Rising Stars

Firms To Watch: State aid

BBG und Partner predominantly acts for public sector clients with a clear focus on the transport industry, particularly with regards to public transport systems.

State aid in Germany

Gleiss Lutz

Gleiss Lutz' practice not only counts German and international blue chips from a wide variety of industries among its clients, but is also regularly instructed by German state governments and various federal ministries to advise on state aid issues. The semiconductor industry represents a special focus, in which the team assists with several major projects, as well as with various hot topics: For instance, the practice advised companies from numerous sectors and the public sector on corona aid and also assisted clients affected by the Ukraine war with relief efforts. Compliance, transactional support and representation in proceedings reflect additional important components of its consulting practice. Practice head Ulrich Soltész' expertise ranges from European antitrust and state aid law to general European law and merger control, while Burghardt Hildebrandt handles state aid matters primarily in connection with investment subsidies, research and development as well as compliance.

Practice head(s):

Ulrich Soltész


Testimonials

‘Excellent and competent cooperation.’

‘Dr. Ulrich Soltész: Very experienced and well connected. Dr Harald Weiß: Professionally excellent.’

‘The team around Mr. Soltèsz has excellent knowledge of substantive and procedural state aid law. The cooperation is extremely good; briefs are created or proofread by the team in a short time. Feedback and assessments are given within a short and previously agreed timeframe.’

Key clients

Freistaat Bayern


Bundesrepublik Deutschland-Finanzagentur GmbH


Globalfoundries


Infineon Technologies AG


Rolls-Royce


Ministerium für Kinder, Familie, Flüchtlinge und Integration des Landes NRW


Total / SAFT


Bilfinger SE


Brookfield Asset Management


Procter&Gamble


Work highlights


  • Defending the Free State of Bavaria against state aid repayment claims, representation in proceedings before the ECJ.

  • Representing Deutsche Bahn in a formal state aid investigation by the Commission into alleged state aid in rail freight transport.

  • Advice on subsidy law to Globalfoundries on PCEI projects 1 and 2 and other projects, along with the development of funding regulations in coordination with the federal government.

Hengeler Mueller

Hengeler Mueller not only advises well-known companies and the public sector on state aid law, but also represents clients before EU courts and in proceedings before the Commission. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the team is still very active in providing advice on subsidies and state aid programs, while companies and associations from the catering and tourism sectors draw on the team's extensive expertise particularly often. The energy sector, which has seen the creation of new funding programs for renewable energy as a result of the energy transition, also represents an important focus for the practice. Of particular note is the group's recent advice on the implementation of the first IPCEI (Important Project of Common European Interest) as well as the application for and design of the second IPCEI on microelectronics. The Berlin and Brussels-based state aid law experts Jan Bonhage and Hans-Jörg Niemeyer have significant experience in proceedings as well as the whole array of public procurement and state aid matters.

Other key lawyers:

Jan Bonhage; Hans-Jörg Niemeyer


Redeker Sellner Dahs

Thanks to its large team and wide range of expertise, Redeker Sellner Dahs' state aid practice continues to be one of the top addresses and as such is often instructed by ministries and federal states, but also by companies and associations. The team, which also frequently appears before the Commission and the ECJ, regularly advises on pioneering matters concerning the climate, environmental protection and energy subsidies as well as the AGVO reform, while the Covid-19 pandemic and associated aid package negotiations offered a stage to demonstrate its experience in crisis and post-crisis management. Highly regarded state aid lawyer Andreas Rosenfeld heads the practice, which also includes European and constitutional law expert Ulrich Karpenstein. The appointment of Kathrin Dingemann in January 2022 bolstered the group's expertise in environmental law at partner level.

Practice head(s):

Andreas Rosenfeld


Chatham Partners LLP

The team at Chatham Partners LLP, headed by adept state aid lawyer Marco Núñez Müller, has experience in the infrastructure, real estate and energy sectors and can count airports, ports, energy companies, municipal housing associations and project developers as well as cities and counties among its clients. In addition to state aid advice, the practice also encompasses the preparation of notifications and the representation of clients in state aid investigation proceedings before the EU Commission, before the European Court of Justice and before German courts in the context of private enforcement proceedings. Christos Paraschiakos regularly advises on European state aid and public procurement law related to PPP projects.

