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Portrait ofThomas Sonnenberg

Dr. Thomas Sonnenberg

Partner
Rechtsanwalt

CMS Hasche Sigle
Kranhaus 1
Im Zollhafen 18
50678 Cologne
Germany
Languages German, English, French

As a highly regarded expert on international corporate structures, Thomas Sonnenberg specialises in the field of strategic compliance and corporate governance. His practice also covers corporate and stock corporation law, M&A and private equity transactions as well as finance, banking and related regulatory matters.

Before joining CMS, Thomas had been at private bank Sal. Oppenheim for almost 20 years, eight of which as general counsel. He subsequently joined industrial services provider Ferrostaal as general counsel in 2010, followed by general counsel, chief compliance officer and head of the management and supervisory board office positions at construction group Hochtief in Essen. Thomas then worked for private equity investor Triton as general counsel and head of corporate governance before joining CMS in 2016.

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Relevant experience

  • Advising an international conglomerate in the consummation of internal investigations
  • Advising on the group-wide introduction of monitoring and control processes in connection with the combat of bogus employment and improper hiring-out of employees
  • Advising a medium-sized business in connection with reorganization of internal export control
  • Advising several businesses on anti-money laundering organization, in particular for distribution activities in Eastern Europe
  • Advising the buyer on the acquisition of the private equity fund-of-fund business of a major German bank
  • Advising an international mechanical engineering group on intra-group mergers
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Publications

  • „Kommunikation als Schlüssel zu erfolgreichem Compliance-Management – Sieben Thesen“, Compliance-Berater 2019, 1 (Co-authors: Christina Ritzenhoff, Prof. Dr. Martin Schulz), („Communication as a key for successful compliance management – seven thoughts“)
  • „Non-compliance in China – Obligations and Risks for German Employees, German Parent Companies and their Management”, in: Senff/Zhang, “Governance, Risk and Compliance Management in China”, 2018
  • „Compliance-Systeme in Unternehmen”, JuS 2017, 917 („Compliance-systems in commercial businesses“)
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Education

  • 1992: Second state examination in law, Cologne
  • 1989: PhD (Dr. iur. utr.), University of Cologne
  • 1987: First state examination in law, University of Cologne
  • 1982 - 1987: Law studies at the University of Cologne
  • 1980 - 1982: Apprenticeship in banking
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Feed

16/01/2023
CMS advises Peter Jäckel Kom­munika­tionssysteme GmbH on sale of majority...
Cologne – Global company Cellularline S.p.A. has initially acquired 60% of the shares in Peter Jäckel Kom­munika­tionssysteme GmbH, a major player in the mobile phone accessories market. Cellularline...
11/11/2022
CMS advises managing partners, Arcus Capital and BE-Invest on sale of majority...
Cologne – The managing partners of the Lässig Group and private equity investors Arcus Capital and BE-Invest have sold a majority stake in the Baben­hausen-based Lässig Group to private equity firm...
14/09/2022
CMS advises Art-Invest Real Estate on investment by DTCP in maincubes
Cologne – Frankfurt-based data centre operator maincubes has gained Digital Transformation Capital Partners (DTCP) as a new strategic investor with a focus on digital infrastructure. DTCP made a substantial...
03/08/2022
Das "Whis­tleblow­ing-Ge­setz" kommt!
The Whistleblower Protection Act will soon be added to the statute book. While whistleblowers frequently had to worry about reprisals in the past, employees will now be granted special protection. Find out what changes and obligations companies face as a result of the upcoming legislation in our new podcast with Kira Falter, Anna Louisa Wit­t­lich and Dr Thomas Sonnenberg.
02/12/2021
CMS advises BE Investment and founder of Barfer’s Wellfood on sale to Perwyn...
Cologne – Private equity investor Perwyn Capital has acquired a majority stake in Barfer’s Wellfood GmbH, Berlin. The target company produces pet food for dogs and cats on a BARF (Biologically Appropriate...
03/06/2021
CMS advises CAM Alternatives on merger with Altamar Capital Partners
Cologne – Asset managers CAM Alternatives and Altamar Capital Partners, who specialise in private equity, real estate and infrastructure, have joined forces to form a new company called Altamar CAM...
17/03/2021
CMS advises BE In­vest­ment-Part­ners and Wundex on majority sale to capiton...
Cologne - The private equity investor capiton has acquired a majority stake in the Wundex Group, a leading full-service provider for wound care in Germany. Capiton acquired the shares in the course of...
05/03/2021
CMS advises online broker Nextmarkets on Series B financing round worth...
Cologne – Online broker Nextmarkets has received USD 30 million in a Series B round of financing. The additional capital is earmarked for accelerating the fintech’s European expansion and establishing...
11/02/2021
Global league for esports established: CMS advises Electronic Sports League...
Cologne – Following two years of negotiations, the Louvre Agreement has now established the first global league between signatories Electronic Sports League (ESL) and the twelve leading international...
13/12/2019
CMS advises ERIKS on the sale of its subsidiary Siekmann Econosto
CMS advises ERIKS on the sale of its subsidiary Siekmann Eco­n­o­stoDuessel­dorf – ERIKS N.V. sells its German subsidiary Siekmann Econosto GmbH & Co. to Neway Valve (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. The parties have...
20/08/2019
Avoiding ugly headlines
Compliance is a key requirement for the next stage in the rapid global development of esports. Ignoring the need for an effective compliance, ethics and governance system would be an expensive and painful...
07/09/2018
CMS advises CAM Private Markets on acquisition of DB Private Equity GmbH...
Co­logne – The Cologne-based CAM Group has acquired all the shares in DB Private Equity GmbH from Deutsche Bank. The purchase price was not disclosed. The DB Private Equity division handles investments...