CMS maintains a strong market position, with matters stemming from the infrastructure and energy sectors increasingly forming part of the firm’s workload. Practice head Christiane Kappes‘ specialisation in environmental and planning law draws significant focus on infrastructure, as well as the mining and energy sector; she leads the team jointly with Neele Christiansen and Ursula Steinkemper. The firm’s long-standing experience in representing transmission system operating companies has led them to undertake a large number of significant projects that include planning approval procedures and court proceedings. Fritz von Hammerstein retired in 2024.
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Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘High expertise paired with creativity, always on the lookout for practical solutions to unique challenges.’
- ‘We have worked with Christiane Kappes, Neele Christiansen and Sebastian Belz for many years. It is refreshing to work with young and especially female partners who are highly qualified, service-oriented and personally approachable. We value their expertise, critical thinking and positive tone they use with their clients.’
Key clients
- 50Hertz Transmission GmbH (50Hertz)
- GASCADE Gastransport GmbH/AquaDuctus Pipeline GmbH
- TenneT TSO GmbH
- Open Grid Europe GmbH
- Amprion
- Mainova AG
- Donaukraftwerk Jochenstein AG (Verbund-AG)
- BP International Limited
- Tree Energy Solutions
- FSRU Brunsbüttel
Work highlights
Advised 50Hertz on environmental and planning law in relation to the cross-border Bornholm Energy Island project, including public law advice on the German permitting procedure for the 3 GW offshore wind hub connecting Germany and Denmark under a bilateral intergovernmental agreement.
Advised GASCADE Gastransport GmbH / AquaDuctus Pipeline GmbH on the planning and approval of the 400 km-long AquaDuctus offshore hydrogen pipeline in the German North Sea, connecting green hydrogen production sites with the European mainland and emerging onshore infrastructure. The project, designated as both a PCI and an IPCEI, forms the nucleus of a transnational hydrogen network.
Advised Tree Energy Solutions on environmental, planning and contract law advice for the Green Energy Hub in Wilhelmshaven. The terminal will meet around 10% of Germany’s annual primary energy demand and includes facilities for eLNG and hydrogen derivatives.
Lawyers
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Christiane Kappes
Practice head
Ursula Steinkemper; Christiane Kappes; Neele Christiansen
Other key lawyers
Jakob Steiff; André Lippert; Hermann Müller; Sebastian Belz