Practice head(s):

Marco Núñez Müller


Other key lawyers:

Christos Paraschiakos


Key clients

LHG Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft mbH


Hansestadt Lübeck


Deutscher Bundestag


Athos Solar GmbH


Orsted


GEWOBA AG


Stöcker Flughafen GmbH & Co. KG (Flughafen Lübeck)


Gauselmann AG


Zebra Handelshaus GmbH


Grünenthal GmbH


Deutsche ErdWärme GmbH


Zweckverband linkes Weserufer


Kreis Pinneberg


AquaVentus Projektfamilie


Hochtief AG


CI III PQE GmbH & Co. KG


Landkreis Waldshut


AQV


Hochtief AG


FPS Anklam GmbH


Aqua Primus


Work highlights


  • Comprehensive advice on state aid and public procurement law to LHG Lübecker Hafen-Gesellschaft mbH, including state infrastructure and superstructure financing, sale of terminals, changes to the port operating concession and aid to competing ports.

  • Comprehensive advice to Siemens Energy AG on state aid in the field of renewable energies (especially hydrogen), in particular on IPCEI projects.

  • Comprehensive advice on state aid and public procurement law to the German Bundestag on the so-called car toll disaster of the Federal Ministry of Transport, in particular in connection with the incorrect award of a car toll concession to KapschTraffic and CTS Eventim, the state promise of comprehensive, non-standard compensation for the (occurred) Case of a defeat of the federal government before the ECJ and pending arbitration proceedings.

CMS

CMS excels in advising on state aid law in a wide range of industries, with the area of transport and infrastructure being particularly noteworthy; here, the group is involved in advising an insolvent airport and its main shareholders. In the recent past, the team also advised universities on state aid issues pertaining to bidding proceedings. In addition to its advice on large-scale projects, the practice further assists the public sector, including federal states and the Federal Republic of Germany’s finance agency, with state aid issues. Brussels-based practice head Michael Bauer has longstanding experience in antitrust and state aid law as well as compliance.

Practice head(s):

Michael Bauer


Testimonials

‘Dr. Michael Baue: Extremely knowledgeable in European state aid law.’

‘The strength of the CMS team lies in the fact that each individual team member has both a special professional qualification in one facet of EU state aid law (e.g. tax component) and is able to classify the overall case to be considered with its other legal implications as a whole. Thanks to the well-considered team composition that is tailored to each problem area, an optimal result is achieved in terms of both the breadth and depth of the problem.’

‘In addition to excellent professional qualifications, the transparent evaluation of various solution options which were worked out with associated advantages and disadvantages should be emphasized. There was no predetermination of the one and only alternative.’

Dentons

The Dentons team, which is well connected throughout Europe, offers comprehensive expertise in state aid law and represents companies from the transport, telecommunications, finance and infrastructure sectors not only in proceedings before national authorities, but also before European courts. The examination of state aid aspects of M&A transactions is covered as routinely as public-private partnerships. Andreas Haak, who covers the interface of state aid and public procurement law and is experienced in the infrastructure sector, has extensive expertise in representing authorities as well as companies and jointly heads the public sector group with Ilka Mehdorn (product-related environmental law and medical law).

Practice head(s):

Andreas Haak; Ilka Mehdorn


Other key lawyers:

Matthias Nordmann; Lars Hettich


Testimonials

‘Very good and collegial cooperation with Dr. Matthias Nordmann and his team. Also a very good exchange about specific cases.’

‘Matthias Nordmann: A highly valued colleague with proven expertise in EU state aid law.’

Key clients

Bundesministerium des Innern, für Bau und Heimat (BMI)


Duisburger Hafen AG


Landesbetrieb IT.NRW


logport Ruhr GmbH


EFN Eifel-Net Internet-Provider GmbH


NeXovation Inc.


Volotea


Wacker Chemie


Work highlights


  • Successfully representing NeXovation before the European Court of Justice, which requires a review of the European Commission’s 2014 decision that made the sale of the Nürburgring assets to the Capricorn Group lawful.

  • Representation of Duisburger Hafen AG in review proceedings at the court in Maastricht due to deficiencies in state aid and public procurement law.

