ARQIS News

ARQIS advised Greenovis Group, a portfolio company of the investment company Aurelius, on all legal aspects of the merger with Goertz Galabau. Through this partnership, Greenovis Group is entering another region in Germany and expanding the group's expertise in large-scale landscaping construction projects in the residential, commercial outdoor and sports facilities sectors. As part of Aurelius' buy-and-build strategy, the acquisition is a further step for the Greenovis Group on its way to the top of the German gardening and landscaping industry.

Greenovis Group, based in Langenfeld, unites a wide range of companies from the gardening and landscaping sector throughout Germany. Its services include gardening and landscaping, sports field construction, playground construction, green roofs, green facades and the maintenance of green spaces. Greenovis Group is one of the market leaders in this sector.

Goertz Galabau GmbH, based in Großröhrsdorf near Dresden, realises large and complex landscaping projects in residential environments, commercial outdoor facilities and sports facilities throughout Germany.

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to Greenovis on this merger with a team headed by Thomas Chwalek. Greenovis Group relied on the advice by ARQIS for the first time during this transaction.

Advisor to Greenovis

ARQIS (Düsseldorf): Partner: Thomas Chwalek (Lead, Transactions), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance, München); Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial, München), Martin Weingärtner (HR Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Severin Steffens, Christos Choudeloudis, (beide Transactions), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP, München), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial, München), Sabine Müller (HR Law, München)

Dr. Roua Schmitz joined ARQIS as counsel as of February 2025. As a specialist in labour law, she will be part of the focus group HR Law and advise clients on all matters of collective and individual labour law. She comes from commercial law firm Seitz. Dr. Roua Schmitz has extensive experience in advising international and national companies in collective and individual labour law. She also advises on collective agreements and their negotiation with the respective committees. She has further extensive experience in labour law litigation and around working time regulation.

The recruitment of Dr. Roua Schmitz continues a series of recent high-profile hires at ARQIS. ARQIS has been able to attract several excellent labour law experts to its Munich office and to establish the HR Law focus group in Munich as well. This strengthens ARQIS’ very good market position both in Munich and across its offices. ‘We are proud that so many successful talents have chosen ARQIS. This shows that our unique approach of a big law boutique, combining the high degree of specialization of a boutique and the quality level of a large law firm, is appreciated by both professionals and clients alike,’ added Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS.

ARQIS advised the shareholders of Smart Mobile Labs AG, a leading German provider for private 5G-as-a-service, on the sale of all shares to Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), one of the world's leading providers of shared network infrastructure. The merger of the two companies will establish one of the most important players for private 5G solutions in Europe.

Smart Mobile Labs AG, based in Munich, was founded over ten years ago as a spin-off from Nokia and specializes in private 5G networks and video transmission over mobile networks. In addition to its technical expertise and its patented live video streaming software solution EVO (Edge Video Orchestrator), the company brings important contacts to leading German mobile network operators and technology providers.

Boldyn Networks is one of the world's leading providers of shared network infrastructure. The company, headquartered in the United Kingdom, so far provides communication infrastructure in the UK, France, Ireland, Spain, Finland, Italy, Hong Kong and the United States.

A team headed by ARQIS partner Dr. Mauritz von Einem advised Smart Mobile Labs AG on all legal and tax aspects of this transaction. Teams around Dr. Mauritz von Einem regularly advise companies and start-ups from the tech sector.

Advisor to Smart Mobile Labs AG

ARQIS (Munich): Partners: Dr. Mauritz von Einem (Lead, Transactions), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Benjamin Bandur (Transactions), Dennis Reisich (Tax), Managing Associates: Anselm Graf (Transactions), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Giulia Kögel (Transactions), Sabine Müller (HR Law), Legal Specialist: Konstantinos Strempas

ARQIS provided comprehensive legal advice to Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21) on the acquisition of Kneip Leitungstiefbau und Infrastrukturtechnik GmbH. This strategic partnership will expand internal expertise and increase efficiency in important energy and water supply processes for DEW21. DEW21 will further focus on its central role as supplier. At the same time, the merger of the companies is an important step towards the sustainable and future-proof implementation of the energy transition.

Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21) operates throughout Germany and is the main and alternative supplier of energy and water for the city of Dortmund and the surrounding area. DEW21 is also one of the largest municipal producers of renewable energy in North Rhine-Westphalia and is committed to developing a climate-friendly energy supply and expanding renewable energies.

Kneip Leitungstiefbau und Infrastrukturtechnik GmbH specialises in the planning, coordination and implementation of civil engineering projects, in particular in the field of cable laying and pipeline construction. For around 50 years, the company has been supporting utility companies in the construction of utility infrastructure.

