Vodafone on the public takeover offer of Kabel Deutschland AG (previous firm experience).
  • Volkswagen on the mandatory public offer for MAN SE (previous firm experience).
  • ACS on the hostile takeover of HOCHTIEF AG (previous firm experience).

Published Work

  • Weiß M. (2021) "Schutz der Gesellschaft und der Anteilseigner", in Beck’sches Arbeitshandbuch für Aufsichtsratsmitglieder (Semler/v. Schenck/Wilsing), 5th edition, Munich: C.H. Beck
  • Diekmann H. / Weiß M. (2021) “Der Vergütungsbericht – Stolpersteine und Handlungsempfehlungen“, Zeitschrift für Unternehmensjuristen (ZUJ) 2021, p. 44-48
  • Weiß M. (2018) “Kapitalmaßnahmen”, in: Beck’sches Handbuch der AG, 3rd edition, Munich: C.H. Beck
  • Weiß M. (2018) „Besonderheiten im Konzern“, in: Handbuch Vorstand und Aufsichtsrat, Cologne: RWS 
  • Illert S. / Weiß M. (2018) “M&A und öffentliche Übernahmen”, in: Handbuch Vorstand und Aufsichtsrat, Cologne: RWS 
  • Weiß M. (2017) “Besonderheiten bei börsennotierten Aktiengesellschaften”, in: Unternehmenskauf in Recht und Praxis, 15th edition, Colgone: RWS 
  • Haarmann W. / Weiß M. (2014) “Reformbedarf der aktienrechtlichen Organhaftung”, Betriebs-Berater 2014, p. 2115-2125 
  • Weiß M. (2011) “Hybride Regulierungsinstrumente – Eine Analyse rechtlicher, faktischer und extraterritorialer Wirkungen nationaler Corporate-Governance-Kodizes”, Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck 
  • Marauhn T. / Weiß M. (2006) “The European Bank as Regulator and as Institutional Actor, in: The Regulation of International Financial Markets”, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 
  • Weiß M. (2004) “Zwischen Verbraucherschutz und Protektionismus – staatliche Förderung regionaler Produkte auf dem Prüfstein”, Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht 2004, p. 71-73

Qualifications

Admissions

Germany, 2008 (Rechtsanwalt)

Academic

First German Law Degree, 2004

Second German Law Degree, 2008

Dr iur, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, 2010

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.