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Malte Bruhns
Partner

Dr. Malte Bruhns, LL.M. (The University of Edinburgh)

Rechtsanwalt | Head of the Corporate/M&A Group

Languages
  • German
  • English
  • French
Social media

Malte Bruhns is the Global Head of the CMS Corporate M&A Group (CPAG), which comprises more than 1,100 lawyers across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. He is consistently recognised by leading industry publications (including JUVE, Kanzleimonitor, and WirtschaftsWoche) as one of Germany’s leading M&A and private equity lawyers. Over more than 23 years of professional experience, he has led numerous large-scale and highly complex transactions for strategic and financial investors across a wide range of industries and jurisdictions. Malte Bruhns is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the German Startup Association, the leading representative body of Germany’s startup and scaleup ecosystem.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Führender Name in M&A (über 50 Jahre)
    JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
  • Quote
    Führender Name in M&A (bis 50 Jahre)
    JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
  • Quote
    Führender Name für M&A
    JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
  • Quote
    "For me, Dr. Malte Bruhns is one of the best PE/VC lawyers in Germany.", client
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
  • Quote
    „hervorragender Verhandler in M&A- u. Finanzierungstransaktionen“, Wettbewerber
    JUVE Handbuch 2022/23
  • Quote
    Führender Anwalt Mergers & Acquisitions
    Kanzleimonitor 2022/23
  • Quote
    "Recommended" for M&A
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)
  • Quote
    "outstanding, hands-on", client
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)
  • Quote
    „hervorragender Verhandler in M&A- u. Finanzierungstransaktionen“, Wettbewerber
    JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
  • Quote
    Führender Anwalt Mergers & Acquisitions
    Kanzleimonitor 2022/2023

Relevant experience

  • Miebach Group | Advised on the sale of the international consulting business to Investcorp, including the reinvestment/roll-over of certain selling shareholders. 
  • Surplex Holding | Advised on the sale of the international Surplex Group to Castik Capital / TBAuctions, including the reinvestment of certain selling shareholders. 
  • RSBG SE | Advised on the acquisition of the Masco Group, several add-on acquisitions, and the subsequent sale (Exit) of the Masco Group to Ardian. 
  • United Robotics Group | Advised on the acquisition of the global robotics division of SoftBank and the formation of an equity joint venture with SoftBank. 
  • Umlaut SE | Advised on the sale of umlaut SE and its international subsidiaries to Accenture, including the reinvestment of certain selling shareholders. 
  • Arcus Capital and founder team | Advised on the sale of the LÄSSIG Group to Ambienta, including the reinvestment/roll-over of certain founders. 
  • BE Investment Partners and founder team | Advised on the sale of the Wundex Group to Capiton, including the reinvestment/roll-over of certain selling shareholders. 
  • Art-Invest | Advised on the sale of the maincubes Group to Digital Transformation Capital Partners (DTCP). 
  • NORD Holding | Advised on the acquisition of the Bock Group from GEA Group and its subsequent sale to Danfoss. 
  • Oakley Capital | Advised on the sale of the ParshipMeet Group (formerly ParshipElite Group) to ProSiebenSat.1 Media (P7S1). 
  • CAM Capital | Advised on the acquisition of Deutsche Private Equity GmbH from Deutsche Bank AG and the subsequent sale/merger of the CAM Group with Altamar Capital Partners. 
  • Metropolitan Equity Partners | Advised on the sale of Wismar Pellets GmbH and its subsidiaries to LEAG. 
  • HOCHTIEF AG | Advised on the sale of Instone Real Estate Group SE (formerly formart GmbH & Co. KG) to ActivumSG and the sale of the Aurelis Group to Redwood Grove International (RGI). 
  • intelligix GmbH | Advised on the sale of intelligix GmbH to LEA Partners and the reinvestment/roll-over of certain selling shareholders. 
  • Planet AI Group | Advised the shareholders of Planet AI Group on the sale of a majority of their shares to Bechtle AG.

Education

  • 2001 - 2003: Trainee lawyer at Higher Regional Court Hamburg
  • 1999 - 2001: Doctorate in European Corporate Law (Dr. iur.) at the Institute of German and European Corporate and Business Law, University of Heidelberg
  • 1998/1999: Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the University of Edinburgh, Old College
  • 1993 - 1997: Law Studies at the University of Heidelberg
  • 1993: Abitur (German A-levels) at the International German School of Brussels, Belgium

Insights by Malte

CMS advises on the establishment of the European Football Alliance as a new European football league

CMS advises on the establishment of the European Football Alliance as a new European football league

21 May 2026 2 min read
CMS advises Penta Infra on 20 MW Munich data centre colocation project

CMS advises Penta Infra on 20 MW Munich data centre colocation project

30 Jan 2026 2 min read
CMS advises Aon on the acquisition of specialist broker LTA

CMS advises Aon on the acquisition of specialist broker LTA

13 Jan 2026 2 min read
CMS European M&A Outlook 2026: deals, doubts & divergences

CMS European M&A Outlook 2026: deals, doubts & divergences

15 Sep 2025 2 min read
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