Gleiss Lutz’s state aid practice continues to demonstrate measured authority across complex German and EU frameworks. Under Ulrich Soltész’s experienced direction, the team advises federal ministries, state governments and industry actors on subsidy compliance, capital measures, restructurings and transactions, with particular activity in semiconductor mandates arising from the European Chips Act. The group maintains a steady role before the European Commission and courts, supported by Harald Weiß’s broad competition law expertise. Christian Von Köckritz’s longstanding litigation experience further anchors the team’s capacity to assist clients in high-stakes proceedings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Gleiss Lutz has a very competent, very client-oriented team and in-depth knowledge of all relevant competition law matters. It successfully represented us in a case tried at the General Court and the European Court of Justice.’
- ‘Ulrich Soltész is a brilliant competition and state aid lawyer. Very experienced and client-oriented. Excellent service combined with a perfect understanding of commercial and technical needs in our industries. Very talented and creative in finding the right solutions adapted to our needs and in a short time. Always finds pragmatic solutions. Has a good instinct for future trends.’
- ‘Gleiss Lutz certainly has the most renowned German-speaking private practice team and is one of the top addresses of EU state aid law more generally.’
- ‘Mr. State Aid Law (at least for the German-speaking community) is certainly Ulrich Soltész. Having practiced in this field for decades, he is the No. 1 address to go to. His colleagues, Christian von Köckritz and Harald Weiß, are equally well-known in the market and great to work with.’
- ‘We love working with Harald Weiß. He is an exceptional lawyer.’
- ‘Gleiss Lutz demonstrates extensive, up-to-date and practice-oriented expertise as well as proven experience in state aid law. Pleadings are drafted with great care and speed. The quality of communication is outstanding - it is characterised by good availability, rapid response and a goal-oriented coordination process. The billing is transparent and comprehensible with an overall impression of value for money.’
- 'Very dilligent and experienced.'
- 'To our experience, the GL State aid team (and most notably Ulrich Soltesz) is a clearly market leading German practice in this field of competition law. Key strengths are their vast experience, their academic practice, their high degree of specialisation and their closeness to the "Brussels community.'
Key clients
- Apollo Management Holdings L.P.
- Globalfoundries Management Services LLC & Co. KG
- Deutsche Bahn Cargo AG
- Federal State of Hesse
- Free State of Bavaria
- Infineon Technologies AG
- Insolvency administrator of the Auto-Kabel Group
- KPS Capital Partners
- Orior AG
- Robert Bosch GmbH | Infineon Technologies AG | NXP Semiconductors N.V.
- State of Northrhine Westphalia - WestSpiel
- State of Northrhine Westphalia – region IT
Work highlights
Representing DB Cargo AG in a state aid investigation in a state aid investigation concerning more than EUR 2bn of alleged aid. The investigation went on for 7 years and was concluded on 29 November 2024.
Representing Ministry of Finance of Northrhine Westfalia in state aid proceedings before the European Commission and assistance in implementing recovery of aid. The Commission investigation went on for more than 7 years and was concluded on 22 November 2024. The decision concerns a German public capital injection in favour of the casino operator Westdeutsche Spielbanken GmbH & Co. KG (WestSpiel). It orders Germany to recover alleged aid amounting to EUR 65m plus interest.
Representation of the Federal State of Hesse in proceedings before the EU Commission regarding subsidies for the Hessian sawmill industry. Formal investigation proceedings have been ongoing since 2016. On May 16, 2025, the Commission issued a negative decision and ordered recovery. We are now assisting with the implementation of the recovery.
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.
Practice head
Ulrich Soltész
Other key lawyers
Christian von Köckritz; Jacob von Andreae; Marc Ruttloff; Johann Wagner; Harald Weiß; Aylin Hoffs; Lars Kindler; Eva Koch