Jens Kellerhoff

Expertise Jens Advises Experience Highlights Career History

Partner

Corporate, M&A, Interim GC & Compliance

+49 175 94 888 88

Expertise

Jens Kellerhoff is a Partner at gunnercooke, advising domestic and international clients on all aspects of corporate law, with a particular focus on M&A transactions, corporate governance and compliance.

He combines top-tier private practice experience with extensive in-house and General Counsel-level expertise. This dual perspective enables him to provide advice that is not only legally robust but also commercially focused and practically implementable.

Jens acts as a trusted adviser to management teams and shareholders, particularly in complex, high-stakes situations where legal considerations are closely linked to strategic and operational decision-making. His work frequently involves cross-border transactions and governance matters involving German, US and UK stakeholders.

He brings significant experience from senior legal leadership roles, having led teams of varying sizes across multiple industries over many years. He has a strong understanding of the demands involved in managing legal and compliance functions within complex organisations.

In addition, Jens has substantial experience advising at board level and supporting governance structures, including roles equivalent to Company Secretary.

Jens Advises

  • German and Swiss companies (AGs and GmbHs)
  • US corporations and investors
  • German start-ups

Experience Highlights

  • Advised a European energy company on the acquisition of a stake in a DAX 30-listed company, including the structuring of a forward sale model in the context of a potential IPO
  • Advised a private equity investor on the acquisition of a majority stake in seven Siemens group companies as part of a complex multi-entity carve-out transaction
  • Advised Novell on the acquisition of SUSE
  • Advised Syngenta on the acquisition of a minority stake in a leading Chinese seed company, as well as on related joint venture and market entry structures in China
  • Acted in an in-house capacity (Interim General Counsel) from closing onwards in relation to the spin-off of the optical networking business from the Nokia Siemens Networks group, including post-closing integration and governance build-up within the subsequent Coriant group
  • Advised an international investor on increasing its shareholding in a DAX-listed company, including the structuring of complex exit and resale arrangements in connection with a public offering
  • Advised on numerous transactions and restructurings in the municipal energy sector, including acquisitions, reorganisations and regulatory unbundling
  • Extensive experience with Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) insurance in international transactions, particularly in relation to structuring, risk allocation and integration into M&A processes

Career History

Former positions

  • 09/2022 – 12/2023, Gropyus AG: Head of Corporate Legal
  • 03/2020 – 03/2022, Lintum GmbH: Managing Director, Chief Legal & Strategy Officer
  • 09/2016 – 03/2019, JLT: Head M&A Insurance for Germany
  • 2013 until today: Lawyer and Interim Legal Manager in own law firm (except 09/2016 – 03/2019): M&A, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer projects
  • 2010 – 2013, Ferrostaal AG: Head of Corporate Office & Board Secretary, Senior Counsel M&A
  • 2007 – 2010, Syngenta AG: Global M&A & Venture Capital Counsel(2007/08); General Counsel Latin America & Co-Head Compliance LATAM (2009/10)
  • 2004 – 2006, Becker Büttner Held, Berlin – Lawyer
  • 1999 – 2004, Clifford Chance, Frankfurt/Main

Memberships

  • Harvard Business School Alumni Association
  • Toenissteiner Kreis e.V.
  • BUJ

Education

  • General Management Program, HBS, GMP 16 (2014)
  • Second state examination (1998)
  • European University Institute 1993-1996 (Dr iur. 1997)
  • London School of Economics (Visiting Researcher, 1994)
  • First state examination (1993)

 

 

 

 

Jens is a partner in gunnercooke GmbH, whose registered office is Kurfuerstendamm 15, 10719 Berlin, AG Charlottenburg, HRB 224488 B. All lawyers of gunnercooke GmbH are admitted either in Germany or Austria to practise as Rechtsanwalt or Rechtsanwaeltin and are members of and regulated by the relevant local Bar (Rechtsanwaltskammer).

Expertise

Back to top

Jens Kellerhoff is a Partner at gunnercooke, advising domestic and international clients on all aspects of corporate law, with a particular focus on M&A transactions, corporate governance and compliance.

He combines top-tier private practice experience with extensive in-house and General Counsel-level expertise. This dual perspective enables him to provide advice that is not only legally robust but also commercially focused and practically implementable.

Jens acts as a trusted adviser to management teams and shareholders, particularly in complex, high-stakes situations where legal considerations are closely linked to strategic and operational decision-making. His work frequently involves cross-border transactions and governance matters involving German, US and UK stakeholders.

He brings significant experience from senior legal leadership roles, having led teams of varying sizes across multiple industries over many years. He has a strong understanding of the demands involved in managing legal and compliance functions within complex organisations.

In addition, Jens has substantial experience advising at board level and supporting governance structures, including roles equivalent to Company Secretary.

Jens Advises

Back to top
  • German and Swiss companies (AGs and GmbHs)
  • US corporations and investors
  • German start-ups

Experience Highlights

Back to top
  • Advised a European energy company on the acquisition of a stake in a DAX 30-listed company, including the structuring of a forward sale model in the context of a potential IPO
  • Advised a private equity investor on the acquisition of a majority stake in seven Siemens group companies as part of a complex multi-entity carve-out transaction
  • Advised Novell on the acquisition of SUSE
  • Advised Syngenta on the acquisition of a minority stake in a leading Chinese seed company, as well as on related joint venture and market entry structures in China
  • Acted in an in-house capacity (Interim General Counsel) from closing onwards in relation to the spin-off of the optical networking business from the Nokia Siemens Networks group, including post-closing integration and governance build-up within the subsequent Coriant group
  • Advised an international investor on increasing its shareholding in a DAX-listed company, including the structuring of complex exit and resale arrangements in connection with a public offering
  • Advised on numerous transactions and restructurings in the municipal energy sector, including acquisitions, reorganisations and regulatory unbundling
  • Extensive experience with Warranty & Indemnity (W&I) insurance in international transactions, particularly in relation to structuring, risk allocation and integration into M&A processes

Career History

Back to top

Former positions

  • 09/2022 – 12/2023, Gropyus AG: Head of Corporate Legal
  • 03/2020 – 03/2022, Lintum GmbH: Managing Director, Chief Legal & Strategy Officer
  • 09/2016 – 03/2019, JLT: Head M&A Insurance for Germany
  • 2013 until today: Lawyer and Interim Legal Manager in own law firm (except 09/2016 – 03/2019): M&A, General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer projects
  • 2010 – 2013, Ferrostaal AG: Head of Corporate Office & Board Secretary, Senior Counsel M&A
  • 2007 – 2010, Syngenta AG: Global M&A & Venture Capital Counsel(2007/08); General Counsel Latin America & Co-Head Compliance LATAM (2009/10)
  • 2004 – 2006, Becker Büttner Held, Berlin – Lawyer
  • 1999 – 2004, Clifford Chance, Frankfurt/Main

Memberships

  • Harvard Business School Alumni Association
  • Toenissteiner Kreis e.V.
  • BUJ

Education

  • General Management Program, HBS, GMP 16 (2014)
  • Second state examination (1998)
  • European University Institute 1993-1996 (Dr iur. 1997)
  • London School of Economics (Visiting Researcher, 1994)
  • First state examination (1993)

 

Back to top

 

 

 

Jens is a partner in gunnercooke GmbH, whose registered office is Kurfuerstendamm 15, 10719 Berlin, AG Charlottenburg, HRB 224488 B. All lawyers of gunnercooke GmbH are admitted either in Germany or Austria to practise as Rechtsanwalt or Rechtsanwaeltin and are members of and regulated by the relevant local Bar (Rechtsanwaltskammer).