  • Comprehensive advice to Spanish airline Volotea on a Commission recovery decision of 29 July 2016.

Kapellmann und Partner

Kapellmann und Partner advises companies, associations and public institutions, primarily from the aviation, sports, automotive and energy sectors, on the design of support measures and financing concepts, but also conducts notification proceedings and state aid assessment proceedings if necessary. Particularly practice head Robin van der Hout has extensive experience in representing clients before EU courts. Christian Wagner's expertise also covers the interface to antitrust law.

Practice head(s):

Robin van der Hout


Other key lawyers:

Christian Wagner


WilmerHale

WilmerHale's state aid team assists both the public sector, with good contacts to ministries in some federal states, as well as companies with a large number of state aid issues. Industry focuses include air and shipping traffic, infrastructure and banking; during the pandemic, the practice also advised a federal state on maintaining a rescue package for small businesses, while social housing is becoming another important practice focus. The group is further adept in representing clients before German and EU courts, with Frankfurt-based practice head Hans-Georg Kamann having particularly extensive experience in this field.

Practice head(s):

Hans-Georg Kamann


Other key lawyers:

Peter Gey


Testimonials

‘Outstanding. Highest satisfaction on our side for years! And across all categories!’

Key clients

Bundesrepublik Deutschland – Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie


INC SpA und Consorzio Stabile Sis SCpA


Jugendherberge Berlin Ostkreuz gGmbH


Onyx Power


Work highlights


  • Advising Flughafen GmbH Kassel on state aid, public procurement and public law as part of the development of the former Kassel-Calden airfield into a green commercial and industrial area at Kassel Airport.

  • Ongoing advice on state aid law to the State of Hessen on the further development of its building land offensive to promote the development of building land by Hessian municipalities.

  • Advice on state aid law to Landgesellschaft Sachsen-Anhalt on the fundamental restructuring of the Kloster Pforta state winery. Continuation of advice on the Hessian state wineries in another federal state.

BLOMSTEIN Rechtsanwälte

BLOMSTEIN Rechtsanwälte not only focuses on state aid law but also on regulatory advice and antitrust- and public procurement-related matters, while the Ukraine war resulted in increased synergies with the firm's foreign trade practice. The team continues to assist with numerous matters pertaining to Covid-19 aid and has been able to expand this activity with various monitoring trustee instructions. Max Klasse acts before European courts and has particular experience in industrial, postal and transport services sectors.

Practice head(s):

Max Klasse


Testimonials

‘Very high professional competence, pragmatic and efficient work.’

‘Max Klasse: Very pleasant cooperation.’

Key clients

Air France


Qell Acquisition


TAP Portugal


CRRC


Work highlights


  • Legal advisor to the Monitoring Trustee Team on the monitoring of the structural and behavioral commitments from the State aid decision on France’s recapitalization measures to support Air France in the context of the Covid-19 crisis.

  • Advice on merger control law and EU state aid to SPAC Qell Acquisition on a billion-dollar merger with Munich-based air taxi manufacturer Lilium.

  • Legal adviser in the Monitoring Trustee Team on the monitoring of the structural commitments from the aid decision on Portugal’s restructuring aid in favor of TAP Air Portugal.

GvW Graf von Westphalen

GvW Graf von Westphalen's team covers a large number of contentious and non-contentious state aid matters, while acting for both granting authorities and private and public companies, which primarily come from the aviation, research, infrastructure, real estate and energy sectors. Frequently recommended state aid lawyer Gerd Schwendinger heads the team and, as a former judge, has extensive experience in representing clients before courts and the European Commission.

Practice head(s):

Gerd Schwendinger


Testimonials

‘Gerd Schwendinger: Highly competent and innovative with excellent knowledge of state aid law.’

‘Gerd Schwendinger: An experienced expert on state aid law who rolls the process up from its end and can therefore set the right course early on in order to achieve optimal results. His advice is always competent and friendly. It also takes into account the specific requirements in public companies.’

‘Broadly positioned and experienced in state aid law. Well connected with further EU legal expertise and especially foreign trade law, so that matters with interdisciplinary aspects can be handled well from a single source.’

