Nikolaus Becker is an associate in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins’ Düsseldorf office.

Nikolaus advises German and international companies and financial investors on national and cross-border M&A transactions as well as on general corporate law.

He works with clients from a wide range of industries.

Nikolaus studied law at Heinrich-Heine-University in Düsseldorf, University of Gdańsk, in Gdańsk, Poland and Bond University in Robina, Queensland, Australia where he received a Master of Laws (LLM) degree.

Before joining the firm as an associate, Nikolaus worked for two years as an associate at a Magic Circle law firm. Prior to his career as a lawyer, he worked as law clerk, trainee lawyer, and paralegal for other international law firms in their respective Corporate Departments in Düsseldorf. As a trainee lawyer, he also worked for the thyssenkrupp AG in Essen in its legal department with a focus on corporate governance.

During his LLM studies, Nikolaus was awarded First in Class in three out of his eight courses. He also was nominated for the Executive Dean’s List for Academic Excellence and received the respective Certificate of Excellence.

Nikolaus’ representative experience includes advising:

  • Wintershall Dea on the sale of its stake in WIGA
  • SPIE on:
    • The acquisition of Otto LSE
    • The acquisition of ROBUR Industry Service Group
    • The acquisition of a majority stake in ICG Group
  • Carlyle on its majority investment in GBTEC Software AG
  • Triton on the acquisition of Trench
  • Chequers Capital on the acquisition of Nayak-LM
  • Acrotec (a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group) on the:
    • Acquisition of Friedrich Daniels
    • Acquisition of Mebus MIM-Technik
  • PMG on its strategic partnership with Pro4all
  • Astorg on the acquisition of CordenPharma
  • HSBC on its acquisition of an 18% stake in HSBC Trinkaus & Burkhardt from Landesbank Baden-Württemberg and the subsequent squeeze-out of minority shareholders*
  • Unifiedpost Group on the acquisition of Crossinx GmbH*
  • CLARK on the acquisition and integration of the finanzen Group and the simultaneous investment of Allianz X in CLARK*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • Rechtsanwalt (Germany)

Education

  • Second German State Exam, Higher Regional Court, Düsseldorf, 2020
  • LLM, Bond University, 2017
  • First German State Exam, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, 2016
  • Polish and International Legal Studies Program, University of Gdańsk, 2013

Languages Spoken

  • German
  • English