Financial Services

Karl, who joined the firm in 2007, brings eight years of corporate finance, distressed M&A and restructuring experience to Livingstone, including both debtor and creditor representation. Prior to joining the firm, Karl worked as a Corporate Restructuring Vice President at Mesirow Financial Consulting and Corporate Recovery Senior Associate at KPMG.

Education: BBA, University of Michigan

Elena, earned a degree in Economic Sciences from Hasselt University (Belgium). She started her professional carrer as a junior M&A consultant in The Netherlands with Strategy & Finance, B.V. where she gained international experience. Elena joined Livingstone Madrid in 2001 as M&A executive and coordinator for the firm’s international projects. Elena is now responsible for the development of domestic and global transactions working closely with the Livingstone sector teams worldwide. She has a wide range of experience working on domestic and cross-border M&A projects in a wide range of sectors, although she has a specific focus on business services and industrial manufacturing sectors. Elena speaks Spanish, English, Dutch and French.

Ralph began his career in the international audit and transaction services departments of KPMG.
He then spent four years with a large German bank as a project manager and later as head of equity financing for mid-cap technology companies.
From 2002 until the end of 2008 he worked for the M&A consultancy firm InterFinanz, from 2006 as a Partner.
Ralph is co-founder and shareholder of Livingstone Germany.
He has gained expert knowledge in cross-border transactions with strategic buyers as well as leveraged buy-outs with financial investors. He has specific transaction experience in automotive, metal and plastic processing, packaging, specialty chemicals, the aviation industry and industrial services.


Diplom-Volkswirt, Universität Bonn

After graduating from Durham University in 1999, Christopher qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young in London. During his five years at Ernst & Young, he gained extensive experience of the financial services industry, spending the last two years working in Mergers & Acquisitions. Christopher joined Livingstone in 2005, and has since advised on numerous company disposals, acquisitions and private equity backed management buy-outs in the Consumer and Business Services sectors. Christopher is a member of the Consumer team and within that he leads the firm’s Retail sector team.

James joined Livingstone in 1999, having qualified as a lawyer at international law firm Cameron McKenna. James has led in excess of 40 transactions comprising a range of disposals, acquisitions and MBOs for corporate, private equity and entrepreneurial clients, predominantly within the Business Services and Consumer sectors. He is a member of Livingstone's Business Services and Consumer sector teams.

LLB

Ralf started his career as trainee in the finance department of Thyssen and moved thereafter into the industrial participations group of a large German bank. From 1999 until 2004 he worked as team leader and Senior Manager for Industrial Products with Ernst & Young Corporate Finance and formed part of the Ernst & Young international M&A group. For the following 5 years Ralf was Director Corporate Development EMEA for a large international industrial US firm.
Ralf joined Livingstone Germany mid 2010 as a Partner.
In the last 18 years, Ralf has gained extensive experience in M&A Advisory, Finance, Controlling and Integration management. He led more than 50 transactions to a close.
Ralf has deep sector knowledge in Industrial Products, Chemicals, Packaging, Logistics, Industrial Services and Health Care.


Diplom-Kaufmann, Universität zu Köln

After graduating from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Modern Languages, Jo gained commercial experience working for a number of companies prior to joining Livingstone in 1998 as a Research Assistant. Jo has extensive knowledge of the Business Services sector, including Consultancies, Facilities Management, Support Services and Logistics sectors.

BA

After graduating from Lancaster University with a BA in philosophy, Eleanor joined KPMG in London where she qualified as a chartered accountant. Eleanor transferred to the Corporate Finance arm of KPMG in 2004 where she completed a significant number of transactions focusing mainly on financial services businesses and private equity exits. She joined Livingstone in 2007 and works across a variety of sectors.

BA ACA