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Markus M. Pfaff
Partner

Dr. Markus M. Pfaff

Rechtsanwalt

Frankfurt, Germany
Languages
  • German
  • English

Markus Pfaff specialises in finance transactions and restructuring, with a focus on acquisition and corporate finance as well as real estate and asset finance (aircrafts). He also advises on non-performing loan transactions, either acting for German and international banks or leasing companies and investors. Leading industry publications regularly recommend Markus for his expert know-how and the goal-oriented advice he provides.

After six years with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Duesseldorf, Frankfurt and New York, Markus joined CMS in 2009 as a partner.

Awards & Recognitions
01 –
  • Quote
    Listed for Real Estate
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2025 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed for Banking and Finance
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2025 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Global, Chambers Germany, 2025
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff is a very qualified lawyer who is great to deal with.", client
    Chambers Germany, 2025
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff is a very proactive lawyer who is strategically excellent and can resolve issues quickly.", client
    Chambers Global, Chambers Germany, 2025
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff is recognised for his experience in corporate, acquisition and real estate finance."
    Chambers Germany, 2025
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff handles the full spectrum of acquisition finance matters involving both single assets and portfolio deals. He is acknowledged as a driving force in the CMS real estate finance team."
    Chambers Germany, 2025
  • Quote
    „Oft empfohlen“ für Bank- und Finanzrecht
    JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
  • Quote
    Listed for Real Estate
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed for Mergers and Acquisitions
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed for Banking and Finance
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Global, 2024
  • Quote
    ‘Markus Pfaff is pragmatic in his approach and is an easy person to work with, which is appreciated in deals with lots of moving parts.‘, client
    Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    ‘He is brilliant to work with. The depth of his legal skills speaks for itself.‘, client
    Chambers Europe, 2024
  • Quote
    „Oft empfohlen“ für Bank- und Finanzrecht
    JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff is a strong lawyer for financings. He is knowledgeable and very service-oriented.", client
    Chambers Europe, 2023
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Europe, 2023
  • Quote
    Listed as leading individual
    Chambers Europe, 2023
  • Quote
    Listed for Real Estate
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed for Mergers and Acquisitions
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed for Banking and Finance
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioners
    Chambers Global, 2023
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff is an experienced practitioner with a particular focus on assisting lenders with acquisition finance and real estate finance."
    Chambers Europe, 2021
  • Quote
    "Markus Pfaff is praised by clients, who describe him as 'always constructive, always available and very quick to deliver,' while also being 'solution-oriented, with good negotiation skills'."
    Chambers Europe, 2021
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Global, 2021
  • Quote
    "conducts negotiations in a target-oriented manner", client
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)
  • Quote
    "Recommended" for Bank Lending and Acquisition Finance
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)
  • Quote
    Leading lawyer for banking and finance
    Kanzleimonitor 2020, 2021
  • Quote
    Listed as top 100 lawyer
    Kanzleimonitor 2020, 2021
  • Quote
    "well connected and a good adviser", client
    Chambers Europe, 2022
  • Quote
    Listed as Leading Individual
    Chambers Europe, 2022
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Europe, 2022
  • Quote
    Notable practitioners
    Chambers Europe, 2022
  • Quote
    "well connected and a good adviser", client
    Chambers Global, 2022
  • Quote
    Listed as Leading Individual
    Chambers Global, 2022
  • Quote
    Listed as notable practitioner
    Chambers Global, 2022
  • Quote
    "Recommended" for Bank Lending and Acquisition Finance
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)
  • Quote
    "Dr. Markus Pfaff: fluent in negotiations, pragmatic, goal-oriented", client
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
  • Quote
    Führender Anwalt Bankrecht
    Kanzleimonitor 2021/2022
  • Quote
    Führender Anwalt Finanzierung
    Kanzleimonitor 2021/2022
  • Quote
    Top-100-Anwälte
    Kanzleimonitor 2021/2022
  • Quote
    Führender Anwalt Finanzierung
    Kanzleimonitor 2022/2023
  • Quote
    „Oft empfohlen“ für Bank- und Finanzrecht
    JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023

Education

  • 2000 - 2001: Research assistant at the University of Heidelberg and PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. iur. Dres. h.c. Peter Hommelhoff at the university’s Institute of German and European Corporate and Business Law
  • 1998 - 2000: Trainee lawyer in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate
  • 1993 - 1998: Law studies at the Universities of Saarbruecken, Lausanne an Heidelberg
Practice Areas
Banking & Finance Finance Sustainable Finance
sectors
Infrastructure & Projects
topics
FinTech

Insights by Markus M.

See all Insights
Event International

CMS at MIPIM 2026

09 Mar 2026
Event International

ACC Annual Meeting 2025

19 Oct 2025
Event International

CMS at Expo Real, Munich

06 Oct 2025
Deals Germany

CMS advises Unigestion Private Equity on the acquisition of a stake in Ortivity Group

25 Aug 2025 2 min read
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