Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Freshfields) has advised Hellman & Friedman on the investment agreement with zooplus to create a long-term strategic partnership. To this end, on 13 August 2021, Zorro Bidco S.à r.l., a holding company controlled by funds advised by Hellman & Friedman LLC announced its decision to make a voluntary public takeover offer for the shares of zooplus AG.

The Freshfields team was led by partners Arend von Riegen and Simon Schwarz (both Corporate) and included Mesut Korkmaz, Daniel von Bülow and Anna Dominke, Philipp Dohnke, Philipp Lehmann (all Corporate), Thomas Mueller-Bonanni, Judith Römer (both People and Reward), Moritz Heidbuechel (Real Estate), Uta Itzen, Mathilde Beaumunier, Niklas Andree (all Antitrust and Trade), Lukas Pomaroli (Vienna, Dispute Resolution), Michael Levitt (New York, Finance), Jeremy Barr (New York, Corporate), Nabeel Yousef (Washington) and Hannah Khalifeh (New York, both Dispute Resolution).