Germany > Public sector > Planning and environment > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

The environmental and planning group at Dolde Mayen & Partner based in Stuttgart and Bonn advises comprehensively on emission control, dismantling nuclear plants, energy issues, water law, waste legislation, packaging law and construction planning law. A highlight was Thomas Mayen’s gaining of Adam Opel as a client, which is represented in litigation brought by the environmental organisation Deutsche Umwelthilfe concerning the revocation of the type of approval for the Opel Zafira and the Opel Insignia models on the basis of allegedly improper shut-off devices. In addition, Klaus-Peter Dolde is representing EnBW in appeal proceedings at the higher regional court of Cologne concerning a €261m claim for damages in the context of the nuclear power moratorium. Another highlight for Dolde was advising Flughafen Stuttgart on air traffic and building regulations for the creation of new parking facilities in the vicinity of the airport, the trade fair centre and Stuttgart 21. Winfried Porsch is assisting the city of Stuttgart with an administrative court action brought by Stuttgarter Netz AG regarding the execution of a decommissioning procedure for the switches and crossings in connection with Stuttgart 21. In the area of waste legislation, Andrea Vetter reviews and amends waste management ordinances of the Heilbronn district.

The ‘outstanding’ practice at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is regarded as ‘reachable at any time and very efficient’ in environmental and planning law; its ‘cross-sectoral’ working method and ‘comprehensive industry knowledge in rail regulatory legislation’ are also highlighted. The advice to Audi regarding regulatory and permit-related matters is of particular significance and the firm also assists a leading car manufacturer with regulatory and approval matters in the context of new test cycles (WLTP), real drive emission test procedures and other emission matters. The team is representing Berliner Wasserbetriebe in a constitutional dispute with the state of Brandenburg, which includes charge notifications totalling €20m. The team also handles wind farm transactions as well as environmental law issues, such as acting for Baltic Eagle/Sea Wind Management in M&A and licensing matters. The practice is also advising Amprion on the federal planning of the "Korridor A Nord". Clients also recommend the ‘solution-oriented’ Marcel Kaufmann, who has ‘excellent written and oral skills’ and is representing Deutsche Bahn, among others, in contentious proceedings against the state of Saxony-Anhalt in connection with the repayment of infrastructure usage charges. Michael Ramb, who focues on product-related environmental law, made partner in May 2017; he is assisting Associated British Foods with regards to REACH compliance under product law. ‘Highly intelligent lawyers’ Benedikt Wolfers and Burkard Wollenschläger as well as Wolf Spieth and Herbert Posser announced their departure in February 2018 with plans to establish their own firm focused on public law.

In the area of environmental and planning law, Gleiss Lutz offers ‘comprehensive, prompt and exceptionally professional advice’. A highlight for Burghard Hildebrandt, who has ‘tactical skill and marked intuition in the scope of negotiations’ and ‘an excellent knowledge of town planning agreements and understanding of technical issues’, is the representation of Amprion in two legal proceedings before the federal administrative court against a planning approval decision pertaining to the construction of a 380 kV high-voltage transmission line; he also advises the city of Düsseldorf on the operation of the electricity and gas distribution network for municipal street lighting. Furthermore, he advises new client WerkBundStadt on the "Am Spreebord Berlin" housing project and regularly acts for E.ON in constitutional complaint proceedings against the forced nuclear phase-out. The ‘level-headed’ counsel Philipp Naab in Frankfurt and ‘competent’ associated partner Eva Koch in Düsseldorf, who alongside Burghard Hildebrandt both advise the city of Düsseldorf in connection with the urban development project "Kö-Bogen II", are also recommended. Planning law specialist Christoph Moench joined Sammlerusinger Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB in early 2018.

