Germany > Real estate and construction > Construction (including construction litigation) > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

Having impressive international reach, CMS’ construction law practice focuses on large projects in the plant engineering, infrastructure and structural engineering sectors. The team advised Allianz on all construction law matters pertaining to the development of its new headquarters in Stuttgart, and assisted EnBW Albatros with the development of an eponymous offshore wind farm. Martin Krause advised Immofinanz Friesenquartier on the development of Cologne’s Friesian Quarter (Friesenquartier), while Andreas Roquette acted for the city of Freiburg in proceedings concerning the construction of its town hall and related cost overruns and construction delays. Sebastian Orthmann heads the team, which also includes Nicolai Ritter.

Kapellmann und Partner’s highly regarded practice is recognised for its ‘quick response times’ and ‘high level of expertise’, leading to frequent public and private construction law instructions on infrastructure, structural engineering and major plant construction projects. With particular strength in healthcare sector work, the team provides regular advice to the hospital Oldenburg (Klinikum Oldenburg) on new developments and renovation projects. In other significant work, the practice assisted the Berlin Transport Company (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe) with the construction of its U5 underground line, and acted for Signa on the planning and construction of the new Elbtower project within the HafenCity Hamburg. Heiko Fuchs, who is praised for his ‘outstanding expertise in architecture and engineering law’ and his ‘countrywide connections with other experts’, is assisting Cologne Trade Fair (Koelnmesse) with the renovation and modernisation of existing projects as well as new ones. In a recent highlight, Klaus Eschenbruch advised Groß & Partner Grundstücksentwicklungsgesellschaft on various construction law matters concerning the Four project in Frankfurt am Main. Claus von Rintelen and Werner Langen jointly head the team, which includes Martin Stelzner and Nikolas Brunstamp, who both made partner in early 2018.

Leinemann & Partner has a strong profile for large infrastructure projects and handles contentious and non-contentious matters. Name partner Ralf Leinemann acted for A1 mobil in contentious proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany pertaining to the adjustment of the contractual remuneration for the A1 Hamburg-Bremen motorway project. In other significant work, Marc Oliver Hilgers assisted a consortium consisting of Hochtief Infrastructure and Franki Grundbau with issues arising from the construction of a tunnel in Stellingen, while Jarl-Hendrik Kues provides regular construction law advice to Porr Deutschland and Stump Spezialtiefbau on the extension of the U5 underground network in Frankfurt’s European Quarter (Europaviertel). Another key area of expertise for the team is the plant engineering sector, where it frequently advises energy companies, among others, on the construction of power plants and chemical factory projects.

Redeker Sellner Dahs stands out for its expertise in advising construction and engineering companies on a wide range of construction law matters but places particular emphasis on plant construction work, where Philipp Hummel, team head Burkhard Messerschmidt and Thomas Thierau have notable expertise. The group is assiting RWE Power with various contentious proceedings concerning the construction of the Neurath power station and is advising a chimney manufacturer on the renovation of a power plat in Denmark. In other work, the team also handles infrastructure-related mandates and recently advised long-term client Ed. Züblin on contentious and non-contentious issues pertaining to the construction of an underground line and to the development of a university hospital in Jena valued at approximately €230m. Other clients include Hochtief, Deutsche Bahn and Rheinmetall International Engineering.

Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein’s construction law practice is jointly led by Daniel Pflüger, Christian Felix Fischer and Thomas Krall and frequently handles construction and plant engineering projects for contracting authorities. Thomas Richter advised a real estate investor on the planning and construction of a retail building project in Munich, and BWBG Berliner Wohnbau on issues pertaining to its Mein Falkenberg housing development project in Berlin. In other work, the team assisted architectural firm Snohetta with contractual matters concerning the tender procedure for the Elbtower project and advised a real estate company on the acquisition of land and on the planning and development of a residential and commercial building. Antje Boldt is another name to note.

Advising on private construction law matter is the cornerstone of Breyer Rechtsanwälte’s practice, which is particularly well versed in building construction and civil engineering work including contentious matters. The group assisted several companies with construction law issues pertaining to the Stuttgart 21 project, including advising Ed. Züblin on the development of an underground train station and an underpass, and assisted ECE Projektmanagement with the construction of a congress hotel in Hamburg’s HafenCity. Construction and architectural law specialist Wolfgang Breyer is highly regarded. Daniel Junk joined Lutz Abel Rechtsanwalts PartG mbB in January 2018.

