Osborne Clarke > Cologne, Germany > Firm Profile

Osborne Clarke > The Legal 500 Rankings

Information technology > Data protection Tier 1

Media > Entertainment

Osborne Clarke's technology, media and communications practice is particularly active in digital regulation and the gaming sector. The team advises large platforms on copyright law in connection with consumer and data protection and also assists with licensing and distribution issues; here, e-commerce expert and practice head Konstantin Ewald is a key contact. Other mainstays include the support in product launches, including NFTs, where the practice routinely cooperates with the commercial and banking experts. Martin Soppe is another key contact for copyright law.

Private equity > Venture capital Tier 1

Osborne Clarke is among the leading venture capital practices in Germany and offers German and international investors, founders and companies, a cross-practice and cross-location approach covering later-stage financing rounds and growth financing as well as transactions, joint ventures and exits. Robin Eyben is a key contact for the M&A interface, where he regularly advises technology and transformation-driven investors, founders and companies. He is part of the team led by Nicolas Gabrysch, which also includes Maximilian Vocke (venture capital and corporate law), who made partner in January 2023. Gabrysch is well versed in cross-border matters and focuses on Europe and particularly the US, where he oversees German activities at the firm’s New York location.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 2

Osborne Clarke advises financial services providers, fintech companies and startups on regulatory and IT law as well as tax and consumer protection matters. Recent instructions pertain to crypto-related matters, including the new Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), non-fungible tokens (NFT) and the structuring of online platforms regarding the digitisation of investments in startups. Practice head Eric Romba offers regulatory advice on digital business models, while Robert Oppenheim and financial services practice head Tanja Aschenbeck (payment transaction law and regulatory topics) comprehensively advise on BaFin procedures and licensing procedures.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 2

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 2

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 2

Under the leadership of Marcus Sacré, who is particularly active in the automotive and consumer goods industries, Osborne Clarke is an experienced advisor on competition proceedings, while also assisting clients strategically, such as with know-how protection, influencer marketing and copyright. Matthias Kloth, who, in addition to trade mark and competition law, also focuses on licensing and distribution law, is another key contact. Robert Briske is experienced in trade mark, copyright and competition disputes as well as in IT-related issues and made partner in January 2024.

Trade and distribution > Trade, distribution and logistics Tier 2

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Osborne Clarke‘s project financing and transaction support focuses on renewable energies, here, Christoph Torwegge is well versed in the sales support of large solar project portfolios. Since 2023, the energy team advises independently from the corporate practice and is led by practice head Daniel Breuer, who also focuses on the transactions segment, while also covering related regulatory matters. Regulatory competencies include the advice on tenders and PPAs as well as grid regulation, energy trading and decarbonisation; these were further strengthened with the arrival of Anna von Bremen (previously at Raue) in August 2023, she is well versed in energy-related contract design and litigation. Clients include asset managers, project developers and energy services providers. Thies Goldner (transactions, project finance and asset management in the energy sector) made partner in January 2024.

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

Osborne Clarke's team routinely advises on IP law issues in patent infringement proceedings, while the regulatory expertise is called upon in matters pertaining to pharmaceutical advertising law. This is complemented by capacities at the corporate law interface, such as the advice on pharmaceutical cooperation and licensing agreements, including cross-border transactions, as well as experience in supporting digitisation projects. The project work frequently pertains to patient care and treatment in connection with healthcare platforms. AI-related topics in the medical device segment and related data protection issues are also covered, practice head Tim Reinhard is a key contact here.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 4

Osborne Clarke‘s team is well versed in cartel damages and also assists with merger control and investment control in the course of transactions. Clients stem from the healthcare, digital markets, automotive and energy sectors; the latter was recently strengthened with the addition of energy lawyer Anna von Bremen from Raue in August 2023, she is also well versed in regulatory matters. Thomas Funke comprehensively advises on cartel damages and jointly heads the team with Sebastian Hack (distribution antitrust law and cooperations in the areas of platforms, research and development).

Intellectual property > Trade marks Tier 4

Infringement disputes represent a central pillar of Osborne Clarke's trade mark advice; it represent clients before the ECJ and the EUIPO and can further draw on cross-location expertise of its international network. Practice head Marcus Sacré focuses on the automotive and consumer goods sectors, while Matthias Kloth often acts for clients in infringement and nullity proceedings at German and European level. Robert Briske, who is experienced in trade mark, copyright and competition disputes as well as in IT-related matters, made partner in January 2024.

Germany > Employment Tier 5

Osborne Clarke places New Work and digital transformation at the centre of  its employment advice. Thus, instructions pertaining to the use of AI often entail discrimination protection and employee protection issues, while the group applies its expertise in New Work and Global Mobility in the context of compliance, use of external personnel and home office matters. David Plitt, who is experienced in New Work, Green HR and works constitution law, recently took over the practice management from Thomas Leister, who is well versed in temporary employment and HR compliance. Christoph Seidler (restructuring, collective employment law) joined from KLIEMT.Arbeitsrecht's Hamburg office in August 2023.

Corporate and M&A > M&A