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 head of CMS' global Corporate M&A practice, which comprises more than 1,400 lawyers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America, and is ranked by leading industry publications as one of the leading lawyers for M&A and private equity in Germany. In his more than 20 years of professional experience, he has played a leading role in numerous large-volume and complex transactions for strategic and financial investors across various industries.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

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Führender Name in M&A (über 50 Jahre)

JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
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Führender Name in M&A (bis 50 Jahre)

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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Führender Name für M&A

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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"For me, Dr. Malte Bruhns is one of the best PE/VC lawyers in Germany.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
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„hervorragender Verhandler in M&A- u. Finanzierungstransaktionen“, Wettbewerber

JUVE Handbuch 2022/23
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Führender Anwalt Mergers & Acquisitions

Kanzleimonitor 2022/23
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"Recommended" for M&A

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)
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"outstanding, hands-on", client

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)
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„hervorragender Verhandler in M&A- u. Finanzierungstransaktionen“, Wettbewerber

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
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Führender Anwalt Mergers & Acquisitions

Kanzleimonitor 2022/2023

Relevant experience

RSBG | Sale of a majority stake in Masco Group to financial investor ARDIAN (26 group companies in 12 jurisdictions)
Surplex Holding | Sale of Surplex Group to financial investor Castik Capital/TBAuctions (including re-investment of Surplex founding shareholders)
United Robotics Group | Acquisition of the robotics division of SoftBank headquartered in Paris, France, and formation of an equity joint venture with SoftBank
Umlaut SE | Sale of umlaut SE and its international subsidiaries to Accenture and re-investment of umlaut SE founding shareholders
Arcus Capital and founding team | Advising on the sale of Lässig Group to AMBIENTA incl. re-investment of individual founders
BE Investment Partners and founding team | Advising on the sale of the Wundex Group to financial investor Capiton incl. re-investment
Art-Invest | Advising on the sale of a majority stake in maincubes Group to Digital Transformation Partners (DTCP) and re-financing of maincubes Group
NORD Holding | Advising on the acquisition (of GEA Group) and sale of Bock Group to Danfoss
Oakley Capital | Advising on the sale of Parship Elite Group to P7S1
CAM Capital | Advising on the acquisition of Deutsche Private Equity from Deutsche Bank AG and sale/merger of CAM Group with Altamar Capital Partners, Spain
Metropolitan Equity Partners | Advising on the sale of Wismar Pellets GmbH and its subsidiaries to LEAG
HOCHTIEF AG | Sale of formart (now instone) to Activum SG, Aurelis Group to financial investor RGI, and various other M&A transactions
intelligix GmbH | Sale to LEA Partners
Planet AI | Sale to Bechtle AG

Publications

Bruhns / Stein: Handbuch Immobilienwirtschaftsrecht (Kapitel 5, Projektorganisation und rechtliche Strukturen, Formen der Zusammenarbeit), C.H. Beck Verlag 2022 (Herausgeber Guido Meyer)
Unternehmenskauf in der Krise, in: Restrukturierung – Jahrbuch 2013, FINANCE (Hrsg.)
Die strategische Kultur der deutschen Sicherheitspolitik, Policy-Brief Globale Fragen (Co-Autor), Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (Hrsg.) 2009
Aufklaerung über Mandatsbeziehungen, Financial Times Deutschland 2008
Die KGaA als Alternative zur AG beim Börsengang, FINANCE, 3 2008
Unternehmenskauf, in: Hdb. Fachanwalt Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht, Wolters Kluwers 2. Aufl. 2010
Vorstandshaftung bei fehlerhafter Kapitalmarktkommunikation, Börsenkompass, 11 2007, p. 42 ff
Pledging Shares in German Limited Liability Companies - A Guide For Financial Investors, Law and Financial Markets Review, 1 2007, p. 49 ff
Die Verpfändung von GmbH-Anteilen in der Finanzierungspraxis, GmbHR 2006, p. 587 ff
Sellers´ Guarantees in NPL Transactions, Insolvency Law & Practice, 3 2005, p. 79 ff
Verkäufergarantien bei NPL-Transaktionen, CMS Report, Ausgabe XI 2005
Faule Kredite im Visier, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 2005
Verkäufergarantien bei NPL-Transaktionen, Zeitschrift für Bankrecht und Bankwirtschaft (ZBB) 3 2005, p. 207 ff
Dienste von allgemeinem wirtschaftlichem Interesse im europäischen Binnenmarktrecht, Diss. Universität Heidelberg 2002

Lectures list

"Key trends in Technology Companies - The impact of cloud, security, mobile, big data and digitalization on growth and M&A", European Corporate M&A Summit, Villa Kennedy, Panelist/Speaker, 21.04.2016
"Financing rounds in Venture Capital Transactions", Gründerszene seminar, Cologne 09.05.2012
"Damages in M&A Transactions – what are they and who gets them?", M&A D/A/CH Strategy Summit 2012, Königstein i.T., 09.05.2012
"Joint Ventures in Property Development", immoebs seminar, Cologne, 12.03.2012
"Real Estate Transactions via Share Deals", Eurohypo 13.12.2011
"Pitfalls in cross-border M&A transactions", CMS CMCK Corporate Department, London 02.03.2010
"Corporate Restructuring", Workshop, Juristische Fakultät Universität Bonn, 14.05.2009
"2. M&A Deal-Werkstatt" (Veranstalter Sal. Oppenheim und FINANCE), Panelteilnehmer, Bonn, 12.08.2008
"Abwehrmaßnahmen gegen feindliche Übernahmen", nationale Tagung FB GesR CMS Hasche Sigle, Frankfurt a.M., 12.04.2008
"Mergers & Acquisitions", Workshop, Juristische Fakultät Universität Bonn, 7.11.2007
"MoMiG – GmbH Reform", Heymanns Fachseminar, Köln, 26.10.2007
"Share Investments 2006", Panelteilnehmer, Börsentag, Köln 18.11.2006
"Investor Strategies in NPL Transactions", Convent Real Estate Konferenz 2006, Frankfurt a.M. 7.06.2006
"Unternehmenskauf", halbtägiger Seminar-Workshop, Juristische Fakultät, Universität Bonn, 23.05.2006
"M&A Workshop", halbtägiger Seminar-Workshop, Juristische Fakultät, Universität Bonn, 21.06.2005

various client seminars, especially on topics relating to corporate law and M&A

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

Practice Areas

Corporate / M&A International Group Structures Mergers & Acquisitions

sectors

Private Equity & Venture Capital

Insights by Malte

See all Insights

Deals Germany

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

30 Jan 2026 2 min read

Deals Germany

CMS advises Aon on the acquisition of specialist broker LTA

13 Jan 2026 2 min read

Legal Update Germany

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

15 Sep 2025 2 min read

Press releases Germany

CMS European M&A Outlook 2026: Deal executives making peace with uncertainty

12 Sep 2025 5 min read