An ARQIS team headed by Dr. Friedrich Gebert and Dr. Christof Schneider advised Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH on all legal aspects of this transaction. ARQIS regularly advises companies in the energy sector and provides them with legal support e.g. on their way to the energy transition.

Advisor to Dortmunder Energie- und Wasserversorgung GmbH (DEW21)

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Berlin): Partner: Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory, Lead), Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider (Transactions, Lead), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR.Law), Counsel: Anja Mehrtens (HR.Law), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Managing Associates: Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data.Law), Luise Schüling (Regulatory), Associates: Hannah Düwel, Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (both Regulatory), Luzia Schulze Froning (HR.Law), Conrad Wiza (Transactions)

ARQIS verstärkt sich zum 1. Februar 2025 mit dem Dispute Resolution-Experten Dr. Nicolas Rücker. Er steigt als Partner bei ARQIS ein und wechselt vom Mobilitätsdienstleister FREENOW, wo er als Head of Legal ein sechsköpfiges Team leitete. Vor seiner Zeit bei FREENOW war er bei Freshfields in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Wien, Paris und Tokio tätig, wo er insbesondere maßgeblich an der erfolgreichen Abwehr von Ansprüchen in Leasingkonstellationen im Diesel-Komplex (BGH, Urteil vom 16.9.2021 – VII ZR 192/20) beteiligt war. Zudem absolvierte er ein Secondment beim renommierten BGH-Anwalt Dr. Reiner Hall. Dr. Rücker verfügt über mehr als zehn Jahre Erfahrung mit Gerichts- und Schiedsverfahren, insbesondere Post-M&A-, ESG- und Produkthaftungsstreitigkeiten. Er ist über die Branchen breit aufgestellt – bei Freshfields beriet er unter anderem Mandanten aus den Sektoren Technologie, Mobilität, Energie, Pharma, Fast-Moving-Consumer-Goods und Private Equity. Er ist leitendes Gründungsmitglied der VZPR (Vereinigung für Zivilprozessrecht), die eine Plattform für den berufsgruppenübergreifendenden Austausch zwischen Zivilprozessrechtlern aus Justiz, Wissenschaft, Verwaltung, Anwaltschaft und Unternehmen bietet.

Bei ARQIS wird der Prozessrechtler maßgeblich den Ausbau der Dispute Resolution-Praxis vorantreiben. „Mit Dr. Nicolas Rücker gewinnt ARQIS nicht nur einen fachlich exzellenten Juristen, sondern auch einen Partner, der umfassende Erfahrung aus der Unternehmenspraxis mitbringt und so die unternehmerischen Ziele unserer Mandanten immer im Blick haben wird“, sagt Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partnerin bei ARQIS. „Wir freuen uns, dass wir durch den Zuwachs unsere Wachstumsstrategie nachhaltig weiterverfolgen und unsere erfolgreiche Dispute Resolution-Praxis gezielt stärken.“

With the hire of Dr. Rücker, the Dispute Resolution team will grow to a total of seven professionals. Other areas of the firm have also grown steadily across all offices recently. At the beginning of the year, compliance expert Christian Judis joined ARQIS from KPMG Law. He will strengthen the Risk focus group and further develop ARQIS' compliance practice from the Munich office.

ARQIS advised St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster on all legal aspects of the acquisition of a majority stake in Verbund Katholischer Kliniken Düsseldorf gGmbH – (VKKD) from the Archdiocese of Cologne. The hospital group comprises four hospitals and a health center in the Düsseldorf area. Main objective of the new partnership is the sustainable promotion of further development of the hospital group and to pursue the goal of the North Rhine-Westphalia hospital plan of offering patients a wide range of medical services on an economically solid basis. At the same time, Franziskus Stiftung is expanding its medical offer in the Düsseldorf region. A minority stake will remain with Katholische Stiftung Marien Hospital zu Düsseldorf. St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster is linked to the Katholische Stiftung Marien Hospital zu Düsseldorf by their shared Franciscan origins. For example, Franciscan nuns have been active at the Marien Hospital in Düsseldorf for many years. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the necessary authorities.

St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster is one of the largest confessional hospital groups in Germany, currently operating 14 hospitals and ten facilities for disabled and senior citizens in North Rhine-Westphalia and Bremen. Franziskus Stiftung is among other things also invested in outpatient rehabilitation centers, nursing services and hospices.

