The Legal 500

Clifford Chance’s large practice provides ‘very quick, appropriate advice’, covering litigation, international arbitration with notable expertise in product liability and director’s liability matters. It represented The Free State of Saxony in its claims against the former auditor of Sachsen LB, and advised a German bank during a US investigation under the US Sanctions Regime, a matter in which the team worked jointly with the New York office. Uwe Hornung is ‘pragmatic’ and has ‘good legal judgement’, and Sebastian Rakob is ‘experienced, very thorough and efficient’.

‘Clearly one of the leading practices’, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer maintains its strong position in litigation and arbitration, and is adept at handling complex, cross-border matters. It recently defended a German industrial enterprise against customer damages damage claims totalling €2bn, conducted an internal investigation for a renewable energy group, and defended several international banks against damages claim relating to derivatives products. Automotive industry expert Rolf Trittmann has ‘excellent procedural know-how’ and is ‘a creative thinker’, and Christian Duve is ‘excellent in questioning the other side’s witnesses’. Lars Westpfahl heads the practice, in which the younger partners are increasingly recommended.

Hengeler Mueller produces ‘high-quality work’ and focuses on select, extremely high-end cases. It represented a gas importer in a case relating to price adjustments under long-term supply contracts; Toll Collect in pursuing claims against the Federal Republic of Germany regarding compensation payments; and Porsche in mediation concerning capital markets liability claims. The team also represented Bayerische Landesbank in bringing claims for damages against former board members for negligent management. Markus Meier is ‘an experienced litigator’ and ‘first class in all respects’, and John Flüh is ‘reassuring’ and ‘always retains the big picture’.

Allen & Overy LLP’s team is ‘quick and precise’ and has ‘great commercial awareness’. This growing team, which has been expanding its reach among financial services clients, represented a German insurance company and its foreign parent company in the enforcement of certain claims, defended German banks against claims alleging the mis-selling of financial products, and represented a telecoms service provider in ICC arbitration. Arbitration expert Daniel Busse gives ‘practical advice’ and is ‘very thorough in his evaluations’.

Baker & McKenzie has particular expertise in compliance and arbitration matters, and the team recently represented a German company in an ICC arbitration concerning a large infrastructure project. The group also acted for Landesbank Baden-Württemberg in litigation regarding the alleged invalidity of the sale of certain credit derivatives. Clients appreciate the team’s ‘competent advice and creative solutions’, ‘involvement and commitment’. Practice head Jörg Risse is recommended along with Günter Pickrahn, who ‘reacts swiftly to surprising twists’.

CMS Hasche Sigle fields a team of ‘dedicated experts’ and has an ‘excellent network’. It recently represented a former managament board member of Bayern LB in a director’s liability case; a renewable energy company against legal challenges in relation to capital increases; and a leading pharmaceuticals manufacturer regarding an allegedly deficient food supplement. ‘Shining light’ Klaus Sachs, ‘rising star’ Torsten Lörcher and practice head Dorothee Ruckteschler are recommended.

Gleiss Lutz combines ‘excellent legal expertise and fantastic client service’. Corporate and restructuring litigation are strengths, and capital markets cases have also been a focus. It also represented a foreign energy supplier in DIS arbitration with two energy groups, and defended Deutsche Bank in an action for damages brought by Leo Kirch. The ‘very impressive’ Stefan Rützel displays ‘commercial understanding’, and ‘doyen of arbitration’ Gerhard Wegen has an ‘extensive network of contacts’.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s merger broadened its international client base, and allowed it to manage international litigation in a more ‘cost-effective, quick and very practical’ way. It represented PwC in a professional indemnity dispute with the Free State of Saxony regarding the collapse of the formerly state-owned bank Sachsen LB, and earned new clients such as Chartis Europe and the German Federal Cartel Authority, the latter of which was defended against a €1.1bn claim for damages. Practice head Detlef Hass is recommended along with Jürgen Witte, who ‘knows the industry very well’, and Ina Brock, who ‘gets things done’. Thomas Gädtke left with a team to join DLA Piper.

Latham & Watkins LLP has seen growth in financial services actions, including director’s liability litigation and arbitration, and also defended Ukraine against investment claims brought by technology company GEA in ICSID arbitration. The team also defended Clerical Medical Investment against several hundred individual lawsuits filed by policyholders. Practice head Ulrich Börger and arbitration expert Sebastian Seelmann-Eggebert are recommended.

Linklaters LLP’s growing team has been busy with capital markets and director’s liability cases where clients appreciate the ‘excellent handling of most complex issues’. It also represented a vehicles manufacturer in arbitration, advised the supervisory board of a technology group on corporate governance and internal investigation issues, and acted for a European power supplier in a contract dispute. Klaus Saffenreuther has ‘tremendous business acumen’, and ‘strategic thinker’ Robert Henrici ‘rolls up his sleeves and gets the work done’. Rupert Bellinghausen heads the team.

