The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Germany > Commercial litigation

Hengeler Mueller's dispute resolution team is experienced in representing large German and foreign companies and particularly acts for clients in post-M&A and corporate disputes, class actions as well as in relation to warranty claims and liability issues. While the group works consistently across practices, the team recently intensified its cooperation with the white-collar crime team. Markus Meier is considered an 'expert in his field' and Philipp Hanfland is well versed in court as well as in arbitration proceedings and alternative dispute resolution.  Johanna Wirth is an experienced contact for companies from the energy, financial and telecoms sectors, while Carsten van de Sande focuses on the automotive and technology industries.

The dispute resolution team at Baker McKenzie impresses with deep sector expertise in the energy, infrastructure and plant engineering industries. The firm also has longstanding experience in the pharmaceutical sector. The matter portfolio frequently includes post-M&A disputes, often in relation to the Asian region. Heiko Haller, who jointly leads the practice with Frankfurt-based Günter Pickrahn, recently joined the Düsseldorf office to act as a key contact for industry clients there. Also notable are Jörg Risse and Ragnar Harbst, who both have experience in proceedings in the infrastructure sector.

Clifford Chance continues to hold a strong position in the market with a dispute resolution practice that is frequently instructed by national and international clients alike. Under the leadership of the experienced Michael Kremer, the group assists with contractual, insolvency and antitrust disputes and was recently increasingly active in proceedings in the energy and infrastructure sectors. The latter two areas are particular focuses for Moritz Keller, while counsel Jan Conrady covers disputes pertaining to infrastructure projects as well as in relation to national and international industry plants. Christine Gärtner joined from Latham & Watkins LLP in June 2019 and strengthens the team particularly in the field of corporate disputes. Uwe Hornung has expertise in directors' liability matters, while Tim Schreiber is well versed in post-M&A disputes.

Hogan Lovells International LLP impresses with a broad practice that assists with disputes related to trade, antitrust and corporate law as well as with class actions and arbitration. The team consciously positions itself with specific expertise in the automotive, life sciences, consumer goods, plant engineering and energy industries. The litigation group is headed by the market-renowned Tanja Eisenblätter, while Karl Pörnbacher leads the arbitration practice. Olaf Gärtner is experienced in corporate disputes, while Detlef Hass is also well versed in insolvency disputes. Jürgen Johannes Witte is another key contact, who - inter alia- has 20 years of experience in D&O liability matters.

The dispute resolution practice at Latham & Watkins LLP is a renowned address for complex individual and class actions. The group frequently advises and defends clients in corporate, post-M&A and bonds-related disputes and often utilises its international firm network. Christoph Baus heads the practice and is well versed in trade and antitrust proceedings as well as in arbitration. Christine Gärtner joined Clifford Chance in June 2019 and Markus Rieder, another experienced contact for corporations and financial institutions, joined  Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in January 2020.

The dispute resolution practice at White & Case LLP has broad expertise in the energy and natural resources, technology and automotive sectors. Led by Markus Langen, the team frequently acts for a client base composed of corporations, but also states. Langen is mainly experienced in banking and corporate proceedings, while Thomas Burmeister utilises his expertise in energy law and Christian Wirth also acts as mediator. Christian Theissen, who is another well-versed contact for contractual and liability issues, made equity partner in January 2019.

DLA Piper impresses with a diverse dispute resolution team that can access expertise in areas such as insurance, energy, automotive, real estate, IT and IP whenever necessary. A strong focus of the practice is on disputes related to D&O insurances and Thomas Gädkte is particularly experienced in this field. Practice head Ludger Giesberts represents clients in proceedings before EU courts, German administrative courts as well as civil courts. The team also includes Wolfgang Jäger, who has 20 years of experience and frequently acts in criminal proceedings, particularly related to the prosecution of civil damages claims for corporations against criminal offenders, as well as Frank Roth, who is well versed in trade disputes as well as in all kinds of national and international arbitration proceedings.