Dr. Nils Brüggemann, Chairman to the Board of Franziskus Stiftung, commented on the new partnership: ‘The deep regional roots with a broad, specialized range of medical services are an excellent match for the strategy of Franziskus Stiftung. VKKD is a central player in Düsseldorf's healthcare system with a solid competitive position that has just been confirmed by the NRW hospital plan. In this important region, we are significantly expanding our medical services in the interest of patient well-being. With their combined sales volume of 1.6 billion euros and an additional 300 million euros, Franziskus Stiftung and VKKD will continue to jointly expand their strengths in both patient care and economic terms.’

This transaction demonstrates the strength of ARQIS teams around Jörn-Christian Schulze in the healthcare sector. The contact to Franziskus Stiftung was also initiated through a hospital deal. In 2017, the team advised the operator of the Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus Hiltrup, Orden der Missionsschwestern vom Heiligsten Herzen Jesu e.V., on the sale to the current client.

Advisor to St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Core Deal Team: Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (lead), Dr. Maximilian Backhaus (internal project management), Malte Griepenburg (all Transactions), Partners: Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Johannes Landry (Transactions), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance, Munich), Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Laura Ally Rizzi , Katrin Ludwig, Jasmin Grünen (all Transactions), Diana Puchowezki (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Amir Katanbafteh (Transactions), Rebecca Gester (IP), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk), Sabine Müller (HR Law, Munich), Lia Papismedova (Real Estate), Dr. Dennis Ratschkowski, Luzia Schulze Froning (both HR Law)

ARQIS advised Collaboration Factory AG on all legal aspects of the acquisition of a majority stake by the global US investment company Level Equity. Through this strategic growth investment, the innovations of the Munich-based software provider Collaboration Factory will be driven forward while accelerating the expansion strategy, particularly the expansion into new geographic and vertical markets. With cplace, the company offers a software solution for company-wide project and portfolio management. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price.

Collaboration Factory, headquartered in Munich, was founded in 2014 and is known for its next-generation software solutions for project and portfolio management (PPM). Cplace supports leading companies in providing tailored solutions for their specific requirements. Its customers include numerous DAX 40 companies, among others from the automotive, chemical and pharmaceutical industries.

Level Equity, headquartered in New York, is a private investment firm operating worldwide and specialised in providing capital for fast-growing software and technology companies. Since its foundation, Level Equity has raised 3.1 billion US dollars in capital and invested in over 100 companies. Cplace is Level Equity's first platform investment in Germany.

The transaction and the reinvestment of the existing shareholders, including that of founder and CEO Dr. Rupert Stuffer, were comprehensively advised by a team headed by the two ARQIS partners Dr. Mauritz von Einem and Dr. Christof Schneider. Prior to the sale of the stake, a structured bidding process with several bidders took place. A team from Arendt, headed by partner Carsten Opitz, provided advice under Luxembourg law on the extensive re-investment. ARQIS advised Collaboration Factory for the first time; the mandate resulted from a recommendation.

Advisor to Collaboration Factory:

ARQIS (Munich): Partners: Dr. Mauritz von Einem (Lead), Dr. Christof Schneider (Co-Lead), Johannes Landry (Financing), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier (Labour Law), Counsel: Benjamin Bandur (Transactions), Dennis Reisich (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Associates: Anselm Graf, Giulia Kögel (both Transactions), Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Sabine Müller (Labour Law)

Arendt (Luxembourg): Partner: Carsten Opitz, Associate: Pol Reckinger

ARQIS advised the Swiss investment group CONSTELLATION CAPITAL on the acquisition of the Exportverpackung Sehnde Group (EVS Group), including the Polish company Export Pack Polska Sp. Z o.o. The EVS Group is now part of the ARCA Group, which belongs to CONSTELLATION CAPITAL.

The acquisition is an important step in ARCA Group's growth strategy. At the same time, the merger expands the group's regional presence to northern Germany and Poland. After the merger, EVS Group will be fully integrated into the ARCA Group but will retain its independent brand and market presence. The EVS Group's Managing Directors will remain with the company, whilst the previous shareholders are reinvesting substantially in the ARCA Group.

The ARCA Group, a group of CONSTELLATION CAPITAL AG, is a rapidly growing provider of wooden packaging and packaging services in the DACH-region. This and future acquisitions are intended to establish a dense network of wooden packaging and packaging service companies that will benefit from synergies in the areas of purchasing, professionalization of processes and digital transformation.

The EVS Group, which comprises Exportverpackung Sehnde GmbH and Export Pack Polska Sp. Z o. o., provides packaging services with around 120 employees at its locations in Sehnde and Hanover in Lower Saxony. Export Pack Polska Sp. Z o.o., based in Zabrze, Poland, specializes in the production of packaging materials, the provision of packaging and other logistics services.