Noerr handles energy and construction projects as well as product law and waste management in environmental and planning law. Christian Mayer advises a European retail group on regulatory and planning law matters concerning the development of a logistics complex on the site of the former Opel plant in Bochum, while Christof Federwisch has been assisting Iberdrola Renovables Deutschland with a planning approval procedure for the offshore wind farm Windanker since the start of 2016. Practice head Holger Schmitz also acts for the city of Potsdam with regards to the revitalisation of a barracks site for a new city district with more than 1,900 apartments. Another highlight was Florian Becker’s advice to Orlando Management, which acquired all shares in ScholzAlu Stockach; during this transaction the group also advised the client on waste disposal permits and agreements. Product law specialist Martin Ahlhaus advises Deichmann on the requirements for handled goods, according to biocide regulations. Fabian Raddatz left the firm in November 2016 and joined Labor Berlin.

Redeker Sellner Dahs combines a ‘high level of expertise with timely solutions’ to contentious environmental and planning law issues. The ‘competent and reliable’ Frank Fellenberg ‘has a broad foundation, especially in the area of planning permission law, environmental law and administrative procedural law’ and is currently advising new client Gascade Gastransport on the natural gas pipeline Eugal. Olaf Reidt, who is representing the City of Hamburg in numerous legal proceedings pertaining to the deepening of the Elbe river, is also recommended by clients. In Bonn, Matthias Ganske is advising and defending the waste water company of a city in North Rhine-Westphalia in several disputed matters concerning waste water charges, sewage connection fees and sewage reconnection orders against several private companies. Frank Fellenberg also acts for ARGE in matters pertaining to the A7 highway project and soil pollution issues. Tobias Masing is frequently involved in instructions in the aviation sector; these include the representation of DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung in legal proceedings pertaining to the approval of a rotating beacon for air traffic control in a conservation area. In addition, Tobias Masing is specialised in product-related advice for the tobacco industry and acts on constitutional complaints against emotive photos and production changeovers on tobacco packaging for various tobacco companies. In the energy industry, the team represents RWE Power and Vattenfall in several matters.

In the area of environmental and planning law, CMS handles planning approval procedures and public construction law matters, environmental law issues (including contaminated waste) and transaction-related questions as well as providing product-related advice. Practice head Fritz von Hammerstein represents TenneT TSO in several third-party appeal proceedings before the federal administrative court, which have emerged from proceedings of Naturschutzbund Deutschland and private objectors against the planning approval decision for the transmission line from Ganderkesee to St. Hülfe; in addition, he is regularly involved in approval procedures for wind farms, such as work for British Wind Energy on the wind farm German Bight. Stuttgart-based environmental law specialist Ursula Steinkemper advises the Austrian energy supplier Verbund on approval and planning approval procedures under water law concerning several hydropower plants, which also includes waste material matters in addition to water and nature conservation legislation. Hamburg-based Christiane Kappes, who made partner at the start of 2017, has been advising Femern since 2011 on the planning approval procedure for the project for the motorway and railway tunnel Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link; most recently, the team has focused on dealing with objections to the plan revision procedure. A waste law highlight was the representation of IGG Interessengemeinschaft der Grenzhändler in proceedings at the European Commission on the one-way deposit.

In the area of environmental and planning law, Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH advises ‘at a high professional level’. Claudia Schoppen who is based in Essen has ‘excellent expertise in environmental law and public law in general, without making advice too theoretical’; she advises the TE Connectivity site in Speyer on an ongoing basis regarding a restoration plan for contaminated waste as well as product-related environmental issues. Another particular highlight was the assistance of a leading online mail order retailer with a Europe-wide environmental audit of its computer centres which was led by Stefan Altenschmidt, who is also representing ExxonMobil in administrative policy proceedings pertaining to the levying of support fees for natural gas in Northern Germany. Practice head Stefan Kobes has represented the federal office for railways since summer 2016 in proceedings at the federal administrative court pertaining to the operation of the Stuttgart 21 train station. Martin Fleckenstein is advising Ammann Schweiz on an urban planning renovation and development project pertaining to the city of Ettlingen.

