Heuking > Dusseldorf, Germany > Firm Profile

Heuking > The Legal 500 Rankings

Public sector > Public procurement Tier 1

As one of the top addresses for procurement law in Germany, Heuking is particularly experienced in advising public sector clients from local to federal level on high-profile procurement projects. The broad practice particularly stands out for its expertise in hydraulic engineering, transport and healthcare and assists with the design of tenders and procurement procedures as well as with procurement aspects of public transactions and contract negotiations. Ute Jasper jointly leads the practice with PPP expert Martin Schellenberg and primarily acts in both procurement and insolvency and compensation proceedings in the ​​rail transport sector. Clients from the transport and urban infrastructure industries also regularly rely on Christopher Marx to assist with procurement matters related to climate-friendly modernisation and renovation projects.

Trade and distribution > Foreign trade law

Heuking is well versed in sanctions law and investment control, which benefits clients from the defense, energy and infrastructure sectors. Sanctions law issues are a core focus of compliance expert Michael Kreisler and export control lawyer Wolfram Meven; The latter jointly heads the practice with Bodo Dehne, who supports clients in investment control and related approval procedures.

Corporate and M&A > M&A

Heuking advises German and international companies from the automotive, IT, life sciences and telecommunications sectors on public M&A transactions, distressed M&A and joint ventures, especially in the small and mid-cap sector. Capital markets and transaction expert Thorsten Kuthe jointly heads the practice with M&A and tax lawyer Jörg Schewe, who succeeded Boris Dürr (private equity and venture capital in the healthcare, life sciences and automotive sectors) in January 2023. Helge-Torsten Wöhlert acts for French companies, while Bodo Dehne, who made partner in January 2023, advises private equity and venture capital transactions. Other changes to the team include the departure of private equity lawyer Slaven Kovacevic to Fieldfisher in April 2023 and the promotion of financing and capital markets lawyer Kai Erhardt to the partnership in January 2023.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 2

Heuking comprehensively advises companies in crisis on financial restructuring as well as restructuring and insolvency law matters. Another focus is advising financial investors on both the acquisition of (non-performing) loans against companies in crisis as well as on the investment of equity capital in them. Practice head Georg Streit boasts similar competencies and is experienced in the automotive industry, while the team recently handled restructurings in the banking, chemicals, healthcare and energy sectors and was instructed by real estate investors and financiers. Kai Uwe Büchler (restructuring, reorganisation, insolvency law) and Arnold Büssemaker (restructuring, corporate finance, reorganisation) are further key contacts.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 3

Heuking's corporate team assists with general meetings, post-M&A restructuring and conversions as well as corporate disputes and is primarily active for medium-sized companies and listed corporations, although the practice occasionally also advises on interface topics such as ESG and digitalisation. The team is jointly led by Thorsten Kuthe, who has experience in stock exchange, capital markets and banking law, as well as M&A, private equity and venture capital experts Boris Dürr and Jörg Schewe; India specialist Martin Imhof is another key contact, who focuses on private equity and M&A alongside corporate law. The team was further strengthened by the arrival of salary partner Slaven Kovacevic (M&A, joint ventures and restructuring, also PE and VC) from Simmons & Simmons in November 2022 and in June 2023, Mark Rossbroich (also private equity and venture capital) joined from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Patrick Müller (corporate housekeeping, restructuring) made partner in January 2023.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Heuking's interdisciplinary advice was recently called upon in the context of LNG, gas, geothermal and PV energy matters as well as wind farm projects. Practice head Marc Baltus in Düsseldorf focuses on project work, energy contract law and regulatory issues, including export restrictions and price adjustments, while the focus in Hamburg is on dispute resolution and antitrust issues pertaining to the energy sector. Energy transactions are regularly supported from the Cologne, Frankfurt and Munich locations.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 3

Heuking acts from five locations and comprehensively advises companies and public sector clients from various sectors on data protection issues. Thomas Jansen is well versed in the area of ​​autonomous driving, while Hans Markus Wulf focuses on international data transfers and cyber security. Philip Kempermann is experienced in the banking segement, which also includes contentious matters. Other key contacts are Michael Kuska, who covers issues pertaining to the healthcare and technology sectors, as well as Lutz Martin Keppeler, who made partner in January 2023 and frequently advises on novel technologies such as blockchain or metaverse; Keppler also covers cyber security matters.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 3