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek's large dispute resolution group represents clients, often national and international corporations, in a broad spectrum of disputes with particular focus on assisting with class actions as well as energy and capital markets-related matters. Elke Umbeck, Thomas Wambach and Ulrike Gantenberg jointly head the team, in which Daniel Froesch is another experienced key contact. Sebastian Jungemeyer is noted for his 'exceedingly deep litigation and legal know-how'.

With advisory expertise in the full spectrum of dispute resolution, Norton Rose Fulbright positions itself well in the market. While practice head Jamie Nowak specialises in corporate and contractual proceedings, Sven Förster focuses on the insurance sector and Christian Wolf on the banking industry. However, the group cooperates closely across practices as well as offices and therefore advises a client base mainly composed of international corporations, often from the technology, pharmaceuticals and energy sectors, as well as financial institutions. With the arrival of Alexander Cappel from Clifford Chance in December 2018, the team expanded its white-collar crime capabilities.

Arnold & Porter impresses with advisory and defence capacities in trade, corporate and competition-related disputes. where it represents a broad client roster composed of companies, law firms and financial services providers. Michael Weigel has 30 years of experience as a litigator and Klaus Eyber acts in court proceedings as well as in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. Both jointly lead the team, in which associate Maximilian Reichl is also highly active.

Eversheds Sutherland predominantly acts in trade, distribution and product liability proceedings. The team is able to utilise its strong international firm network and closely cooperates with the corporate and antitrust practice groups. Clients mainly stem from the automotive, industrial, health and financial services sectors. Joos Hellert heads the dispute resolution practice and also advises on compliance issues among other matters. Ralf-Thomas Wittmann and Fabian Volz specialise in insurance disputes. Counsel Stephan von Marschall joined from Taylor Wessing at the beginning of 2019.

The dispute resolution practice at Jones Day impresses with its broad positioning, which covers various sectors such as aviation, life sciences and energy, as well as various issues. In its predominantly cross-border matters, the group cooperates across offices. The dual leadership of the practice includes Dieter Strubenhoff, who is particularly well versed in corporate and trade disputes, and Johannes Willheim, who focuses on antitrust proceedings as well as arbitration.  Anna Masser made partner at the beginning of 2019, but joined Allen & Overy LLP in February 2020. Counsel Jakob Hübert  is also very active.

Munich-based firm Kantenwein Zimmermann Spatscheck & Partner has particular experience in settling disputes in the energy and banking sectors. Recently, the team has mainly acted in shareholder disputes, but generally covers a broad array of trade-related disputes. Practice head Alexander Kröck additionally focuses on the automotive and insurance industries. Annett Kuhli is another experienced contact and Marcus van Bevern specialises in disputes in the financial services sector.

In addition to its established arbitration and product liability practices, Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH also regularly represents clients in litigation. Here, the group has particular experience in proceedings related to the energy and plant engineering sectors as well as in representing corporations against a multitude of plaintiffs. Richard Happ and Stephan Bausch head the practice group. The latter acts in both banking and finance as well as in trade and corporate disputes. Jutta Wittler is an expert in contentious matters in the plant engineering area and Borbala Dux-Wenzel is the key contact for antitrust tort litigation, investment and insurance law.

SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte is particularly experienced in trade and distribution law, where it receives instructions for both national and international proceedings. Furthermore, the dispute resolution team increasingly focuses on its cooperation with the M&A and real estate practices of the firm, in order to be well equipped for post-M&A conflicts. Practice head Arndt Tetzlaff regularly advises on tort law and Oliver Korte has expertise in wholesale and foreign trade as well as in the food and medical products sectors. Sebastian Graf von Wallwitz is another key contact.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP's dispute resolution expertise is predominantly located in corporate, insolvency and competition law, while additional focuses lay on IP and IT conflicts. The client base is composed of national and international corporations as well as banks. Britta Grauke heads the practice and covers a broad spectrum herself, including procedural and capital markets law in addition to the aforementioned areas. She is supported by associate Marcus Kaiser.