In addition to representing clients from energy-intensive industries and the infrastructure sector, Gleiss Lutz has extensive experience in advising the public sector. The team assists numerous German state governments and various federal ministries with various state aid issues. This includes, among other matters, support for M&A transactions, capital injections, privatisations and remunicipalisations as well as compliance issues under subsidy and state aid law. The semiconductor industry represents another focus: Led by practice head and expert in European state aid law Ulrich Soltész, the team is involved in numerous major projects within the framework of the European Chips Act. Counsel Harald Weiß has extensive expertise across the full spectrum of German and European competition law, in particular in antitrust law, cartel damages, merger control and EU state aid law.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Gleiss Lutz has an excellent state aid team that is always available and senior people strike a perfect balance between appropriate attention to detail and strategic overview.'
- 'Ulrich Soltész is a leader in the field of state aid – an encyclopedia of legal developments and case law.'
- 'Harald Weiss is a true talent in the field of state aid - a leader of the future.'
'Gleiss Lutz is clearly the German-speaking No. 1 in EU state aid law. We use their expertise for EU state aid law support/second opinions.'
'Excellent legal expertise, very solution-oriented and always able to put oneself in client's shoes. The processing deadlines were always met.'
'Ulrich Soltész is an outstanding lawyer. He is extremely competent, always approachable and very responsive. You can see that he is willing to go the extra mile for the interests of his clients. He also manages to present complex issues in a comprehensible manner. On a personal level, he is also very friendly and empathetic.'
'Excellent collaboration with Ulrich Soltész and Harald Weiß. Both know what they are talking about. Client-oriented, pragmatic.'
Key clients
- Apollo Management Holdings L.P.
- DB Cargo AG
- Deutsche Telekom AG
- Freistaat Bayern
- Infineon Technologies AG
- KPS Capital Partners
- Robert Bosch GmbH / Infineon Technologies AG / NXP Semiconductors N.V.
- Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co. KG
- STEAG
- voestalpine AG
Work highlights
- Regulatory advice to KPS Capital Partners on the acquisition of the global electric motor business of Innomotics GmbH from Siemens AG with an enterprise value of €3.5 billion.
- State aid advice for Robert Bosch GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG and NXP Semiconductors NV on a joint investment in the joint venture European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC) GmbH for semiconductor production in Dresden. The project is planned within the framework of the European Chips Act.
- Representation of the Free State of Bavaria in proceedings before European courts regarding the action against the EU Commission's recovery decision for allegedly inadmissible aid in connection with the financing of milk quality tests. The proceedings before the Commission were successfully concluded in 2024 (termination of the investigation procedure).
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Harald Weiß
Practice head
Ulrich Soltész
Other key lawyers
Jacob von Andreae; Christian von Köckritz; Harald Weiß; Eva Koch