Key clients

acatech – Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften / DRM Datenraum Mobilität GmbH


LINDER GmbH


REGIOMED-KLINIKEN GmbH


Sprinkenhof GmbH


Thüringer Landesamt für Bau und Verkehr, Nahverkehrsservice Sachsen-Anhalt GmbH (NASA GmbH), weitere Aufgabenträger


ZAL Zentrum für Angewandte Luftfahrtforschung GmbH


Flughafen Paderborn/Lippstadt GmbH


Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg, Behörde für Wirtschaft, Verkehr und Innovation


HEAG mobilo GmbH


HafenCity Hamburg GmbH


Land Nordrhein-Westfalen (Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz Nordrhein-Westfalen und Umweltministerium)


Marktgemeinde Großostheim


Ministerium für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen


Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitalisierung und Energie des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen


Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Verkehr, Arbeit, Technologie und Tourismus des Landes Schleswig-Holstein


Nordzucker AG


Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen


SNP-Gruppe (großer Betreiber von Tierkörperbeseitigungsanstalten


Work highlights


  • Successful advice and representation of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in litigation with Austrian timber group Klausner about state aid-infected timber supply contracts before the ECJ, the European Commission and the German courts (the district court of Münster, the OLG Hamm and most recently the BGH).

  • Advice on state aid law to acatech – German Academy of Science and Technology / DRM Datenraum Mobility GmbH regarding data room mobility.

  • Advice to the ZAL Center for Applied Aviation Research GmbH (joint ventures of Airbus Operations, Lufthansa Technik, Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and various technical research institutions) in connection with research and development funding.

Hogan Lovells International LLP

The state aid team at Hogan Lovells International LLP cooperates closely with the firm's antitrust and public procurement experts as well as with its public law practice and thus offers intersectional advice that is regularly called upon by the public sector as well as companies from the automotive, transport and gaming sectors. Practice head Marc Schweda is primarily assists with state aid-related matters at EU level and has particular expertise in the transport sector; during the pandemic, he also increasingly advised on Covid-19 support measures.

Practice head(s):

Marc Schweda


Testimonials

‘Marc Schweda: Very capable, very experienced and always approachable.’

Key clients

FlixMobility


EAM Beteiligungen GmbH (Kasseler Verkehrs- und Versorgungs GmbH Landkreis Kassel, Landkreis Hersfeld-Rotenburg Schwalm-Eder-Kreis Landkreis Waldeck-Frankenberg Kreisausschuss des Werra-Meißner-Kreises Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts)


Autobahn Tank & Rast GmbH


Bundesrepublik Deutschland – Finanzagentur GmbH


NRW.Bank und Nord/LB


NRW.BANK


Work highlights


  • Advice to FlixMobility GmbH on all state aid matters.

  • Advising the Federal Republic of Germany – Finanzagentur GmbH on the granting of a stabilization measure by the Economic Stabilization Fund (WSF) to Deutsche Lufthansa AG within the framework of the Economic Stabilization Act.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH's state aid law team is spread across several locations and advises the public sector as well as numerous companies; its activity includes assisting energy companies with urban development projects as well as corona aid-related state aid advice among other matters. The Brussels-based Helmut Janssen is experienced not only in EU state aid law but also in commercial law and is instructed by numerous energy companies. Public procurement lawyer Ulf-Dieter Pape supports companies, with a focus on mobility and healthcare, in tenders as well as privatization and review proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Ulf-Dieter Pape; Helmut Janssen


Other key lawyers:

Stefan Mager


Key clients

Wepa Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG und Wepa Papierfabrik Sachsen GmbH


Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG


Landkreis Mittelsachsen, Landkreis Nordsachsen


Zoo Hannover GmbH


Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen – NBank


Bochumer Veranstaltungs-GmbH


Landesnahverkehrsgesellschaft Niedersachsen


IHK Industrie- u. Handelskammer für München u. Oberbayern


Stadt Köln


Work highlights


  • Advice on administrative and state aid law to the IHK Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Munich and Upper Bavaria as well as representation in contentious cases in connection with corona aid before the administrative courts.

  • Advice to investment and development bank Lower Saxony – NBank on the granting of the Corona emergency aid, the so-called November and December aid, examination and decision of over 240,000 applications.