The environmental and planning law practice group at avocado rechtsanwälte in Cologne mainly focuses on waste legislation and industrial instructions, particularly advice concerning industrial sites on issues relating to emissions, hazardous incident plants, soil conservation legislation and construction planning, as well as legal issues in the area of products. Thomas Gerhold advises AWB Köln on construction planning and emission control law with regards to the inner-city relocation of an operating site, in addition to a waste disposal company regarding planning permission for a new mineral landfill. Markus Figgen also acts for a renovation and recycling company from the construction industry in project-related waste legislation, soil protection law and building contract law. Thomas Gerhold and Markus Figgen together with Ralf Kaminski, Rebecca Schäffer and Bianca Grewe represent a diverse set of waste-producing and waste disposal companies in criminal proceedings. Matthias Schleifenbaum who joined from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in May 2017. Among others, he advises the Stiftung Elektro-Altgeräte Register on electrical appliance law, general recycling law and union law as well as on general administrative law, fees regulation and foundation law. Bastian Gierling left for LLR Legerlotz Laschet Rechtsanwälte GbR in summer 2016.

In the environmental law arena, Baumeister, Rechtsanwälte specialises in environmentally relevant plant construction (including livestock facilities), emission control in terms of land use restrictions, waste disposal, contaminated waste removal and soil protection matters, as well as advising on building permits, development plans and urban development contracts. It most recently represented a citizens’ initiative against the construction of an access road in the Euskirchen District planned by the city of Mechernich. Furthermore, administration law specialist Georg Hünnekens acted on behalf of the city of Datteln as an interested party in the dispute between the city of Waltrop and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with regards to the subsequent approval of the coal-fired power station Datteln 4. Administrative law specialist Martin Beckmann is one of the key contacts for public law.

Gaßner, Groth, Siederer & Coll. operates in the fields of environmental law, waste management and public construction planning. In the waste legislation field, it primarily advises cities, municipalities, districts and municipal waste disposal companies, on the execution of approval and development planning procedures as well as on the tendering of contracts in construction projects. Water, soil protection, nature conservation and emission control legislation are other core strengths.

In the area of environmental and planning law, Hengeler Mueller mainly deals with instructions from the energy industry concerning infrastructure operations, with product and waste legislation being an area of focus. Berlin-based partners Jan Bonhage and Wolfgang Spoerr advise the company behind the project Nordstream 2 on the approval documents for the environmental impact assessment. The latter also represented the municipality of Freigericht during a mediation procedure regarding an urban development contract, after a referendum sought a ruling on guidelines against the dismantling plan. Environmental and product law specialist Fabian Quast, who is based in Berlin and was made partner in 2017, together with Thomas Schmidt-Kötters and Vera Jungkind in Düsseldorf, advises Robert Bosch on product and criminal law with regards to allegations of exhaust emission manipulation in diesel vehicles. Another highlight was advice on the German drink deposit law in the context of recycling, where Dirk Uwer acted for BHJ Corporate Finance.

Clients are ‘extremely satisfied with the work’ of the ‘reliable and competent’ practice at Hogan Lovells International LLP, which is particularly marked by its ‘timely processing, excellent availability and practical approach’; the ‘adequate breadth of the group’ is also valued. The ‘pragmatic’ Thomas Dünchheim in Düsseldorf, who has ‘an enormous amount of expertise in public law and in municipal structures’, as well as a ‘sensitivity in situation analysis for the development of target-oriented solutions’, is highly recommended. Alongside the ‘highly committed and competent’ Antje Weiss, Sebastian Gräler and Carsten Bringmann, Dünchheim regularly acts for Autobahn Tank & Rast. For product-related advice the Munich-based Patrick Ayad is the key contact; he is representing a Europe-wide chemical company, which received a warning due to inadequate hazard identification of a sanitary cleaning agent, and in appeal proceedings; he also acts for other automotive industry clients.

