Linklaters advises Volkswagen on the launch of a joint venture with Rivian and planned investments in Rivian with a transaction volume of up to US$5.8bn

Linklaters advised the Volkswagen Group ('Volkswagen') on the launch of the planned 50-50 joint venture with Rivian Automotive ('Rivian') for the development of software and electronics architectures, intended to be used in both companies' future electric vehicles, as well as on planned investments by Volkswagen in Rivian. Volkswagen plans to invest up to US$5.8bn in Rivian and the joint venture by 2027.

Volkswagen is represented in this transaction by an integrated German-US team consisting of Linklaters' leading lawyers in Germany and the US. The transaction demonstrates once more Linklaters' ability to provide market-leading expertise in large complex cross-border M&A transactions in all core markets. The market-leading US M&A team led by George Casey and Heiko Schiwek joined Linklaters in January 2024.

Linklaters has been advising Volkswagen on complex strategic transactions for years. This includes comprehensive advice to Volkswagen and Porsche in connection with the IPO of Porsche AG and the sale of a 25% stake plus one ordinary share in Porsche AG to Porsche Automobil Holding SE, the sale of Volkswagen's shares in Volkswagen Group Rus to a local investor, as well as advising Volkswagen in connection with the IPO of the Truck & Bus business (TRATON SE) and the acquisition of Navistar Inc. (USA) by TRATON SE.

The Linklaters team advising Volkswagen is led by Global Co-Chairmen of Corporate Dr. Ralph Wollburg (Düsseldorf) and George Casey (New York).

The Linklaters core team includes Heiko Schiwek (Partner, Corporate/M&A, New York), Dr. Julia Schönbohm (Global Head of TMT/IP, Partner, TMT/IP, Frankfurt), Gregory Gewirtz (Partner, Corporate/M&A, New York), Dr. Daniel Pauly (German Head of TMT, Partner, TMT, Frankfurt), Dr. Andreas Zenner (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Yohan Liyanage (Partner, TMT/IP, London), Ieuan Jolly (Chair of U.S. TMT & Data Solutions Practice, Partner, TMT/IP, New York), Achim Kirchfeld (Partner, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Danelle Le Cren (Head of U.S. Banking Group, Partner, Finance, New York), Prof. Dr. Daniela Seeliger (Partner, Antitrust, Düsseldorf), Kaan Gürer (Counsel, Antitrust, Düsseldorf), Shruti Chopra (Counsel, IP, New York), Dr. Julius Raapke (Counsel, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Mark Dawson (Counsel, Finance, New York), Dr. Luise Winkler (Managing Associate, Corporate/M&A, München), Wendy Suh (Senior Associate, Corporate/M&A, New York), Stephanie Farrington (Managing Associate, TMT/IP, London), Yuxin Weirich (Managing Associate, Antitrust, Düsseldorf), Lena Mischau (Associate, TMT/IP, Frankfurt), Felix Wichert (Associate, TMT/IP, Frankfurt) and Dr. Svenja Schenk (Associate, IP Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Frankfurt).

The Linklaters team also includes Andrew Gaines (US Head of Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits, Partner, Employment, New York), Jeffrey Cohen (Partner, Capital Markets, New York), Christopher Hunker (Partner, Restructuring and Insolvency, New York), Dr. Bolko Ehlgen (Partner, IP Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Frankfurt), Antonia Sherman (Head of U.S. Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group, Partner, Antitrust, New York), Dr. Alexander Schlee (Partner, Capital Markets, Frankfurt), Patrick Ashby (Partner, Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, New York), Dr. Anna-Katharina Lohbeck (Counsel, TMT, Frankfurt), Jennifer Heley (Counsel, TMT/IP, London), Dr. Urs Lewens (Counsel, Finance, Frankfurt), Yiting Du (Counsel, Corporate/M&A, New York), Yelena Nersesyan (Counsel, Real Estate, New York), Tim Dever (Managing Associate, Antitrust, Düsseldorf), Burc Ozcelik (Senior Associate, Capital Markets, New York), Lizzeth Merchan (Senior Associate, Corporate/M&A, New York), Ekta Oza (Managing Associate, TMT/IP, New York), Kris Ekdahl (Senior Associate, TMT/IP, New York), Clark Xue (Senior Associate, Restructuring and Insolvency, New York), Tim Ulmers (Managing Associate, TMT/IP, Frankfurt), Lauren Wells (Associate, Corporate/M&A, New York), Dr. Lasse Petersen (Managing Associate, Finance, Frankfurt), Dr. Jana Trapp (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Fraser Goodlad (Associate, Corporate/M&A, New York), Maddy Hayes (Associate, Employment, New York), Dr. Hans-Markus Wagener (Associate, Antitrust, Düsseldorf), Titus Kabega (Associate, Corporate/M&A, New York), Florian Mörth (Associate, TMT/IP, Frankfurt), Michael Lomtevas (Associate, Corporate/M&A, New York), Dr. Thomas Kienle (Associate, TMT/IP, Frankfurt), Catharina Müller (Associate, IP Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, Frankfurt), Alparslan Aksoylu (Associate, Corporate/M&A, Düsseldorf), Kailyn LaPorte (Associate, Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations, New York), Anna Gooding (Associate, Antitrust, New York) and Krystal Dillon (Associate, Employment, New York).