At Graf von Westphalen, the team is jointly led by Christian Esch and Lorenz Czajka and focuses on project development work and contentious matters, while also having substantial expertise in handling construction law matters at the intersection with public procurement law. Maximilian Jahn advised Hines Immobilien and RFR Development on the development of the 160 Park View residential tower in Frankfurt, and assisted Swift with various matters pertaining to the Auf Penaten project in Bad Honnef. The group also advised PreussenElektra on the decommissioning of various nuclear power plants including the negotiation with bidders.

Praised for its ‘sound economic understanding combined with a high level of legal expertise’, GSK Stockmann received several new project work instructions in the building construction, infrastructure and plant engineering sectors. Oda Wedemeyer provided advice to pwr development on planning law and various construction law matters pertaining to the Tetris project in Berlin’s former Tacheles area. Jan Kehrberg, who jointly heads the practice with Mark Butt, assisted Investa Group and Baywobau with the development of a conversion area in Berlin. The group also regularly advises MV Werften Rostock Property on all matters concerning the renovation and expansion of production facilities. Oliver Koos was made up to partner in early 2018.

The construction law practice at Lutz Abel Rechtsanwalts PartG mbB boosted its infrastructure project work capabilities, a key element of the practice, with the addition of Daniel Junk from Breyer Rechtsanwälte in January 2018. Other key areas of expertise include private and public construction law and PPP projects. Led by Wolfgang Abel, the ‘good and reliable’ team provides ‘excellent and wide-ranging advice’ and, as recent highlights, assisted Arge Tunnel Cannstatt with the development of a tunnel project as part of the Stuttgart 21 development, and acted for Bundesgartenschau Heilbronn 2019 in contentious and non-contentious issues pertaining to the organisation of the eponymous garden show. Other clients include Lindner, Strabag and Max Bögl Group. Michael Stoll is another key name and Christian Kokew was elevated to the partnership in early 2018.

The seven-strong team at AGS Legal predominately handles large-scale building construction and civil engineering projects including infrastructure and plant engineering sector instructions and contentious matters. Frankfurt-based team head Wendelin Acker provides regular advice to project developers, investors and capital management companies on building and conversion projects, while Hamburg-based Sigrid Roskosny acts for plant manufacturers on offshore wind power projects.

Strongly rooted in Cologne, CBH Rechtsanwälte Cornelius, Bartenbach, Haesemann & Partner is well equipped to guide clients through private and public construction law matters, most notably those concerning infrastructure, hospital and office building projects. Key contacts Markus Vogelheim, Nils Mrazek and Arnd Holzapfel assisted KVB Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe with the construction of the underground light-rail system extension Nord-Süd-Stadtbahn including handling contentious matters. The group regularly advises University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz receives on various contractual and contentious issues pertaining to the expansion of the clinic and assists Evangelisches Klinikum Niederrhein with construction law matters concerning the renovation of the Duisburg-Fahrn clinic. Johann Bunte and Generali Versicherung are other key clients.

The ‘very good’ team at Clifford Chance focuses on national infrastructure and plant engineering projects and also handles contentious work. Frankfurt-based Stefan Löchner advised a pension fund on the development of an office building in Bavaria, and assisted EC Advisors with construction law matters pertaining to the Petersbogen building project. Düsseldorf-based Michael Kremer assisted a pharmaceutical company with the planning and construction of a plant expansion and new production facilities for a pharmaceutical plant. Kristina Jaeger made partner in May 2018. Siemens and thyssenkrupp are also clients.

Stephan Jüngst heads the construction law practice at FPS, which predominately handles building construction work but also receives plant engineering-related instructions. The team recently assisted with various private and public construction law issues concerning a large-scale retail construction project in Frankfurt. Other work pertains to infrastructure projects and contractual matters arising from the procurement of project management services. In January 2019, private construction and public procurement law expert Jutta Möller joined the team from Kleiner Rechtsanwälte and Christoph Lichtenberg was a new arrival from Swiss construction company Implenia.

Praised for its ‘flexibility, extensive expertise and speedy response times’, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s team is jointly led by Frankfurt-based Thomas Nickel and Düsseldorf-based Stephan Freund and includes Florian Arnold and Susanne Christine Monsig, who both made partner in early 2018. Armin Freiherr von Grießenbeck led advice to Ed Züblin Stahlbau on the construction of a steel structure as part of the development of the power plant Olkiluoto in Finland and the team assisted Niedersachsen Ports with the renovation of the Nesserlander Lock. The group handled various issues for the city of Stadt Hürth in North Rhein-Westphalia pertaining to the construction of the 217 Efferen-West housing project and in contentious proceedings with a contracting party over remuneration issues concerning the Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium project.