The ‘excellent’ practice at Lenz und Johlen in Cologne stands out for its ‘outstanding coordination of different legal areas’, as well as ‘short turnaround times, reliable appointment management and excellent expertise in environmental administration and construction planning law’. Particularly recommended is construction planning law specialist Markus Johlen, who has an ‘equally confident and pleasant demeanour before and during court proceedings’ and regularly advises companies on building permission procedures. The equally highly recommended Michael Oerder is involved in the development of the Glasmacherviertel quarter in Düsseldorf for Patrizia Deutschland. In the area of environmental law, Inga Schwertner is regarded as ‘solution oriented’; she represented the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with regards to modification of the clean air plans for several large cities. Inga Schwertner is also active in malfunction and emission control instructions, as well as in the field of waste and chemical law. In this field, Felix Pauli is specialised in advice on wind energy projects. Nick Kockler made partner at the start of 2017.

Environmental law clients are ‘managed excellently’ by the ‘highly professional and pleasantly calm’ practice at White & Case LLP. The group stands out for its ‘prudent and diplomatic management of sensitive matters and contractual partners, which leads to satisfactory results’. Practice head Norbert Wimmer has a ‘wealth of experience’, acts in a ‘very precise manner in his specialisms’, and is able to ‘focus negotiating partners with different spheres of interest on the essential points’. Norbert Wimmer advised several car manufacturers and suppliers on assessments and internal inspections in connection with car emissions and is assisting Infraserv with contaminated waste and waste issues pertaining to potential "infinite liability" issues. Also recommended is Henning Berger, who is advising on the financing of Stuttgart 21 for the state of Baden-Württemberg; including handling a compensation dispute for additional costs with Deutsche Bahn. The senate department for urban development and the environment of the Federal Republic of Germany is another long-term client. The former Berlin-based local partner Benjamin Schirmer left for CMS in summer 2016.

In the area of environmental and planning law, Baker McKenzie advises clients from the infrastructure and energy sectors. Berlin-based practice head Marc Gabriel advised an international investor on environmental law matters, such as soil contamination, in connection with the bidding process for the acquisition of the equity holding of a federal state in a regional airport. Alongside Susanne Mertens, he is also involved in the advice of a state-owned company on regulatory and building contract matters regarding the selection and execution of the subsequent usage concept for airport buildings currently used for other purposes in the long term. The Frankfurt-based Ulrich Ellinghaus acts for Daimler, while Frank-Rainer Töpfer assisted an international gas group with the establishment and operation of an underground helium gas store.

The environmental and planning law group at CBH Rechtsanwälte Cornelius, Bartenbach, Haesemann & Partner, which is exclusively specialised in construction projects, ‘manages extensive processes and international arbitration proceedings in a competent manner’ and shapes ‘cooperation in an uncomplicated manner’. In this respect, Jochen Hentschel from the Cologne office is highly recommended; he ‘responds in a quick and helpful manner’ and has ‘excellent legal expertise’, and has been supporting the planning and development company of an industrial site venture newPark in Datteln with regard to its formation since 2012. Manfred Haesemann advises the project company Aurelis on the procurement of building approval and development of a new residential area in Cologne, consisting of around 1,000 units, while Stefan Rappen assists the city of Düsseldorf both with the new city and underground line U81 and with a development planning procedure for a new furniture store.

Guido Kleve, who made partner in May 2017, and Ludger Giesberts are the key contacts for environmental and planning law at DLA Piper. Alongside counsel Thilo Streit, Ludger Giesberts advised the Finnish company Ernsto in connection with the acquisition of Ritter Starkstromtechnik; the key areas addressed were soil contamination and environmental liability matters. Another new instruction is the advice on a water permit for Mondelēz’s production plant in Bad Fallingbostel. Köhler Renewable Energy and GE Healthcare are other clients.