  • Advice on state aid law for an IPCEI expression of interest and advice to BP Europa SE on setting up a joint venture in the hydrogen sector.

Noerr

Noerr's Brussels- and Germany-based team follows a cross-practice and cross-locational approach and successfully represented Condor in several state aid proceedings, among other matters. In addition to its advice on Covid-19 subsidy issues, the team continued to be entrusted with general subsidy matters and also assisted companies before and during subsidy applications as well as with complaints and notification proceedings. The team is jointly headed by Sarah Blazek and Jens Peter Schmidt, while Fabian Badtke leads the antitrust practice.

Testimonials

‘Noerr state aid team is very well positioned and takes care of almost all our state aid matters. We feel very well cared for. Team members can be contacted at any time.’

‘In addition to her excellent specialist knowledge, Sarah Blazek is characterized in particular by her great communication skills. Even with complex state aid procedures, we are always up to date and informed about next steps. Ms. Blazek is also very well connected at the Commission, enabling us to always obtain up-to-date information with requests being answered unbureaucratically.’

Key clients

Condor Flugdienst GmbH


Westdeutscher Rundfunk Köln


Work highlights


  • Representing Condor Flugdienste GmbH in a complex notification procedure regarding three parallel state aid approvals and the associated coordination and negotiations with the European Commission and the BMWK.

  • Representing Condor Flugdienste GmbH as intervener for the European Commission in a dispute with Ryanair regarding the lawful approval of state aid before the General Court of the European Union in Luxembourg (ECJ).

Taylor Wessing

Taylor Wessing's team around Hamburg-based head Marco Hartmann-Rüppel assists state and federal ministries, banks as well as companies with a wide range of state aid issues and is particularly active in the public finance, infrastructure and healthcare sectors; the practice is also experienced in advising on large port and airport projects. In the course of the corona crisis, the group further assisted granting authorities and beneficiaries with various aid measures. In addition to state aid law, Michael Brüggemann is also well versed in grant and subsidy law and also advises on research and development grants and subsidies.

Practice head(s):

Marco Hartmann-Rüppel


Other key lawyers:

Michael Brüggemann


Testimonials

‘Technically highly competent team – quick case management- easy to reach – very good communication.’

‘Michael Brüggemann: Great client support and very good availability despite high workload, clear opportunity-risk assessment and excellent leadership throughout often tough state aid law matters.’

Key clients

Bundesministerium der Verteidigung


Bundesministerium des Innern (BMI)


Electrify GmbH


Entsorgungsbetriebe Essen GmbH


Flughafen Frankfurt Hahn GmbH / Brinkmann & Partner (Insolvenzverwalter)


Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg / HGV


Hardtwaldklinik I Werner Wicker GmbH & Co. KG


Landesbetrieb Berlin Energie


Work highlights


  • Comprehensive advice on state aid law to Flughafen Frankfurt Hahn GmbH in the context of insolvency. Implementation of a bidding process in line with EU state aid law (Hahn Airport received aid in the hundreds of millions).

  • Advice on public procurement and state aid law to the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg / Hamburger Gesellschaft für Vermögens- und Beteiligungsmanagement mbH on broadband expansion throughout the city.

  • Advising the State of Berlin on the design of state-owned financial contributions in compliance with state aid law for the remunicipalisation of the Berlin electricity distribution network; in addition, drafting and negotiation of financing contracts by the banking and finance department.

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP advises clients, including truck and electric vehicle manufacturers, energy companies, financial institutions and airlines, on state aid compliance and state aid proceedings. Practice head Christoph Arhold is not only active in competition law but also in European Union law and has considerable experience in litigation before German courts and the European Court of Justice. Kai Struckmann joined Deloitte Legal in February 2022, where he heads the EU and state aid law department.

Practice head(s):

Christoph Arhold


Key clients

Oltchim S.A.


Work highlights


  • Advising the insolvent Oltchim SA on a state aid proceeding.

Baker McKenzie

Baker McKenzie's practice advises German and international companies, primarily in the life sciences and technology sectors, on aspects of state aid, grants and subsidies law. In a particular noteworthy lighthouse project, the team advised a chip manufacturer on the planned construction of a factory. Clients benefit from close cooperation with other practice groups, particularly procurement, IP, corporate and real estate. Marc Gabriel, who heads the public commercial law practice, is particularly well versed in state aid investigations, while counsel Janet Butler has extensive experience in subsidy and EU state aid law. The counsel level was recently strengthened with the addition of Andrés Martin-Ehlers in February 2023; he previously headed the antitrust practice at Oppenhoff and specialises in state aid law.