CONSTELLATION CAPITAL is a Swiss investment group founded in 1992 and based in Freienbach on Lake Zurich. It pursues a buy & build strategy that focuses on majority investments in medium-sized companies in the business service, education & lifestyle and healthcare sectors in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.

An ARQIS team headed by Dr Laeger has already advised CONSTELLATION CAPITAL on the acquisition of the ARCA platform and has provided comprehensive legal and tax advice on all further acquisitions for the platform, as well as on the acquisition financing. ARQIS was supported in Poland by a Polish team from Wolf Theiss.

Advisors to CONSTELLATION CAPITAL

ARQIS (Dusseldorf/Munich): Partners: Dr. Lars Laeger Johannes Landry (Financing), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Tobias Neufeld (Data Law), Lisa-Marie Niklas (HR Law), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Jens Knipping (Tax), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Anja Mehrtens, Martin Weingärtner (both HR Law), Managing Associates: Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Katrin Ludwig (M&A), Rolf Tichy (IP), Associates: Dr. Lina Alami, Sabine Müller (both HR Law), Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Marius Mesenbrink (Data Law), Legal Specialist: Tim Kottmann (HR Law)

Wolf Theiss (Poland): Peter Daszkowski, Bartosz Kuras (both Lead), Karolina Stawowska, Michal Zajaczkowski, Agnieszka Nowak-Blaszczak, Adrian Krzyzanowski, Jakub Pietrasik, Izabela Wiewiorka, Izabela Derylo, Kinga Kluszczynska, Oliwia Pecht

With effect from 1 January 2025, ARQIS is strengthening its compliance practice with the hire of Christian Judis. Christian Judis joins ARQIS from KPMG Law Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, where he previously worked in the areas of compliance, corporate criminal law and tax criminal law. Earlier in his career, he worked as a criminal defence lawyer at the renowned boutique law firm Ufer Knauer. His main areas of expertise are advising on compliance measures, assisting with investigations and defending companies in investigations by the authorities.

Christian Judis starts as Counsel and will strategically develop the compliance practice at ARQIS. “Christian Judis is an experienced lawyer with a strong entrepreneurial and strategic focus. He has extensive experience, particularly in advising international companies, and his expertise is an excellent asset to our range of services. I am very pleased that we will be offering our clients an even broader range of advice in securing their day-to-day business and in managing acute crisis situations,” comments Dr. Mirjam Boche, head of the focus group Risk.

At the turn of the year, ARQIS already promoted four lawyers from its own ranks to Counsel, thereby expanding strategically important areas. The entry of Christian Judis underlines this development and the steady growth of ARQIS. "With the hire of Christian Judis and the counsel promotions at the beginning of the year, we are well positioned for the future and can even better meet the specific needs of our clients," adds Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS.

ARQIS advised the hg medical GmbH on all legal aspects of the acquisition of ptu medical GmbH. For this purpose, hg medical has signed a binding agreement to acquire ptu medical from its sole shareholder Tevfik Uzun. In future, both companies will combine their expertise to offer new product categories and a broader portfolio. The founder will remain with the company as CEO after the acquisition. All parties involved have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction, such as the purchase price.

hg medical is a leading manufacturer of orthopedic implants and specialises in medical technology solutions for the extremities and the spine. The company is headquartered in Raisting, Bavaria, and also has a site located in the USA.

ptu medical, based in Spaichingen, Baden-Württemberg, is a leading manufacturer of orthopedic drills, cutting instruments and implants for the spine, extremities and trauma surgery.

Elisa Patricia Suhl, Head of M&A at hg medical, added: “The acquisition of ptu medical marks hg medical’s first add-on acquisition. This is a transformational moment for both organizations. We are firmly convinced that the combination of hg medical and ptu medical will be highly value-creating for our customers and highly synergistic for our group. We warmly welcome Tevfik and his full team into the group.”