With a specialism in infrastructure and plant engineering work, Hogan Lovells International LLP routinely acts for international clients; Tobias Faber is acting for a consortium consisting of strategic investors and other financial investors in proceedings with the Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects concerning the development of a water treatment plant. Christian Knütel regularly advises Merkur Offshore Wind and Northland Power on construction law matters pertaining to the development of an offshore wind farm, and assisted an utility company with contractual issues, which arose from the construction of a gas and steam power plant. Ulrich Helm heads the team.

Cologne-based firm Loschelder is particularly active in building construction and civil engineering, infrastructure and plant engineering work including contentious matters. In addition to advising vanderlande on the development of the Berlin-Brandenburg airport and assisting Cologne Bonn Airport with various construction and renovation projects, including litigation, Walter Klein also acts for Hahn Group on the nationwide development of specialised retail parks. The group also advises SMB Industrieanlagenbau and Hochtief on various project developments.

Achim Meier’s team at Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH provides ‘extensive and practical advice’ alongside ‘good and thoroughly thought-through solutions’ on the full spectrum of construction law but focuses on health sector work. The group advised several Lörrach district clinics on the construction of a new central hospital for approximately €280m and assists the University Hospital Jena with contractual matters pertaining to the development of a number of new hospital buildings. Christian Zanner, who joined the team in June 2017 from Wollmann & Partner GbR, assisted a DAX-listed company with the renovation of a high-rise building, and acted for Cloud N° 7 in construction law and contentious issues arising from the development of a high-rise construction project in Stuttgart. Michael Kunkel was made up to partner in July 2017.

The ‘knowledgeable’ team at Noerr is best known for its plant engineering sector work, acting for a large number of long-term clients, as well as its litigation capabilities. Since 2015, the ‘pragmatic’ Volker Bock has been assisting a technology company with the development of a new production, research and administration site, and represented Linde in various court and out-of-court proceedings pertaining to the construction of a starch factory. Stefan Weise advised a German retail park developer on contractual matters concerning the renovation and modernisation of property companies.

With offices in Düsseldorf and Berlin, Orth Kluth Rechtsanwälte’s construction law practice is particularly well versed in acting for contracting authorities in litigation as well as advising them on building construction and civil engineering project developments. Team head Gary Klaft acted for Keller Grundbau in several contentious proceedings including a procedure to assert claims for additional remuneration against the city of Dortmund and in separate proceedings concerning alleged defects in the development of an office building. The team assisted Arge Clouth 104 with several construction law matters concerning a mixed-use building in Cologne.

With offices in Cologne and Frankfurt, SMNG Rechtsanwälte handles the full spectrum of construction law and has particular expertise in private construction law. Clients include construction companies, private investors, contracting authorities, architects, engineers and project developers. As well as its advisory work capabilities, the team also handles contentious work with several lawyers acting as arbitrator and party counsel for claimants and defendants. Founding partner Michael Griem and Christian Niemöller are the key contacts.

Predominately acting for architect’s offices, Stassen LLP Rechtsanwälte und Notare routinely handles contractual and litigation-related work; the team recently defended an architecture firm against damage claims brought by a construction company, while an international engineering company instructed the team including Anne Schönbrunn and Anke Maria Bogen to advise on various construction law matters pertaining to a traffic infrastructure project in Berlin. As well as its expertise in acting for contractors, the practice also handles work for contracting authorities as recently demonstrated by assisting the Stiftung Berliner Schloss – Humboldt Forum foundation with the reconstruction of the Berlin City Palace.

Taylor Wessing’s Hamburg-based construction law team has plant engineering work at its core which includes manufacturing and maritime plant construction as well as renewable energy and technology sector instructions. Within the research period, the team received several mandates from new clients including an instruction from the Hamburg Port Authority, which it advised on the construction of a cruise terminal in Hamburg’s HafenCity Hamburg. Janina Pochhammer assisted wind turbine manufacturer MHI Vestas Offshore Wind with contractual issues concerning the development of the offshore wind farm Deutsche Bucht and team head Michael Baumhauer provides regular advice to Blohm + Voss on various ship and plant construction matters. The group also acts for public sector clients including the Federal Ministry for Defence (Bundesministerium der Verteidigung).