Practice head(s):

Marc Gabriel


Key clients

B Capital Partners


Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance's team works across locations with in-house state aid practices from all over Europe and can therefore demonstrate expertise in regulatory and political processes at national and European level, while further impressing with experience in environment and energy sectors. Recently, the group advised on various privatization projects and subsidy applications for major projects. Practice heads Thomas Voland and Joachim Schütze are well versed across the entire spectrum of state aid law, including court proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Joachim Schütze; Thomas Voland


Key clients

German LNG Terminal


Tesla


Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz


Work highlights


  • Advising German LNG GmbH, a joint venture between Gasunie, RWE and KfW, on the planning, construction and operation of one of the first German liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals in Brunsbüttel, including state aid issues (regional funding, public sector involvement, general block exemption regulation).

  • Advice to Tesla Manufacturing Brandenburg GmbH on the construction and planning of Gigafactory in Brandenburg, including issues relating to subsidy law (including funding according to Regional Aid Guidelines).

  • Advising the vaccine production task force in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) on the drafting and negotiation of legally innovative so-called pandemic preparedness agreements with five companies.

GSK Stockmann

GSK Stockmann scores with a combination of of state aid and public law know-how and regularly advises housing associations, schools and seaport infrastructure companies, the latter particularly by Arne Gniechwitz, on the financing of public infrastructure with a focus on the transport, education and social housing sectors. Assistance to the public sector and its companies with procurement, project planning and financing is another practice mainstay, which primarily represents Wolfgang Wuerfel's focus.

Testimonials

‘The team is characterized by a high level of competence. It is flexible, to adapt quickly to new requirements and to advise the client comprehensively. Here the lawyer knows how to accompany and understand the non-lawyer.’

‘All client contacts are characterized by the fact that they succeed in using their professional skills in an adaptive and solution-oriented manner to achieve their goals. We attach great importance to very friendly and collegial communication. Opportunities and risks are clearly identified. As a client, you receive very comprehensive advice with clear options for action.’

Key clients

Niedersachsen Ports GmbH & Co. KG


bremenports GmbH & Co. KG, für das Sondervermögen Hafen


JadeWeserPort, JadeWeserPort Realisierungs GmbH & Co. KG


Flughafen Bremen GmbH


WBM Wohnungsbaugesellschaft Berlin-Mitte mbH


Hamburg Port Authority AöR


Generaldirektion Wasserstraßen und Schifffahrt GDWS


Center Parcs Entwicklungsgesellschaft Germany GmbH


Work highlights


  • Advice to the Hamburg Port Authority, Niedersachsen Ports and JadeWeserPort on financing the port expansion in a number of infrastructure projects, including financing port infrastructure for the handling of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and terminal expansion.

  • Advising the housing association Mitte of Berlin on the financing of housing projects.

  • Advising the Federal Republic of Germany (General Directorate for Waterways and Shipping) on the long-term continuation of the use of hydroelectric power plants on a federal waterway on the basis of leasehold contracts.

Jones Day

Jones Day impresses with its cross-practice and cross-location cooperation and advises private companies from the energy sector and aviation as well as public institutions and EU member states. In addition to assisting with state aid matters, the team possesses further experience in EU and national court proceedings as well as state aid investigations before the European Commission. Frequently recommended competition and state aid lawyer Philipp Werner heads the practice.

Practice head(s):

Philipp Werner


Key clients

ENI S.p.A.


IFP Énergies nouvelles (IFPEN)


Work highlights


  • Advising ENI SpA on the assessment of the compatibility of ENI’s investment projects, which are included in the Italian economic stimulus plan and are to receive EU public funds, with EU state aid rules.

  • Advice to IFP Énergies nouvelles (IFPEN) on the approval of the research framework agreement by the EU Commission.

Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte

Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte's nationwide state aid expertise in the transport sector spans not only advice to transport associations but also to granting authorities and beneficiaries; under the leadership of Corina Jürschik, the team assists with the structuring of state-wide funding programs and the drafting of state aid-compliant contracts. In addition to this sector focus, the practice is also well versed in social service provision, especially in the care sector.

Practice head(s):

Corina Jürschik


Testimonials

‘In the state aid sphere, Oppenländer’s team brings such a concentrated load of practical knowledge with it that a quick understanding of the client’s problem takes effect immediately, and that this leads to the right path straight away when dealing with state aid issues. This quality speaks for itself. Clever help saves time, nerves and budget.’

‘Corina Jürschik always advises friendly and courteous as well as absolutely competent and effective in the long term. In addition, Dr. Jürschik explain excellently, so that difficult state aid matters are very easy to understand.’

‘Very strong team in the area of public transport, public procurement and state aid law.’

Key clients

AWO Bezirksverband Hannover e.V.


Donau-Iller-Nahverkehrsverbund-GmbH (DING)


Heilbronner Hohenloher Nahverkehr GmbH (HNV)


Hochschule Schmalkalden


Karlsruher Verkehrsverbund GmbH (KVV)


Kaufhaus Breuninger (E. Breuninger GmbH & Co.)


SSB AG (App-Förderung)


SSB (Busförderung Bund)


SSB Reisen GmbH


Staatliche Toto-Lotto-GmbH Baden-Württemberg


Stadt Garching


Oberschwaben Tourismus GmbH (OTG)


Steuerberatungs- und Wirtschaftsprüfergesellschaft


Universität Stuttgart


Üstra Hannoversche Verkehrsbetriebe AG


Verkehrs- und Tarifverbund Stuttgart GmbH (VVS)


Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg


Verkehrsministerium Baden-Württemberg (LGVFG)


Vielzahl kommunaler Verkehrsunternehmen großer deutscher Städte


WBO Verband Baden-Württembergischer Omnibusunternehmen e.V.


Work highlights


  • Design of the state-wide bus subsidy for the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Transport in compliance with state aid law.

  • Representing AWO Bezirksverband Hannover eV in an action for annulment before the ECJ.

  • Preparation of a comprehensive report for WBO on the possibility of structuring the bus subsidy in compliance with state aid law or registering it with the commission.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB's state aid practice is headed by Anke Empting, who is well versed in this area, and offers a strong industry focus in the science and research sectors, thus primarily advising universities, research institutions and colleges on EU state aid law matters in connection with the design of research initiatives, cooperations and funding programs.

Practice head(s):

Anke Empting


Other key lawyers:

Julia Paul; Sebastian Niehues


Testimonials

‘Well organized and professional law firm.’

‘Anke Empting: An absolute specialist in state aid law.’

Key clients

BAM – Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung


(vormals) BioMedTec Management GmbH (mittlerweile Hanse Innovation Campus GmbH)


BSP Business School Berlin


Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel


Coventry University


FernUniversität Hagen


GNA Biosolutions GmbH


Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg


HMU Health and Medical University Potsdam


IU International University


MSB Medical School Berlin


MSH Medical School Hamburg


MSH Medical School Hamburg / SNF Stiftungsinitiative Nachwuchsförderung an privaten Hochschulen gemeinnützige GmbH


Ruhr-Universität Bochum


Technische Universität München


Universität des Saarlandes


Universität Duisburg-Essen


Universitätsklinikum Duisburg-Essen


University of Oxford


Universität Potsdam


University of Gloucestershire


UnternehmerTUM GmbH


Stadt Meersburg


Work highlights


  • Advising the Technical University of Munich and UnternehmerTUM gGmbH on the legal structure of the TUM Venture Labs, a joint initiative of TUM and UnternehmerTUM gGmbH, with a focus on EU state aid and tax law structuring of the financing of the Venture Labs and the cooperation between the two cooperation partners.

  • Advice on EU state aid law to the University of Potsdam on the design of Joint Labs, a new form of cooperation funded as part of the Innovative University funding program, which stimulates and promotes knowledge and technology transfers.

  • Advice on EU state aid law to the University of Gloucestershire on the establishment of a multi-university campus with the state-recognised, private technical college for medium-sized companies and on the establishment of the joint institute for cyber security and digital innovations.