Bird & Bird LLP advises M-League Pte Ltd ("Mobile Premier League or MPL") on the acquisition of Berlin-based GameDuell GmbH ("GameDuell") including its international subsidiaries.
Mobile Premier League is one of the world’s largest mobile eSports and skill gaming platforms, with over 70+ games on its app on iOS and Android. Founded by Sai Srinivas and Shubh Malhotra in 2018, MPL has expanded rapidly with over 90 million users across India, Indonesia, and the US.
GameDuell develops multiplayer games for the international market and uses innovative open-source technologies to create a rich gaming experience for multiple platforms - iOS, Android, Facebook, and its own sites. GameDuell is one of the most established games studios in Europe with more than a decade of success in the online world. MPL’s expansion to Europe reinforces its strategy to develop operations across key global markets.
This transaction again demonstrates Bird & Bird’s commitment to helping innovative tech businesses changed by the digital world. The deal is also part of the firm’s strategic expansion in M&A advice on Gaming and digitalisation investment projects.
Simon Fielder, lead partner comments “We are thrilled to have advised Mobile Premier League on such a significant acquisition for the Gaming sector. Mobilising an international team to navigate complex, cross-border issues has been a real testament to Bird & Bird’s global network and one-firm culture.”
The following Bird & Bird lawyers were involved in the acquisition:
Partner Simon Fielder international lead (Corporate, London), partner Dr. Kai Kerger and senior associate Johanna Schindler (joint lead / both Corporate, Frankfurt), legal director Simon Gough (London, Tax), associates Tamara Böhmert and Christoph Meves (Corporate, Frankfurt), partner Niels Lutzhöft, Associates Christoph Hendel, Simon Hembt and Victoria Dehnert (Commercial/Regulatory, Frankfurt), partner Barbara Geck and associates Franziska Fiedler and Carina Seum (all Employment, Frankfurt), partner Michael Jünemann, Counsel Johannes Wirtz and associates Julia Fröhder and Timo Förster (Finance, Frankfurt), partner Stephan Waldheim and associate Tamy Tietze (Antitrust, Düsseldorf), partner Mascha Grundmann and associates Julia Präger and Manuela Muelot (IP/Trademarks, Frankfurt), partner Christopher Maierhöfer (Patents, Munich), partner Jörg-Alexander Paul and associate Oliver Belitz (IT/DP, Frankfurt), partner Stéphane Leriche and associate Pauline Pilain (Commercial, Paris), partner Alexandre Vuchot and associate Morgane Basque (Commercial, Paris).
Sheppard Mullin assisted Bird & Bird on US aspects of the transaction: partner Jamie Mercer (Corporate, San Diego, USA).