The seven-strong ‘professional and competent’ group at GSK Stockmann, which ‘pairs specialist expertise with a fun approach to legal tasks’, is highly recommended for its expertise in the area of planning law. The ‘open-minded and skilful negotiator’ Wolfgang Würfel advises FH Innova on the procurement of building approval for the major project moun10 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, while Frank-Florian Seifert together with Berlin-based Jan Kehrberg (‘always abreast of the latest professional developments’) is assisting formart with the establishment of a residential development project in Treptow-Köpenick. The ‘distinguished, experienced expert’ Andreas Geiger acts in several planning law instructions for Deutsche Bahn. Jan Hennig advises the Krieger Group and CMC Center Management on the expansion of Thüringen-Park Erfurt.

Graf von Westphalen is considered ‘outstanding’ because ‘professional, in-depth and tailored advice is a matter of course’ and the lawyers ‘take time for clients’ and also ‘bear the respective industry and the effective public implications in mind’. Christian Winterhoff is ‘unreservedly recommended’ for his ‘experience and knowledge’; he gained AIG Europe as a new client in constitutional law and also advised Japan Tobacco on the compatibility of the new German tobacco product act with the constitutional prohibition on retroactivity. Ronald Steiling and Saskia Soravia are also recommended. In addition to other long-term planning approval procedures (including the advice of Schleswig-Holstein’s state company for road construction on procedural matters regarding the Fehmarn Belt fixed link), the group most recently advised the German association of animal nutrition in connection with the introduction of fees for inspections in animal nutrition in North Rhine-Westphalia. Carsten Bittner assisted AGRAVIS Kraftfutterwerk Oldenburg with a noise protection study. Sigrid Wienhues advised Hamburg Port Authority on planning permission law matters. Hamburg-based Corinna Lindau and Andreas Wolowski were promoted to associate partner at the start of 2017.

Hoffmann Liebs Fritsch & Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB carries out ‘excellent’ work at ‘a high level’ in environmental and planning law. Volker Hees (general commercial and insolvency law) and Björn Neumeuer (corporate law), who are ‘excellent in their specialist fields, quick and always available’, are recommended. Volker Hees is representing an insolvency administrator against an emissions claim by the district government of Arnsberg as an operator of a plant requiring approval against the background of disposal of hazardous liquid waste; in emission control legislation, he is also involved in advice and rescission actions with regards to permits, an area of work led by Volker Hoffmann and Stefanie Beste. Björn Neumeuer advises a Finnish paint manufacturer on soil protection matters in connection with the acquisition of a German paint factory and also assists Roland Hartmannsberger with registration obligations matters, taking account of electrical appliance law, on behalf of a manufacturer of electrical construction products. Roland Hartmannsberger predominantly handles product law matters; he gained a worldwide manufacturer of fastening and assembly technology as well as power tools as a new client in the area of product compliance. Volker Hoffmann advised a gravure printing company on the distance between an IED plant and a nearby hygiene company in line with emission, malfunction and building regulations.

Köhler & Klett, Rechtsanwälte is specialised in environmental and planning law. In the area of environmental and environmental contract law, Anno Oexle in Cologne gained Deutsche Post as a new client and also advises various port operators on construction and specialist planning matters for the development and expansion of inland ports on floodplains. Wolfgang Klett acted for landfill operators in various federal states in planning approval procedures pertaining to the expansion, approval and modification of landfills. Other work includes advising the operator of a waste incineration plant in Lower Saxony on waste, construction, soil protection, emission control, water, environmental damage and environmental criminal law concerning the processing of incineration ashes as a building material and their superimposition in public areas; Rainer Geesmann, Alexander De Diego and Anne-Louise Schümer are also involved in this. Former chief administrative law judge Michael Kloepfer joined the Berlin office as a counsel in 2017.

