SMP

Stephan’s practice focuses on venture capital fund formation, venture capital and private equity transactions as well as M&A and general corporate law. In particular, Stephan advises domestic and foreign sponsors and investors of venture capital funds in all matters related to fund structuring and fund restructuring as well as fund management and fund governance.

Qualifications

  • German qualified attorney (Rechtsanwalt)
  • Ph.D. in law (Dr. iur.) (Cologne University)
  • LL.M. (University College London)

Languages

  • German
  • English

Education and Career

Stephan studied law in Cologne and at University College London. Before co-founding SMP, he was an Associated Partner at Flick Gocke Schaumburg. Prior thereto, Stephan was a Senior Associate for several years in the M&A and corporate team of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton at the firm’s Cologne, Frankfurt and New York offices.

Stephan is a co-editor of and contributor to the practitioners’ handbook “Venture Capital Agreements in Germany” and frequently publishes on matters related to venture capital, M&A and general corporate law. 

Experience

Stephan’s recent work highlights include advising:

  • e.ventures on the formation of their co-investment fund with the European Investment Fund, on the formation of their fifth venture capital fund, and on numerous financing rounds (including Blinks Labs, Deposit Solutions and Asanayoga)
  • Project A Ventures on the formation of their co-investment fund with the European Investment Fund and on the formation of their second venture capital fund
  • Cherry Ventures on the formation of their second venture capital fund
  • Blue Yard / BY Capital on the formation of their first venture capital fund (successor fund to Earlybird) and on financing rounds, including deepstreamHub
  • Greycroft on several financing rounds, including for Blinks Labs, Viorama and Deposit Solutions
  • METRO Group on several financing rounds, including for orderbird and Shore
  • Information Asymmetry – Sense and Nonsense of Guarantees, Milestones and MAC Provisions in VC Investment Agreements
    in: Venture Capital, Investment Agreements and related Legal Issues – results of the 3rd Leipzig Conference on Mergers & Acquisitions in 2017 from May 19th to 20th, C.H. Beck, 2018 (forthcoming) - (in German)
  • Venture Capital Agreements in Germany
    C.H. Beck, 2017 (together with Peter Möllmann) - (forthcoming)
  • Confidentiality Obligations of Board Members in Case of Multiple Board Membership
    NZG 2013, 801-806 - (in German)
  • The Prohibition on Insider Trading in M&A Transactions
    NZG 2012, 1337-1342 - (in German)
  • Legal Issues Concerning the Cooperation of Insurance Companies
    VersR 2012, 270-278 (together with Jürgen Sieger) - (in German)
  • Control Mechanisms for Founders of Foundations under German Civil Law
    NZG 2010, 641-646 (together with Jürgen Sieger) - (in German)
  • The UK LLP – An Attractive Business Entity for German Law Firms?
    BB-Spezial 2010, 4 et seq. - (in German)
  • The LLP in Practice
    C.H. Beck, 2008 (together with Helder Schnittker) - (in German)
  • The British Limited Liability Partnership: An Attractive Business Entity for Professionals?
    Duncker & Humblot, 2007 - (in German)
  • Limits of Post-Contractual Non-Compete Undertakings
    LMK 2005, 163409 (together with Martin Henssler) - (in German)
  • Corporate Liability under the German Federal Soil Protection Act
    DB 1999, 417-420 (together with Wolfgang Schmitz-Rode) - (in German)