ARQIS, under the lead of partner Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, advised hg medical on all legal aspects of this transaction. hg medical and its shareholder Astorg relied for the first time on the legal advice of ARQIS. For the re-investment of the founder, ARQIS worked together with a team from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

Advisor to hg medical

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze (Lead), Laura Ally-Rizzi (Internal Project Management, both Transactions), Partner: Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Marcus Nothhelfer (IP), Counsel: Sina Janke (Compliance), Jens Knipping (Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Dr. Maximilian Backhaus, Carolin Schlütter-Lückel (both Transactions), Tim Bresemann, Diana Puchowezki (both Real Estate), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Rolf Tichy (IP), Luise Schüling (Regulatory), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Anna Hellmann, Anna Munsch, Luzia Schulze Froning (all HR Law), Marius Mesenbrink (Japan Desk), Finn-Ole Münchow (Regulatory), Senior Legal Specialist: Qing Xia

ARQIS advised the shareholders of B+T Group on all legal aspects of the sale of their shares to the investment fund Igneo. An agreement for the sale of 90 percent of the shares in B+T Group to the investment fund Igneo Infrastructure Partners has been signed. Ralf Bohn, the former indirect majority shareholder and managing director, will remain with the company as minority shareholder and CEO. The transaction is still subject to the usual regulatory approvals under antitrust and foreign trade law and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. The parties have agreed not to disclose further details of the transaction, such as the purchase price.

The sold B+T Group, based in Alsfeld, Hesse, operates at 11 locations in Germany and France. The company's main focus is on the construction and operation of processing plants and power stations. These are used to recycle non-recyclable waste and to utilise its energy and material potential.

Igneo, part of the First Sentier Investors Group, currently manages 20 billion US dollars in assets on behalf of over 200 investors. Its focus is on renewable energies, digital infrastructure, waste management, water supply and transport/logistics.

An ARQIS team headed by Andreas Dietl and Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider advised the B+T Group and its shareholders on this transaction, in particular also accompanying the prior sales of the holdings B+S Papenburg Energie GmbH and EBS Concept GmbH to Steinbeis Holding and B+T Horn Energie GmbH to Kronospan.

Advisor to B+T Group

ARQIS (Dusseldorf): Andreas Dietl, Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider (both M&A, Lead), Partner: Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory), Dr. Ulrich Lienhard (Real Estate), Counsel: Dennis Reisich, Jens Knipping (both Tax), Anja Mehrtens (HR Law), Managing Associates: Carolin Schlütter-Lückel (M&A), Tim Bresemann (Real Estate), Daniel Schlemann (Data Law), Nora Stratmann (Commercial), Associates: Rebecca Gester (Commercial), Dr. Bernhard Gröhe (Regulatory), Dr. Hendrik Völkerding (HR Law)

Cohen Gresser (Paris): Johannes Jonas, Pierre Wolnan (both Corporate/M&A), Angéline Duffour (Employment Law)

MARCK (Antitrust, AWV): Dr. Georg Schmittmann

Arendt & Medernach (Luxembourg – Re-Investment): Carsten Opitz, Pol Reckinger (both Corporate/M&A)

At the turn of the year 2024/2025, ARQIS will appoint four Managing Associates as Counsels. In doing so, ARQIS is strengthening strategically important areas and developing talents from its own ranks. Nora Stratmann, Benjamin Bandur, Malte Griepenburg and Martin Weingärtner will be promoted. ‘The expertise and commitment of the new Counsels will enable us to expand into new and to develop strategically important legal practice areas. All four are outstanding talents who not only have excellent legal expertise, but also always have the business objectives of our clients in mind,' says Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS.

With the appointment of Nora Stratmann, ARQIS is strengthening its commercial legal advice offer. ARQIS is thus responding to the growing market demand for excellent legal advice. At the same time, the promotion of Benjamin Bandur and Malte Griepenburg strengthens the steadily growing transaction practice. Martin Weingärtner, lawyer within the HR.Law focus group, will work at the interface between labour law and transactions. With its HR Transactions subgroup, ARQIS has a unique competitive advantage in the market and is able to provide targeted and efficient labour law support for transactions.

The new Counsels at ARQIS:

Benjamin Bandur (Munich) has been advising domestic and foreign private equity funds, investment banks, multinational strategic investors, venture capital funds as well as start-ups and their founders as a lawyer at ARQIS since 2019.

Malte Griepenburg (Dusseldorf) joined ARQIS as a lawyer in 2018. He advises clients, particularly in the private equity sector, on legal issues related to corporate law, mergers & acquisitions and medical law. In the future, he will further expand his advice in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector.

Nora Stratmann (Munich) has been working at ARQIS in the IP and Commercial areas since 2019. She will play a key role in the further development of ARQIS’ commercial law advisory services and advise on the drafting and negotiation of contracts. Her focus is on commercial and distribution law as well as advising on the interface with M&A transactions.

Martin Weingärtner (Dusseldorf) has been with ARQIS as a lawyer since 2018. Within the HR Law focus group, he advises clients on topics related to compensation and benefits. In the future, he will focus his advice on the interface between labour law and transactions. ARQIS is one of the leading providers in the market for advice in the area of HR transactions.