GSK Stockmann is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, marking 25 years as an independent firm. Founded in 1997, the firm has grown from 10 to over 250 lawyers and tax advisers and 600 employees without mergers and is now one of the top corporate law firms in Germany. With significant growth in revenue from 56 million euros in 2017 to 95 million euros in the current year, GSK Stockmann ranks among the top 30 German law firms in terms of revenue.
The firm’s sustainable growth is ensured not only by its advisory teams that have grown together over many years, but also by the focus areas of its advisory services, which are geared toward the needs of its clients. The firm’s deep-rooted understanding of its clients’ industries and the relevant trends as well as an understanding of client-specific value chains have been decisive for GSK Stockmann’s success. GSK Stockmann thus has a balanced foundation and a crisis-proof national and international client structure, which it currently serves from seven offices in Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Munich and Luxembourg. Another international (sales) office was opened in London at the beginning of September.
GSK Stockmann strategically repositioned itself in 2019 and bundled its expertise into nine sectors according to the industries of its clients. Since then, the firm has focused its legal advice on the sectors Real Estate Investments & Asset Management, Real Estate Projects, Public, Financial Services, Funds, Capital Markets, Mobility, Energy and Healthcare. GSK Stockmann is active on the international stage with a focus on transaction and project advisory services, through its country desks in the DACH region with Austria and Switzerland, Benelux, the UK, France, Italy, the USA and China.
With its roots in the real estate industry, GSK Stockmann is now one of the top players on the market, with one of the largest legal real estate teams in Germany. This year, GSK Stockmann won the Real Estate Brand Award for the second year in a row.
The firm’s advisory services in the Financial Services and Funds sectors are also on a growth trajectory. Among other things, GSK Stockmann is the law firm of choice in Germany and Luxembourg for all issues relating to (fund) investments and structuring, private equity, venture capital and innovative financing as well as topics such as sustainability and ESG, crypto, blockchain and digital payment methods.
An entrepreneurial approach to legal work with a focus on the client’s perspective is part of GSK Stockmann’s DNA and its trademark. GSK Stockmann has successfully developed new products and solutions thanks to a strong spirit of innovation, the outstanding personal commitment of its staff and experienced advisory teams who work closely with clients. They appreciate that GSK Stockmann partners are involved in every project from start to finish. This is demonstrated by the high level of client satisfaction and the large number of clients who repeatedly engage GSK Stockmann for their legal matters.
GSK Stockmann’s growth is a success story to be proud of: “Yes, looking back, we are very satisfied and pleased that the firm has developed so successfully. Our ambition for the future is to continue our success,” comments Uwe Jäger, co-Managing Partner at GSK Stockmann.
People – the team – are at the heart of GSK Stockmann. Flexible terms of employment and transparent career paths make the firm an attractive employer. Oliver Glück, who himself started as an associate at the firm and is now co-Managing Partner, explains: “We have an atmosphere of openness. If a member of the team needs some flexibility, we will find a solution. And we have seen that it works. According to a market analysis by azur, we are among the top 10 corporate law firms in Germany with the most internal promotions and appointments, for example to partner, in relation to the total number of employees. This makes GSK Stockmann a firm where young lawyers can really build a career.”
“Internationalisation and digitalisation will continue to contribute to the profitable growth of our firm in the future,” asserts Carsten Knoll, a business economist who joined the management team as COO in 2016. “Particularly when it comes to digitalisation and innovations, we take an interdisciplinary approach. Our advisory teams are staffed with legal, business and also digital experts. We thus offer clients a one-stop shop for the entrepreneurial and economic challenges they are facing. This is the future of the legal market – a more interdisciplinary advisory approach.” With this strategic approach, the firm’s goal is to break into the top 20 firms in Germany and Europe in the next few years. “We are well prepared and consider the goal to be very realistic,” says Carsten Knoll.
