Overview
Michael Holter advises international clients on international transactions spanning cross-border M&A, international joint ventures and complex commercial agreements. While typically advising in a wide range of industry sectors, Michael has also developed a specialized industry focus in two main sectors, aviation and new media.
In the media and communications sector, Michael has advised on numerous cross-border acquisitions in the e-commerce and video entertainment sectors. He has assisted internet, cable, pay-TV companies in putting into place their communications networks and infrastructure across a number of jurisdictions. Michael also has experience with negotiations involving large supply contracts with equipment, software and service providers, in particular those involving encryption technology.
In the aviation sector, Michael has represented a number of leading airlines and their shareholders both in the acquisition of other carriers and in the privatization of state-owned airlines. He has worked extensively in the area of airline alliances, aviation cargo and large-scale aircraft maintenance (MRO), technical support and component pool agreements. Michael also has particular experience in the area of airport slot exchange and lease transactions. Michael joins us from a leading international law firm where he was head of the UK aviation practice and a leading member of that firm’s international transactions team.
Clients describe Michael as having a very high reputation: “Clients can take faith in the fact that the “responsive, pragmatic and extremely business-oriented”. Michael Holter will “always try his hardest to get the best possible solution”. “His response time is unbeatable, his business acumen and industry knowledge are excellent, he is a very good team player and always a great pleasure to work with. Clients praised “unusually well-managed projects, combination of quality and cost, and the ability to meet tight deadlines on complex matters”
Michael is bilingual in German and English, and has an additional focus on German and German-speaking clients.
Results
- Advised multinational e-commerce and media company, Naspers Group, in relation to a number of significant cross-border M&A transactions, including the acquisition of a $1billion+ shareholding in leading Russian internet portal and e-commerce conglomerate mail.ru
- Advised Naspers Group in relation to the successful disposal of its MultiChoice/Nova pay-TV business in Greece
- Advised Naspers Group in relation to a $100+million investment in Turkish online retail company Markafoni
- Helped found the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world, which now comprises more than 25 major international carriers. Continued to advise Star Alliance and a number of its member airlines in a variety of matters
- Lead UK partner for Lufthansa’s strategic investment in and acquisition of the BMI airline
- Advised the Greek government in relation to the successful privatization of Olympic Airways
- Advised Lufthansa’s aircraft maintenance and repair company, Lufthansa Technik and its subsidiaries, on numerous long-term, $100+ Boeing and Airbus aircraft maintenance contracts with airlines including Virgin Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Air New Zealand, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Malaysian Airlines
- Advised Spairliners, the 50/50 joint venture between Lufthansa and AirFrance/KLM, on numerous long-term, high value Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft component pool and repair agreements with customers including Qantas, Etihad, Qatar, Malaysian Airlines and Air Astana
- Advised a prominent family-owned Egyptian conglomerate with an annual turnover in excess of $6 billion in relation to a number of its international businesses and assisting in its international diversification strategy
- Advised Caradigm, a healthcare IT joint venture formed between GE and Microsoft, in relation to the establishment of its UK and German operations and a series of English and German law licensing agreements for its analytical healthcare systems
Recognitions
- Legal 500 UK 2017-2020 recommended in Corporate and Commercial: M&A – mid-market. Recommended for mergers and acquisitions: mid-market and seen as a “key figure” in the practice
- Cited as a leading Practitioner in Aviation in numerous editions of Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK: A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession, as well as Legal Media Group’s Guide to the World’s Leading Aviation Lawyers. Noted for his “excellent reputation in the market”
- The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom 2021, Aviation Law
Community
- Member of British-German Chamber of Commerce
- Member of British-German Jurists’ Association
- Member of British-American Business
