Practice area
Dispute Resolution
We represent businesses in commercial disputes, settlement negotiations and proceedings before state courts and commercial arbitral tribunals.
Meeting
Lawyers preparing case arguments with trial binders
Factual, focused, office lighting
Lawyers preparing case arguments with trial binders
Factual, focused, office lighting
Commercial conflicts tie up managerial resources and carry business risks; an objective assessment of positions provides dependable clarity.
We advise corporate leadership, commercial businesses and shareholder bodies in contentious disputes. Typical matters include shareholder conflicts, post-M&A proceedings, damages claims and directors’ liability issues. Where possible, we seek commercial settlements, but represent our clients firmly before courts.
As conflicts frequently involve contracts from corporate, IT or real estate law, we involve colleagues from those fields directly in-house. This allows a thorough evaluation of complex factual backgrounds from a single source.
As conflicts frequently involve contracts from corporate, IT or real estate law, we involve colleagues from those fields directly in-house. This allows a thorough evaluation of complex factual backgrounds from a single source.
Case review
Open court pleadings with handwritten notes
Detail, paper, factual
Open court pleadings with handwritten notes
Detail, paper, factual
What we advise on
01
Out-of-court settlements
We conduct settlement talks and evaluate litigation exposure before filings to avoid protracted proceedings where appropriate.
02
Commercial litigation
We represent businesses in commercial proceedings before German civil and regional courts as well as appellate courts.
03
Arbitration proceedings
We act as party counsel in domestic and international arbitration matters under leading institutional rules such as DIS and ICC.
04
Shareholder disputes
We represent shareholders and companies in resolution challenges, board removals and disputes concerning severance payouts.
05
Post-M&A disputes
We enforce or defend claims arising from company sales, including warranty breaches, indemnity issues and purchase price adjustments.
06
Injunctive relief
In urgent situations, we secure commercial rights through interim injunctions and asset freezes, or defend against unjustified orders.
How a matter runs
Phase 01
Risk analysis
We review contracts, correspondence and available evidence. This produces a realistic appraisal of the legal merits, litigation outcomes and financial exposure as the foundation for strategic decisions.
Outcomes
Written analysis of merits and risks
Schedule of projected litigation costs
Strategic procedural recommendations
Phase 02
Negotiation
We articulate your position in pre-action discussions or mediation meetings. If a commercial settlement proves unviable, we prepare the formal statement of claim or defence.
Outcomes
Settlement agreement or court pleading
Documentation of negotiation meetings
Structured schedule of evidence
Phase 03
Court proceedings
We conduct proceedings before state courts or arbitral bodies, appear at trial hearings and handle enforcement of obtained titles and awards.
Outcomes
Court submissions and hearing minutes
Assessment of the ruling with next steps
Enforcement plan and statutory deadlines
What we take on and what we don’t
✓ We take on
Commercial disputes, shareholder litigation and post-M&A warranty conflicts
✗ We don’t take on
Criminal defence representation, administrative fines or regulatory offences
✓ We take on
Representation before German civil courts, arbitral tribunals and mediation panels
✗ We don’t take on
Consumer claims, airline passenger rights or private personal injury disputes
✓ We take on
Close coordination with colleagues across corporate and real estate in-house
✗ We don’t take on
Automated debt collection and bulk default proceedings without bespoke legal review
From practice
Engineering · Illustrative
4
Weeks to negotiated settlement
Out-of-court settlement of delay and warranty claims relating to complex industrial plant construction.
Retail · Illustrative
2
Court instances to final ruling
Defence against unjustified damages claims brought by a former distribution partner before regional and higher courts.
Consumer goods · Illustrative
9
Months arbitration proceeding
Representation in an institutional arbitration proceeding concerning post-transaction non-compete obligations.
Your team in this practice area
Partner · Berlin
Dr. Jonas Ostermeyer
Dispute Resolution · Corporate & M&A
Partner · Frankfurt
Lena Brockmann
Employment Law · Dispute Resolution
No results.
Articles from this practice area
Next step
Tell us about
your plans.
your plans.
In a first conversation we clarify what is at stake, who at the firm is responsible and how the matter can be scoped sensibly.
For whom
For companies, shareholders and management teams who need a question answered or a decision secured.
Typical trigger
A transaction is coming up, a contract is being renegotiated or a dispute is taking shape. The earlier we are involved, the more room there is to act.