Helmut Kempf joins GvW Graf von Westphalen as an Equity Partner

Helmut Kempf (49) will join GvW Graf von Westphalen as a new equity partner and will strengthen the firm's Düsseldorf office starting on 1 June.  The main focus of his work will be providing advice in M&A projects.  He will also provide support to the growing GvW focus on energy with his many years of expertise in the industry.

Kempf comes from Simmons & Simmons LLP and as a partner handled primarily M&A transactions as well as corporate law with a sector focus on energy and infrastructure.  His clients include, among others, Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH which he supported during negotiations with the London-Gatwick airport about conclusion of a long-term service agreement for handling the air traffic control at the second largest airport in Great Britain.  This was one of the first successful projects in the internationalization of the European market for air traffic control.  Kempf also advised in recent years a well-known Turkish aviation company in its intended entry into the German market.  Kempf has excellent contacts in the energy sector where he advises both regional utilities companies as well as energy service providers.  Kempf also has close contacts to banks. He advised, for example, NRW.BANK on its participation in the fashion company gardeur.

Kempf previously worked 10 years for the RWE group where he had various senior legal and management functions in Germany and foreign countries.  He was involved in various M&A transactions of the group, including RWE entering into the British and Czech electric power and gas businesses as well as the sale of the RWE Solutions group to Advent International.  Kempf gathered his experience abroad also in Turkey when he and his team realized in 2010 the market entry for RWE into Turkey with an investment in an 800 MW gas power plant.  

"Helmut Kempf is a genuine win for Graf von Westphalen both personally as well as professionally", commented the managing partners Christof Kleinmann and Dr. Robert Theissen on the reinforcement for Düsseldorf.  "He also is an excellent fit for our firm's strategy due to his in-depth and practical knowledge in the energy industry, his many years of experience in midcap M&A deals and his good contacts in one of our international core markets, Turkey.  We are currently working intensively on obtaining further reinforcement for our focus practice area "Energy"."

Helmut Kempf:  "GvW has a clear focus on higher mid-size industry as well as the public sector and is also connected to strong international partner networks.  My clients will profit from this as well as from the solid advice provided by the firm.  I am particularly pleased about working together as genuine partners, a main aspect at Graf von Westphalen throughout all offices and practice groups."