Heuking's IP, media & technology practice is well versed in IT project work and frequently acts across the healthcare, fintech and telecoms sectors; Markus Lennartz is experienced in the latter, while Dominik Eickemeier primarily supports clients from the banking sector in IT projects. The advice on cloud services – Marcel Maybaum is a key contact here – IT contract negotiations and the acquisition of new software are further key topics as well as clients' representation in litigation. Competencies in the areas of IT security, IT governance, data protection and trade secret protection round off this offering. In January 2023, Lutz Martin Keppeler (IT, data protection, internet law) was appointed to equity partner and Maybaum was appointed to salary partner.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 3

The IP, Media & Technology team at Heuking advises on IT security, data protection as well as the introduction of cloud-based systems, including related litigation, and frequently acts across the healthcare, finance, energy and telecoms sectors. The partner roster was strengthened in January 2023 with the appointments of Christine Grau (IT, cyber security) and Lutz Martin Keppeler (outsourcing, technology-related transactions) to equity partners, while Marcel Maybaum (IT and M&A) made salary partner.

Insurance > Insurance litigation Tier 3

Heuking's diverse team represents a client roster consisting of insurers, insolvency administrators and auditing firms as well as catering and hotel businesses in the defence and enforcement of damages claims. The two practice heads Rüdiger Schnug and Michael Lauterbach are among the key contacts for professional liability insurance. Herbert Palmberger is well versed in coverage issues and their international enforcement as well as manager liability and reinsurance business matters. Andreas Schmitt, who joined the team in early 2023, focuses on financial loss liability insurance, where Martin Karwatzki (also D&O) is another key contact; Karwatzki made partner in January 2024.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 3

Heuking is known for representing medium-sized companies in infringement and nullity proceedings and, in keeping with the firm's general focal points, also focuses on ​​artificial intelligence. The group further acts for clients from the automotive supply sector, which also mirrors Anton Horn's expertise in the automotive industry. Mechanical engineering and medical technology are covered by Sabine Dethof, while Philipp Schröler handles pharmaceuticals and life sciences matters.

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 3

Heuking's extensive competition experience covers various contentious and non-contentious issues as well as matters pertaining to copyright and data protection. The Cologne-based Dominik Eickermeier and Markus Lennartz in Frankfurt are the main contacts and focus on matters in the IT and telecommunications context.

Germany > Private clients and non-profits Tier 3

Trade and distribution > Trade, distribution and logistics Tier 3

Heuking's team specialises in distribution antitrust law and supply chain due diligence. Key competencies include the support in the structuring of distribution systems and supply chain designs. Practice head Reinhard Siegert focuses on the automotive sector and assists national and international companies with distribution antitrust law. Martin Imhof is well versed in corporate law and advises on supply contracts and related disputes, while Sebastian Jungemeyer impresses with expertise in terms and conditions as well as product liability matters.

Transport > Advice to the transport sector Tier 3

Heuking is regularly instructed by public sector clients in the context of public transport procurement projects, including the related financing of new rail vehicles. Other core competencies include corporate law matters and transaction support as well as insolvency proceedings. The practice is co-lead by Carsten Schrader, who supports public sector clients in the construction of infrastructure projects, and transaction expert Martin Imhof. Another key contact is Ute Jasper; she supports state ministries and transport associations in the procurement of public transport services and rail vehicles.

Banking and finance > Investment funds Tier 4

Heuking's full service approach covers competencies at the interfaces with real estate, corporate law as well as M&A; practice head Michael Dröge is a key contact for the latter. The team advises on the launch and structuring of funds, regulatory issues and matters pertaining to investments in funds, including crypto-based funds. Among the client roster are capital management and investment companies as well as family offices.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 4

Heuking primarily focuses on assisting medium-sized companies with various capital market transactions, including routine capital increases and IPOs. Mirko Sickinger (corporate law, IPOs, compliance) and Anne de Boer (IPOs, financing) jointly head the practice.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 4

Heuking's team of arbitration experts regularly represents clients in commercial arbitration proceedings, with a particular focus on post-M&A disputes, plant construction disputes and energy law arbitrations. Daniel Froesch and Elke Umbeck, who both specialise in litigation and arbitration, jointly manage the practice. Walter Eberl focuses on IP, media, technology and automotive disputes.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 4

Under the joint leadership of Thomas Wambach and Christian Strasser, Heuking's dispute resolution team acts in contractual, corporate liability, liability and commercial disputes, while post-M&A disputes as well as mass proceedings, in particular diesel claims, contribute significantly to its case load; the group has further expertise in contentious plant construction matters. In September 2023, the Munich practice was strengthened by the arrival of Christina Nitsche, who primarily represents technology companies, start-ups and advertisers and joined from Peters Schönberger und Partner.