Linklaters’ five-strong group advises on the entire spectrum of environmental and planning law, with planning permission and approval procedures as well as instructions accompanying transactions and in energy matters taking centre stage. Practice head Markus Appel acts forTenneT in several matters, including the state specialist planning procedure for SuedLink, which is the second largest high-voltage direct current transmission line project in Europe. Other highlights included the representation of Engie E&P in approval and regional planning procedures in a natural gas extraction project in North Germany; the advice of Cerberus Capital Management on environmental and product safety matters in connection with the acquisition of Staples; and assisting Mitsui with transport of hazardous materials and chemical matters concerning the acquisition of the hazardous substance transportation business of Chemtrade Logistics. Anna Burghardt is the contact for product law.

Taylor Wessing focuses on public construction and planning law, however, it also handles some environmental, waste and product instructions. An example of this is Norbert Kämper’s representation of a mineral oil company in contaminated waste plot proceedings against Deutsche Bahn. In addition, Dieter Lang in Hamburg advises Avaya on the REACH regulation. Current highlights include advising DAL Deutsche Anlagen-Leasing as the financing consortium of a furniture market on construction planning risks led by Torsten van Jeger, as well as Alexander Köpfler’s assistance to Die Developer with construction planning and building regulation matters for several increased-use projects. Roland Schmidt-Bleker has been an equity partner since May 2017. Christoph Brandenburg left for Sedlmayer Projektentwicklungsgesellschaft in October 2016.

In addition to traditional environmental and planning instructions, BBG und Partner is also active in the energy industry and transport sector. Peter Schütte handles contentious matters for PNE Wind Atlantis I regarding six complaint procedures against the capacity allocation decisions of the federal network agency as well as for the city of Bremen regarding seven disputes over a large port infrastructure project before an administrative court. Malte Kohls assists the Saxon upper mining authority with the preparation and implementation of a planning approval procedure under mining law for the expansion of a lignite open pit mine.

Matthias Lang in Düsseldorf and René Voigtländer in Munich, together with three other lawyers form the environmental and planning law practice group at Bird & Bird. In addition to the ongoing energy, construction and water planning approval procedures for Amprion and Aluminium Oxid Stade, among others, Matthias Lang frequently advises on environmental law matters in connection with company acquisitions. Furthermore, he advises an international chemical company on obtaining an emissions control authorisation for a new chemical plant and a fire protection company on chemical law on an ongoing basis. René Voigtländer is specialised in disposal and waste instructions, which most recently emerged from unlawful waste storage on own or on a neighbouring piece of land on the part of car suppliers.

The environmental and planning law practice of Brandi Rechtsanwälte is led by Martin Dippel and Christoph Jahn who are active in recycling, soil protection, emission control, nature conservation and water law. Daniela Deifuß-Kruse also has experience in building regulation and construction planning law for building construction and infrastructure projects. The group advised Mitsubishi HiTech Paper Europe on site-securing measures with regards to a specialist factory. Other active clients are Hohmann Feinkost, Südzucker and Warsteiner Brauerei.

At Clifford Chance, Mathias Elspaß predominantly handles power line and transaction instructions. Highlights included advising 50Hertz Transmission on the planning of a high-voltage transmission line, for which the federal requirements plan act had to be taken into account. The group also advised AvG on the sale of bmp greengas to Erdgas Südwest. Former partner David Elshorst who is based in Frankfurt is now of counsel.

Dentons offers an ‘optimal service level’ and is ‘recommended as an all-rounder’. Ilka Mehdorn, who is ‘experienced in many legal areas’ and ‘finds a solution for all issues, and also organises complex tasks in an optimal manner and is able to grasp issues extremely quickly’, is highly recommended. In the area of product and waste legislation, she advises BHIM Zentrale Wertstoffstelle on the establishment and activity of Stiftung Zentrale Verpackungsregister, particularly with regard to the packaging act; all project stages are handled and advice is provided in a number of areas within and outside of public law. The team also advises DPG Deutsche Pfandsystem on product law matters. Procurement law specialist Wolfram Krohn, corporate law specialist Matthias Santelmann and tax law specialist Stephan Busch are also recommended. The ‘strategically excellent consultant’ Jörg Karenfort has been advising Emerson Electric for 11 years on product-related environmental law.

