Mr Bernhardt joined Allen & Overy in 2011 as part of a team hire from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, where he had spent the last five years. Described in The Legal 500 as a lawyer with ‘deep business sense’, Mr Bernhardt boasts more than 15 years’ experience advising clients on corporate M&A and private equity transactions. He represents national and international sponsors on investments and cross-border transactions, as well as regularly advising on private equity transactions such as public takeovers, public-to-privates, LBOs and MBOs. He is the fourth A&O partner to be scooped up by Milbank in the last month, after the New York-headquartered firm took a three-partner team from the Magic Circle outfit in November that included former A&O US senior partner Kevin O’Shea.

Private equity outlook

Milbank global head of corporate Norbert Rieger said of the hire: ‘Michael Bernhardt’s mix of experiences fits perfectly with our transactional practice and helps us continue the growth of our private equity offering in Germany.’ The firm’s chairman, Scott Edelman, added: ‘As we expect private equity to continue to be a particularly active area of M&A in the years ahead, [Michael] will play an important role in continuing to position the firm at the forefront of legal advisers to private equity houses with investment interest in Germany and all over Europe.’

Sources: Legal Business; PE Hub