Noerr’s large team has been acting in significant post-M&A disputes, such as representing the City of Dresden in an arbitration proceeding against Gagfah, and also has a focus on liability claims, where it has received numerous instructions from banks to defend against claims for damages. Banking and insurance disputes are strengths of the practice, which regularly represents Deutsche Bank. Michael Molitoris and Oliver Sieg are the team co-heads.

White & Case LLP enjoys a good reputation for corporate and director’s liability disputes. It defended a German accounting firm facing a €10m claim from Norwegian shareholders of a German bulk shipping company. Christian Wirth heads this ‘outstanding’ team, which also includes the ‘extremely good’ Sabine Dieckmann, whose focus is on out-of-court dispute resolution. Arbitrator Patricia Nacimiento’s move to Norton Rose LLP was a blow.

Haver & Mailänder Rechtsanwälte’s Klaus Gerstenmaier is ‘an absolutely outstanding lawyer’, and Peter Mailänder is also recommended. The team has been busy advising on mass actions relating to financial services, including recently acting for Targobank, and has an excellent reputation for international arbitration matters. Other clients include Debitel and Robert Bosch.

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek advised a German public utility company in litigation and arbitration concerning gas price adjustments. It also represented a former advisory board member regarding compliance-related claims for damages. Elke Umbeck is recommended.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is well recognised for its domestic and international arbitration practice, which features ‘absolute expert’ Richard Kreindler, and it recently represented TollCollect as claimant in arbitration proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany. The practice has also made inroads in litigation, where it represented Daimler in capital markets model case proceedings.

Taylor Wessing has seen notable growth in director’s liability actions, but this broad practice also has a substantial caseload of restructuring, banking, corporate and IP litigation. The team recently acted for an international bank in a dispute relating to structured notes issued by a German bank, and handled a €60m shareholder dispute in the media sector. Practice head Harald Bechteler is recommended along with ‘solid and pragmatic litigator’ Wolfgang Gruber.

Beiten Burkhardt’s key strength lies in litigation but it also managed to grow its out-of court dispute resolution practice, including one matter for Delphi Europe. It recently represented a German trustee in a claim against a German shipping company. Holger Peres is ‘a particularly skilled negotiator’ who ‘always achieves the best results possible’.

Frank Roth heads DLA Piper’s growing practice, which provides ‘top-quality advice, responsiveness and availability’. It recently represented Bayerische Landesbank in a D&O claim, and the Kingdom of Thailand in proceedings against the insolvency administrator of Walter Bau. Energy and financial services litigation have also been busy areas. D&O expert Thomas Gädtke joined from Hogan Lovells International LLP.

Jones Day has a focus on corporate and commercial disputes. It recently represented a German manufacturer in commercial contracts litigation with US clients, and a satellites manufacturer in arbitration proceedings over claims for damages. Thomas Mahlich heads the practice.

Kantenwein Zimmermann Fox Kröck & Partner’s team is ‘willing to take on new challenges’, and exhibits ‘a very high level of business acumen’. It acted for a major US bank in international arbitration over film financing; a prospectus issuer in liability claims; and a former CEO in D&O liability matters in an out-of-court setting. Alexander Kröck is ‘intelligent and experienced’, and ‘a great lawyer’.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH’s arbitration practice has a strong Asia focus, while the litigation department has a bias towards energy, automotive and real estate cases. Recent instructions include representing two foreign subsidiaries of an international logistics provider in international proceedings relating to a maritime disaster, and acting for a German state in arbitration regarding a €60m privatisation project. Ulrich Theune leads the team.

Mayer Brown LLP’s small team has an international focus, as evidenced by its defence of a German company before the Shanghai courts and representation of UBS in the High Court of Justice in London against KWL, the latter matter being handled jointly with London colleagues. Mark Hilgard is the name to note.

Norton Rose LLP boosted its practice on the arbitration side by hiring Patricia Nacimiento from White & Case LLP and grew its capability in Hamburg by recruiting Klaus von Gierke from DLA Piper. The team’s recent instructions include representing Credit Suisse in financial litigation, and Nestlé Waters in MBO compensation claims. Jamie Nowak leads the team.

Capital markets and product liability litigation are key strengths of Oppenhoff & Partner, which is ‘comparable to large firms’. It also advised Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics in proceedings concerning the parallel import of in-vitro diagnostics, and acted for a large brewery in a contract termination dispute. Peter Klappich is ‘a very experienced litigator’ and Klaus Günther is recommended for arbitration. Sadly, founding partner Michael Bonsau passed away.

Orrick Hölters & Elsing’s Siegfried Elsing is expert in international arbitration. The practice also handles litigation, such as representing Vivendi against Deutsche Telekom and acting in various post-M&A disputes.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges provides ‘excellent response times, advice and knowledge’. Corporate and restructuring litigation, as well as disputes with insolvency administrators, are areas of expertise. The team is also notable for regularly acting in parallel proceedings in the US and Germany. Clients include shareholders in banks and corporations. Britta Grauke heads the practice.