Friedrich Graf von Westphalen Again Recommended by The Legal 500 Germany 2021

The latest edition of the handbook for Germany 2021 has been published - and we are very pleased with the result: Friedrich Graf von Westphalen is recommended in the following ten areas:

Construction Law, Company Law, Health, Trade, Distribution and Logistics, Trademark and Competition Law, M&A - Medium-Sized Deals, Product Liability, Environmental and Planning Law, and Insurance Law. Our strengths are described as follows:

"(FGvW) has partners and staff who combine a high level of strategic understanding with in-depth knowledge of the relevant legal subject matter, resulting in very practical solutions and negotiation successes."

"The strengths are certainly the competence, professionalism and speed of response."

"Diverse areas of expertise; one contact person, this is a big plus and makes FGvW unique. Very good and comprehensive advice, goal-oriented, timely and on-time work. Very pleasant manners."

Tobias Lenz ("Leading Name") and David Kipping ("Next Generation Name") are highlighted by name, as well as the following lawyers in the individual consulting areas:

Construction Law

The construction law team, which is regularly consulted by plant and power station builders on ongoing project developments, is making a strong appearance with Jörn Zons due to high-profile mandates with frequent cross-border aspects. Volker Stehlin, who is also experienced in architectural law, provides comprehensive advice on construction projects, while Markus Beaumart focuses on project developments. Hannes Reiher has strengthened the team in the area of construction and architectural law since May 2020. Practice leader is Uwe Steingröver.

Company Law

Friedrich Graf von Westphalen's company law practice is said to have "broad expertise with outstanding specialists". The thematic focus is on company and post-M&A disputes, on reorganizations and restructurings, as well as on issues of corporate succession and inheritance law. The Berlin office opened in May 2020 with company lawyer Alexander Hartmann and two other partners. Gerhard Manz ("outstanding personality"), Barbara Mayer ("very pragmatic, also seeks ways outside the typical legal solution alternatives") and Arnt Göppert ("excellent knowledge and sense of the overall context") are practice leaders.

Health

In the health sector, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers in particular rely on the team of Barbara Mayer and Hendrik Thies ("very trusting relationship, absolute reliability, very extensive expertise"). Morton Douglas continues to be an expert in pharmacy and drug advertising law and a central point of contact also for the Federal Association of German Pharmacy Cooperatives (various issues, data protection, pharmacy mail order, compliance). Labor law issues with an advisory focus on the hospital sector are covered by Sabine Schröter ("professional implementation, always finds a constructive solution, empathetic and mediating manner, appreciated by all negotiating parties"). Another core attorney is Meike Kapp-Schwoerer.

Trade, distribution and logistics

The distribution law practice around practice leaders Sven Köhnen and Hendrik Thies, which primarily focuses on the automotive industry and automotive dealers, also advises clients in the IT, financial services, insurance, medical and consumer goods sectors. "The combination of a central point of contact combined with the comprehensive range of specialists called in as needed provides support across a broad front." Frank Jungfleisch specializes in assisting Turkish companies ("equally competent and pragmatic, makes practical suggestions").

Trademark and Competition Law

Competition law scores with its cross-location expertise, enabling advice to pharmaceutical companies, players in the medical and pharmacy sector and major brand manufacturers (Freiburg office led by Morton Douglas and Norbert Hebeis) as well as on product launches, advertising measures and product labeling law (Cologne office led by David Kipping), rounded off by advice on copyright and media law (Frankfurt office led by Stephan Dittl). Another core attorney is Eva Kessler.

The firm's cross-location setup is also a strength in trademark law. In Freiburg, for example, the practice leaders Norbert Hebeis and Morton Douglas focus on IP support for transactional clients on the one hand, and on advising pharmaceutical groups, medical device manufacturers, pharmacies and chambers of pharmacies as well as brand manufacturers on the other. In Cologne, David Kipping's team focuses on product launches, advertising measures, cross-border disputes and product labeling issues. Stephan Dittl in Frankfurt specializes in copyright, design and competition law. Another core attorney here is Eva Kessler.

M&A (mergers and acquisitions)

The M&A practice group is led by Gerhard Manz, Barbara Mayer, Arnt Göppert and also includes Alexander Hartmann, who opened the firm's Berlin office in May 2020, as another core lawyer. When advising on national and cross-border transactions, the interfaces with IP, competition, real estate, labor and insurance law can also be covered. There is particular experience in the automotive and healthcare sectors.

Product Liability

In product liability, we have close client relationships with manufacturers in the toy, medical device and electronics industries. The team also provides preventive advice on contract drafting and in contentious liability cases. The core attorneys are Carsten Laschet and Tobias Lenz.

Environmental and Planning Law

The focus of the firm's environmental and planning law practice is on environmental and waste law as well as chemicals and substances law; advice is also provided on issues of immission control law or packaging law. Practice leader is Olaf Konzak ("convincing expertise, strong argumentative appearance in negotiations").

Insurance law

The insurance law team led by practice leaders Tobias Lenz ("leading name") and Carsten Laschet, with a core area of expertise in D&O and manager liability, also advises on construction, fire and industrial damage, replacements and recalls. There is also many years of experience in the area of product liability.

Some of you may have contributed to this result by participating in Legal 500's interviews and saying something positive about working with us. Many thanks for that!

Carsten Laschet