With offices in Munich and Berlin, the construction law team at Zirngibl is an attractive choice for companies, architecture and engineering firms alongside public sector clients, which require assistance with various construction law matters. Andreas Dingler and Axel Anker advised an association consisting of several pension funds on contractual issues pertaining to a project development valued at approximately €220m. The team also regularly advises Lambert Group on several of its nationwide construction projects and assisted a non-profit housing association with the construction of two apartment blocks in Munich. Berlin-based Andreas Labicki and Munich-based Andreas Dornig were appointed counsels in January 2018.

At Baker McKenzie, the team has core strengths in infrastructure and plant engineering sector-related construction litigation. Jörg Risse and Ragnar Harbst regularly act in contentious matters arising from wind farm, airport and rail transport projects and Jürgen Schramke is best known for handling contentious private construction law matters. Counsel Stephan Götze’s focus is on handling infrastructure project-related contractual matters for public sector clients.

Bornheim und Partner fields a large team, with 38 lawyers dedicated to private construction law, who are particularly well versed in handling project development work. This leads to regular instructions from developers, general contractors, architects and engineers on the development of office buildings and shopping centres alongside clinics and plant construction projects. Assisting clients with PPP projects constitutes another key element of the practice.

BRL Boege Rohde Luebbehuesen’s construction law team is based in Hamburg and Berlin and focuses on project development work in the building construction sector, while also handling construction litigation. The team assists Unibail-Rodamco with the planning and development of a construction site in the southern Überseequartier in Hamburg’s HafenCity valued at approximately €1bn and advised a real estate investor on the construction of a hotel project in Heidelberg including the preparation of the general contractor agreement. The team was bolstered by Christian Kahle’s and Mathias Münch’s promotion to the partnership in early 2018 and the arrival of counsel and TU Berlin university professor Christian Otto in March 2018. Marc Biebelheimer and Michael-Alexander Rojnic are the main contacts.

Hecker, Werner, Himmelreich is considered a good contact for project development work and related contentious matters. In litigation, the team predominately acts for engineering firms and recently defended a client against claims for damages pertaining to an explosion in a power plant and an allegedly faulty flood retention basin. The team, which is led by Helmut Weingarten, is also well versed in advising public sector clients, as recently demonstrated by advising on the development of large-scale municipal projects, the construction of an archive building and the construction of a clinic.

Heussen Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is particularly active in the development of building construction projects and boasts additional expertise at the intersection with public procurement. Besides assisting the City of Munich with the renovation of the Deutsche Museum, the construction law practice led by Norbert Huber also acted for Matrix Immobilien in the development of the shopping centre Langenhorner Markt in Hamburg and for a German company in the new construction of a factory. Jan Dittmann and the 'reliable advisor’ Roland Kahabka are also recommended.

Koeble Donus Fuhrmann Locher Schotten Zahn Rechtsanwälte in Reutlingen handles a wide range of public and private construction law matters including architectural law issues. The team routinely assists clients with project developments including planning permission and development planning procedures as well as litigation. Wolfgang Koeble is recommended.

Munich-based firm Kraus, Sienz & Partner fields a seven-strong team, covering a wide range of construction law work including architectural and engineering law matters, private construction law issues and construction arbitration and litigation. The team is also well versed in handling matters at the intersection with public procurement law. Name partner Christian Sienz is the key contact.

Lenz und Johlen is based in Cologne and is experienced in assisting clients with building construction and production plant construction projects. Team head Thomas Elsner is advising Good Mills Deutschland on architectural and construction law matters pertaining to the construction of a corn mill in Krefeld’s Rhine harbour, and assisted the construction company moderne stadt with an urban development project in Porz including the development of new retail, restaurant and residential buildings. The group also advised Caritas-Stiftung Deutschland on the development of land including the construction of mixed-use buildings.

As well as its building construction expertise, Wagensonner also handles instructions concerning the development of production facilities, providing assistance with private and public construction law matters. Götz Mezger, Andreas Helm and Benjamin Gartz jointly head the team, which includes Florian Beck, who made partner in 2017. Recent highlights include advising Fiducia & GAD on contractual and construction law issues concerning the expansion of its headquarters, and assisting a drilling technology company with a geothermal construction project in southern Germany.