Several months into the official combination between King & Wood Mallesons and SJ Berwin, a cross-border team, made up of Chinese and German lawyers across eight practice groups, has advised China Automobile Development United (Beijing) Technology Investment Co. Ltd., established by several key automobile manufacturers, on its acquisition of Meta Motoren- und Energietechnik GmbH from its founder and management.

The joining of forces between the Frankfurt, Munich and Beijing offices marks another major cross-border corporate transaction that the newly combined firm has completed since August 2013 and further demonstrates the benefits of the enhanced international platform that continues to unlock opportunities for clients across the network.

Michiel Huizinga, Corporate partner at King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin in Frankfurt who led the German team on the transaction, said: "One of the fundamental reasons for the combination was to assist clients in Asia in connecting with opportunities in Europe. The comprehensive, cross-border coordination between China and Germany ensured a seamless service of the highest quality for our client."

Kaiding Wang, Corporate partner at King & Wood Mallesons in Beijing who led the Chinese team, said: "It was a great pleasure working with Michiel Huizinga and his team, and we have already built a secure and successful relationship throughout the firm's Asian and European network. Given the visit of China’s president to Germany and Frankfurt being named as the clearing bank centre in the Eurozone for the Renminbi, we certainly anticipate increased activity between our two countries in the future."

Co-Managing Partner in Germany, Stefan Krüger, added: "Our combination was driven first and foremost by our clients, and they are reaping great benefits from the first-class platform established between Europe and Asia. We are expanding this platform on a continual basis, leading to the implementation of several joint projects and mandates."

Meta Motoren- und Energie-Technik GmbH was founded in 1992 as an independent company. The focus of its services is the development of innovative techniques for internal combustion engines and power stations with the objective of improving fuel efficiency, reducing pollutant emissions and increasing the specific performance. Meta is set to continue operating as an independent research and development centre for motor engineering in Germany as well as see further expansion of its current activities.

King & Wood Mallesons Corporate partner, Kaiding Wang, led the team from Beijing along with Corporate partner Xiaolian Zhang and associates Qing Liu, He Huang, Yan Li and Mengting Huang.

Corporate partner, Michiel Huizinga, led the team from Frankfurt along with:

  > Michael Cziesla (partner), Johanna Marniok (associate), Christian Ostermöller (associate), Tobias Riemenschneider (associate) – M&A / Frankfurt
  > Barbara Geck (partner), Franziska Fiedler (associate) – Employment / Frankfurt
  > Manuela Finger (partner) – IP/IT-Commercial / Frankfurt
  > Clemens Niedner (partner) – Financing / Frankfurt
  > Markus Hill (partner) – Tax / Frankfurt
  > Lars Reubekeul (partner) – Real Estate / Munich
  > Tilman Siebert (partner) – Competition / Munich
  > Tillman de Vries (counsel) – Dispute Resolution / Frankfurt