Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
Our team offers a “one-stop shop” for any organization that needs to address data protection and e-privacy issues. We have substantial experience advising clients in many sectors on compliance, including the evolving interpretation of existing e-privacy, data protection and data retention rules, as well as the implications of significant legislative changes at EU level. Our country experts have substantial experience advising multinational clients on how to prepare for and respond to data breaches involving personal data, as well as conflicts of laws involving access to personal data. We have data protection experts in virtually our entire global network of offices.
Our team works across borders and practice specialties to deliver comprehensive and strategic advice and counsel on cybersecurity. We address cybersecurity and privacy issues, cyber theft and data breach prevention, and liability stemming from data breaches and post-breach forensics.
Financial Services
Our Financial Services team focuses on capital markets and other finance industry-related transactions, in particular securitization, real estate finance, acquisition and asset finance, and other forms of structured finance and capital markets instruments. We advise German and international banking and financial institutions in their capacity as lenders, arrangers or originators, as well as other investors, insurers, trustees, servicers, special servicers, funds and rating agencies with respect to such transactions and instruments.
Global Corporate
Our corporate lawyers advise large public and private companies, as well as emerging companies. We have extensive experience in all areas of corporate activity including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, public takeovers, initial public offerings and secondary offerings, partnership structures, private equity, venture capital, joint ventures and project support. We advise on corporate mandates across the spectrum, ranging from smaller, more straightforward deals to complex multibillion-euro/US dollar and multidisciplinary transactions, which are often completed under the most challenging time constraints. We make our collective expertise, gained from handling complex deals for some of the world’s most renowned companies, available to every client.
Intellectual Property and Technology
Our Intellectual Property & Technology (IP&T) team provides patent, trademark and copyright services to a large client base. These companies span many diverse fields, including aerospace and avionics, the internet, semiconductors, computer hardware and software, life sciences, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, retail and publishing. Our experience in IP&T law, combined with our ability to handle the largest of litigated cases and all forms of dispute resolution, enables us to assist businesses by protecting and enforcing their IP&T rights and properly defending them from charges of violating the intellectual property rights of others.
International Dispute Resolution
Disputes involving multinationals and multiple jurisdictions can present complex challenges, requiring a deep understanding and practical experience of a range of governing laws and applicable rules. Our International Dispute Resolution team is one of the few international legal teams truly able to serve the needs of clients globally.
Having prior experience of the various bodies involved in arbitration is essential for a successful outcome. Our lawyers have vast experience in conducting arbitrations held under the auspices of institutions such as DIS, ICSID, ICC, ICDR (AAA), SCC, LCIA, CIETAC, GAFTA, LME, CEPAMI, CMAP, ICE, Madrid Arbitration Centre and HKIAC, as well as on an ad hoc basis.
Labor and Employment
Our Labor & Employment team has both the experience and depth of resources necessary to meet all your advice needs. We advise clients on both collective and individual labor law issues, including negotiations with trades unions and works councils on the amendment or termination of collective agreements and the development of social plans as the need arises. We have experience in counseling national and international corporate clients, especially in relation to mergers and acquisitions processes, site closures and restructurings, as well as extensive trial experience in termination disputes and lawsuits with works councils.
Litigation
No matter where you do business in the world, the risks associated with litigation are always present – and in some countries more openly than in others. Our Litigation team is skilled at applying creative and efficient solutions to the complex challenges presented by both local disputes and disputes involving multiple countries and legal systems. In the US, our German speaking litigators practice on a national basis and have decades of experience in representing German clients and their US subsidiaries in state and federal courts. Our US class action lawyers are active in the national coordination and litigation of class actions, including defective products, wage and hour, toxic tort, alien torts claims act, financial services, products liability and statutory disclosure.
Product Liability
Germany’s designers, manufacturers and inventors deserve a world-class defense of their world-class products regardless of where they sold. Our product liability team is a globally-known leader in product liability defense with an impressive record of defense verdicts. Our approach to handling litigation in the US as well as other jurisdictions is simple, straightforward and focused on reaching an outcome that is efficient, cost-effective and, most importantly, successful. When a claim must be litigated, we act decisively to establish a vigorous and complete defense. We maintain solid working relationships with prominent experts in the US and Europe in a multitude of disciplines, including vehicle crashworthiness, vehicle dynamics, accident reconstruction, metallurgy, fire science and biomechanics.
Real Estate
Our Real Estate team provides comprehensive services to clients engaged in all aspects of real estate transactions in Germany and internationally, from acquisition, planning and construction through to disposition of properties.
Our lawyers take innovative approaches to addressing the rapidly changing political and business climate and legal regulations that shape the real estate sector. We apply carefully considered strategies to facilitate maximum results in our clients’ real estate transactions and assist them with achieving their long-term strategic goals.
Restructuring and Insolvency
We cover all formal categories of insolvency ranging from all forms of receivership, administration and liquidation, to bankruptcy and voluntary arrangements. In addition, we have a strong disputes team, including accredited mediators with proven track records of success. We handle complex commercial financial reorganizations and insolvencies for clients in a diverse range of industries and have comprehensive expertise in restructurings and insolvencies under new German insolvency law (ESUG).
Supply Chain Management and Compliance
Our team supports clients in implementing robust compliance programs to develop policies, engage suppliers, monitor supply chain practices and take remedial action to respond to identified risks. Well-structured corporate supply chain compliance programs are relatively new concepts in some industries, and many companies may be unfamiliar with how to best develop them. However, these compliance programs can be tailored to each company’s industry, country-by-country regulations and particular supply chain needs. Implementing a robust compliance program that addresses various sourcing and supply chain risks will reduce reputational risk and will also reduce the likelihood of high-profile and costly litigation – domestically and across borders. We focus specifically on the legal issues that arise in the supply chain from extraction of raw materials through to end-user – across the globe.
Tax Strategy and Benefits
We focus on domestic and international tax structuring and advisory work, enabling clients from all sectors to implement their decisions in the most tax-effective manner. Our team delivers a wide range of tax services, including traditional tax planning and the design and implementation of innovative solutions.