Intellectual property > Trade marks Tier 4

Heuking impresses with a diverse advice portfolio that extends to contentious and non-contentious trade mark matters and also includes design and competition law-related issues. Dominik Eickemeier (media and entertainment, IT) and Markus Lennartz (public sector, IT) jointly lead the practice.

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 4

Heuking is particularly well versed in building planning law and oversees both urban development and infrastructure projects. Wolfram Sandner jointly heads the practice with environmental law expert Thomas Nickel and regularly advises companies in the real estate industry on project-related contractual issues, development plans and approval proceedings as well as related disputes. Michael Below is considered a key contact for infrastructure projects and emissions control issues.

Public sector > State aid Tier 4

Heuking‘s strong team assists public sector players with state aid issues in close cooperation with its public procurement practice, while private companies primarily instruct the team to  advice on state aid litigation. For instance, the team, which is led by state aid and procurement lawyer Ute Jasper, assists with public tenders and master agreements related to urban infrastructure and digitalisation projects. Antitrust expert Rainer Velte further represents clients in annulment proceedings before the European Court of Justice.

Real estate and construction > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 4

Heuking supports companies, cities and municipalities in plant construction and infrastructure projects, urban development projects, broadband expansion and specialist properties, where the team advises on construction as well as procurement law. Stephan Freund heads the team and complements this offering with expertise in construction law disputes and arbitration proceedings as well as at the interface with architectural, tenancy and leasing law.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 4

Heuking fields the two practice heads, Thomas Nickel and Stephan Freund, who advise in line with the overall focus of the team, which includes transaction and project development support, tenancy and leasing matters, facility management as well as court and arbitration proceedings, including interfacing construction law matters. The practice predominantly acts across the asset classes office, retail and residential. In October 2022, Jeannine Drossart (transactions, project development, tenancy and leasing matters) joined from AHB Arends Hofert Bergemann Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater PartGmbB.

White-collar crime > Advice to individuals Tier 4

Heuking has longstanding expertise in commercial and criminal tax matters which is utilised in investigations and criminal proceedings, where practice head André-M. Szesny represents managing directors, board members, senior managers and local politicians; most recently, he defended clients across industry groups against allegations of embezzlement, corruption, tax evasion and fraud and was also active in matters pertaining to insolvency crimes, criminal antitrust law, criminal foreign trade law and cum-ex.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 5

Heuking‘s antitrust experts are experienced in cartel damages, fines and official investigations and also advise on merger control, related state aid law and distribution antitrust law; the latter increasingly in the context of R&D agreements. Hamburg-based practice head Stefan Bretthauer is experienced in advising on the drafting of cooperation agreements as well as merger control. Ruth Schneider made salary partner in 2023 and focuses on distribution antitrust law.

Capital markets > Debt capital markets Tier 5

Heuking's DCM advice is particularly popular with medium-sized companies, primarily in connection with the issuance and restructuring of various bonds, including the issuance of electronic and crypto securities. The group is also experienced in capital market compliance. Anne de Boer and Mirko Sickinger, who are adept at capital markets, corporate and M&A as well as banking and finance, jointly head the practice.

Germany > Employment Tier 5

Heuking covers a wide range of individual and collective employment law matters, which encompass transactional support, restructurings and reorganisations, including mergers and business transfers, as well as advising on personnel downsizing in the event of site closures. Practice heads Astrid Reich and Bernd Weller, who are further experienced in ​​compliance and works constitution law, also focus on these topics. Clients additionally benefit from the firm's external whistleblower protection system, which is used to analyse reported violations. In January 2023, Torsten Groß (data protection law, works constitution law) made salary partner, while Alexander Bork (restructuring and reorganisation, advice on executives contracts) and Volker Voth (restructuring, board advice) were promoted to the equity partnership.

Media > Entertainment Tier 5

Heuking's media & entertainment team acts integrated into the IP, media & technology practice and primarily advises on transactions in the entertainment sector. Other key topics include the advice on copyright and broadcasting law. Contract negotiations and portfolio management are regularly handled by Michael Schmittmann, who jointly heads the practice with press and advertising lawyer Verena Hoene. Astrid Luedtke focuses on project work for TV productions, while Marcel Maybaum, who made partner in January 2023, advises on copyright issues.

Compliance Tier 6

Germany > Tax Tier 6

The client base, consisting of medium-sized companies, international corporations and investors, regularly draws on Heuking's tax expertise in transaction and restructuring contexts, but also entrusts the team with succession planning issues and tax disputes; the latter often relate to income tax, indirect taxes and customs law. Marion Sangen-Emden (M&A, corporate succession, transformation law) and Marc Scheunemann (tax-optimised structuring, acquisitions and financing) jointly lead the practice from Düsseldorf.

Private equity > Venture capital