The 12-strong environmental and planning law group of Kapellmann und Partner impresses with its ‘trustworthy cooperation’ and ‘short and reliable processing times’.Hendrik Schilder, who ‘skilfully assists in proceedings against municipalities in a moderating role’, is advising new client the BEMA Group on the land-use planning procedure concerning the Barbaraviertel in Neuss. He is also defending Düsseldorf Airport against a claim for damages, which pertains to PFT pollution on the neighbouring land. Stefan Pützenbacher in Frankfurt is supporting a public-sector client in a high-rise building project development. Bernd Wust was promoted to the partnership at the start of 2017.

At Oppenhoff & Partner, Holger Hofmann, who was made partner in 2017, and Stephan Müller are the main contacts in the environmental and planning law practice group. The group primarily advises industrial companies on emission control, water and soil protection matters as well as on refurbishment contracts. Another area of focus is product-related advice. The team also assisted Eastman Chemical with environmental law matters regarding abandoned sites.

Christofer Lenz at Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte represents the federal government of Baden-Württemberg in nature conservation proceedings before the constitutional court; he is also providing an expert opinion for a private sector client regarding driving restrictions in low emission zones of large cities for both new diesel vehicles and those with a green sticker. In the construction industry, Jens Kaltenborn and Torsten Gerhard are representing E. Breuninger in appeal proceedings within the framework of the expansion of "Breuningerland Sindelfingen".

In environmental and planning law, Raue LLP offers an ‘excellent service level’ on the basis of ‘precision and depth in the matter at hand, adherence to deadlines and willingness to communicate’. Practice head Wolfram Hertel is representing the Brandenburg state office for environment in several public liability and appeal proceedings concerning the approval of wind turbines, which require approval according to emission control law, and provides ongoing advice to the IBI Group, most recently regarding the granting of building permits for its 28-hectare residential project in Berlin-Köpenick. Highlights included Carl-Stephan Schweer’s advice to the Berliner Volksbank on the construction of its new administration building in the context of planning law. The group’s receives a number of environmental law instructions from clients in the energy sector.

Kiel-based lawyers Wolfgang Ewer, Angelika Leppin and Marius Raabe are the main contacts for environmental and planning law at Weißleder & Ewer. The group acts for public sector clients, as well as clients from the automobile, chemicals, mineral oils, energy, trade, handicrafts and service sectors on environmental law issues. Other areas of expertise include project-related planning law and public building law. Wolfgang Ewer recently represented the Federal Republic of Germany in complaint proceedings, which were filed by several environmental associations against the planning approval decision for the deepening of the river Elbe. He also defended the same client in infringement proceedings pertaining to the Hamburg-Moorburg coal-fired power station before the European Court of Justice.

Wolter Hoppenberg is recommended in environmental and planning law for its ‘excellent advice on public sector matters’ as well as its ‘quick processing and professional, trustworthy and pleasant cooperation’. The ‘reliable, creative and extensively competent’ Michael Hoppenberg and ‘professional, experienced and second-to-none in oral negotiations’ planning lawyer Thomas Tyczewski are highly recommended. Environmental law specialist Till Elgeti as well as junior partners Lisa Paar and Anja Baars are also part of the practice group. Highlights included advising HC/Südbrandenburgischer Abfallzweckverband on the construction of a landfill, taking account of the applicable mining law during the excavation. The group also handled several instructions which concerned the transfer of duty to dispose waste water from municipalities in Northrhine-Westphalia to associations. It is also representing the district of Osnabrück in proceedings regarding the approval of wind farms and is acting for the city of Duisburg in the planning of a designer outlet centre on the site of the former goods station.