My main areas of practice
My work focuses on advising clients on M&A transactions. With more than ten years of experience as a corporate lawyer, I have supported transactions of various sizes and structures – from smaller corporate acquisitions to complex, internationally oriented mergers. I assist clients throughout the entire transaction process, from the initial contact and the preparation and structuring of the transaction to contract negotiations and the successful signing and closing.
In addition, I advise on the formation of companies as well as on all ongoing corporate law matters that arise during corporate development. This includes in particular advice on
- drafting complex articles of association
- establishing holding structures
- negotiating and drafting joint venture agreements and shareholders’ agreements
- implementing cash‑pool structures
- preparing and executing intra‑group restructurings
- strategic equity investments in other companies
- onboarding investors and financing rounds
- preparing and implementing business succession or exit processes
I advise our clients in German and English.
Publications
I regularly publish in leading professional journals and other media on current topics in M&A and Corporate Law.
Publications/Citations (Selection, in German):
- “The Principle of Economic Ownership in Accounting Law” – interpretation of
§ 246 Abs. 1 S. 2 HGB and its distinction from § 39 AO, Bonner Schriften zum Steuer-, Finanz- und Unternehmensrecht (Keller) (paywall) - No Analogous Application of § 179a AktG to the GmbH, NJW-Spezial 2019, 271 (Giedinghagen/Keller) (paywall)
- “The Qualified Subordinated Loan”, NJW-Spezial 2020, 207 (Giedinghagen/Keller) (paywall)
- “Digital GmbH Formation”, NZG 2021, 573 (Keller/Schümmer) (paywall)
- “The End of the Odyssey of § 179a AktG - The Transaction Concerning the Entire Assets in Light of the New Case Law of the Federal Court of Justice for GmbH and KG", DB 2022, S. 1625 (Keller/Schümmer) (paywall)
- “The Government Draft for the DiREG: More Digitalisation for Corporate Law”, DB 2022, 1179 (Keller/Schümmer) (paywall)
- “M&A – Disclosure Obligations After a Due Diligence”, NJW-Spezial 2023, 719 (Keller/Schümmer) (paywall)
- Commentary on §§ 325 – 330 HGB – in particular regarding the disclosure of annual financial statements, Nomos Großkommentar zum Handelsgesetzbuch, 4th ed. 2024 (Keller)
- Note on OLG Frankfurt regarding § 179a AktG applied analogously to public limited partnerships (Publikums‑KGs), ZIP 2024, 617 (Keller/Schümmer) (paywall)
- “In‑Year Distributions and Withdrawals in Corporations”, DB 2024, 2277 (Keller/Schümmer) (paywall)
- Publications on „Pitfalls in SME Company Sales“ in the newsletter of the German Entrepreneurs – Platform for Digitalisation and Sustainability (2024)
- Article featuring insights from Dr Tobias Keller on Employee Participation Programs in SMEs, Markt und Mittelstand (2024)
Personal engagement
I am a member of the Gesellschaftsrechtliche Vereinigung – Wissenschaftliche Vereinigung für Unternehmens- und Gesellschaftsrecht (VGR) e.V.
My background
I studied at the University of Bonn (Rheinische Friedrich‑Wilhelms‑Universität) and at the Universidad Salamanca in Spain.
Before joining Fieldfisher, I worked as a lawyer at other renowned corporate law firms in Dusseldorf.
