Partnership Hoffmann Liebs

At Hoffmann Liebs, we combine the legal with the practical – and practice law. With a broad focus, for real-life solutions and the one, trend-setting idea more. We place great emphasis on what we have in common – because partnership is not just a rank for us, but a guiding principle that determines our actions.

 

We stand for legal advice that does not shy away from effort. In step, where unity is required. With the ability of the individual, when complex problems call for creative solutions.

 

Our 60 lawyers represent your interests in all matters of commercial law – our experience ranges from medium-sized companies to international groups and public authorities. We call this full service – and we are proud of it.

 

Expect more from us – we advise, coach and pass on our knowledge on an ongoing basis. With strong positions, openness for the unconventional and a sense for the right timing.

 

Hoffmann Liebs – Your Partner in Law

Hoffmann Liebs in detail

Hoffmann Liebs has been advising medium-sized companies and international groups as well as the public sector on complex and demanding commercial law matters since 1979. The range of advice provided by our 60 lawyers covers almost all areas of law relevant to corporate practice.

 

We combine legal finesse with practical solutions – and, thanks to the distinctive specializations of our attorneys, we move just as confidently on unconventional terrain.

 

Full service is our conscious decision. We offer comprehensive support through well-connected partners, experienced professionals – and an excellently trained next generation. We attach great importance to the principle of partnership. That is why the close integration of all practice areas is just as important to us as the mutual complementation of our professionals across topics and levels.

 

In addition to our international consulting competencies, which find their expression for example in our own China Desk, we maintain trusting relationships with selected international law firms, which have proven to be reliable partners in a number of cross-border cases. This enables us to provide first-class legal advice on investment projects or legal issues in Europe, the North American continent and Asia, or to handle legal issues jointly with our cooperation partners.

 

We value our independence so that we can maintain the character of a German medium-sized law firm – in this way we are committed only to our clients and can fulfill our promise of direct advice based on continuity and partnership. We are proud of our reputation and regular awards for our consulting services – but we do not measure ourselves by the opinion of third parties, but solely by the satisfaction of our clients with us.

Climate certification Hoffmann Liebs

CO2 emissions fully compensated

As one of the first full-service commercial law firms, Hoffmann Liebs has been fully offsetting its CO2 emissions via a solar energy project since May 2022. This offsets 598,845 kg of CO2, and ClimatePartner is responsible for certifying and awarding the “climate neutral” label.

 

Certification is handled jointly with the market-leading solution provider ClimatePartner. The CO2 balance (Corporate Carbon Footprint 2021) was drawn up in accordance with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol). The objective is to determine the current CO2 emissions and to identify the main sources of emissions – so that, in addition to offsetting greenhouse gases, further operational steps can be taken to minimize emissions.

 

Hoffmann Liebs is thus committed to a permanently sustainable law firm strategy that, in addition to offsetting unavoidable emissions, also provides for continued development in favor of processes and action maxims that are as climate-friendly as possible, both internally and externally.

 

Offsetting takes place via an international solar energy project in Omaheke, Namibia, certified by TÜV NORD CERT GmbH (project standard VCS). Namibia imports more than sixty percent of its energy from the South African energy pool, which is mainly supplied by fossil power plants. To reduce this dependence, the climate protection project in Omaheke near the town of Gobabis in Namibia uses the sun as a climate-friendly energy source. In addition to reducing emissions, this also creates local jobs, helps improve the local infrastructure and promotes the further development of modern technologies.

Recommendations

What others say

JUVE Award 2020: Hoffmann Liebs is “LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SMEs)”

 

Taking interdisciplinary work for granted and consistent personnel expansion have brought Hoffmann Liebs a major step forward. The Düsseldorf law firm has consistently and quickly demonstrated how personnel expansion can be translated into higher value work. The large team from Mütze Korsch, which joined the law firm at the end of 2018, and the specialists in energy law from RWP, who joined the following year, have quickly become indispensable.

 

The new strengthened capability has convinced many SME clients to rely even more comprehensively on the law firm. Successful integration has proved worthwhile in key practice areas: the larger team ensures e.g. in labour law that Hoffmann Liebs has increased its involvement in restructuring projects by building strong bridges to the likewise enlarged insolvency law team.

 

The law firm has also positioned itself as a competent service provider for contentious class actions. It stood out, for example, in defending against customer lawsuits in the VW diesel emissions scandal by relying on innovative IT support. By entering into classification as a business, it has also created the structural basis for providing comprehensive support in similar cases in the future.

 

JUVE Handbook 2020/2021: LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (WEST)

 

Hoffmann Liebs has demonstrated how personnel expansion can be consistently translated into higher value and more complex work. The large team from Mütze Korsch, which joined at the end of 2018, and the energy law team from RWP, which joined at the turn of the year, quickly became part of the whole firm. The newly gained broad professional range and strengthened personnel capability has prompted clients to seek even more comprehensive advice across practice areas. For example, Hoffmann Liebs advises a global consumer/healthcare group on labour, anti-trust and environmental law regarding corporate obligations in a new matrix structure.

 

Successful integration pays off in individual practice areas: the increased headcount in labour law has ensured that Hoffmann Liebs has intensified its involvement in restructuring projects in cooperation with the likewise enlarged insolvency law team and that it is consulted on more complex projects. The law firm also reliably covers other interface topics such as compliance.

 

In terms of contentious class actions, Hoffmann Liebs has positioned itself strategically for the future. As one of the litigation law firms defending VW against customer lawsuits from the diesel emissions scandal, it has based the handling of cases on innovative IT support and above all, by entering into classification as a business, has created a structure which will enable it to work on similar cases in the future.

 

JUVE about Hoffmann Liebs

 

JUVE is a press publisher that writes reports about commercial lawyers in Germany and Austria, as well as accountants. The annual JUVE handbook features commercial law firms and is seen as a reference tool for the German lawyer market.

 

Hoffmann Liebs was the first partnership to be given the JUVE award in 2004 and named the “LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SMEs)”, and it was nominated in the same category again in 2009 and 2017.

 

In 2020, Hoffmann Liebs again receives the JUVE Award as “LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (SMEs)” and is also named “LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR (WEST)”.

 

Here, you will find extracts about Hoffmann Liebs.

 

JUVE Handbuch Wirtschaftskanzleien 2020/2021 ( JUVE Handbook 2020/2021 of German Commercial Law Firms)

 

“The D’dorfer Commerical Law Firm continues its course of growth and its positive development consistently: From RWP came recently a renowned energy law team around partner Gabler. In addition, with its newly acquired energy law expertise, HL is leveraging initial synergies at the interface with M&A/corporate law. For example, it is advising an energy and water supplier on transactions involving energy and real estate law.

 

“In addition, the M&A practice continues to be active in various mid- and small-cap transactions, often related to China, and in corporate litigation.

 

“It was not until 2018 that HL strengthened its team with a 9-person team from Mütze Korsch, which is reflected in improved practice-overarching advice. For example, the firm advises a globally active consumer goods and health care group on labor, antitrust and environmental law with regard to entrepreneurial obligations under a new matrix structure.

 

“In addition, the increase in the number of heads has ensured that HL has been able to further deepen its focus on restructuring projects in employment law and is now being called in for more complex mandates.

 

JUVE Handbuch Wirtschaftskanzleien 2019/2020 (JUVE handbook of German commercial law firms 2019/2020)

 

[…]”The change of a group of six partners from Mütze Korsch to Hoffmann Liebs was one of the biggest personnel changes for some time among the Düsseldorf medium-sized companies.”

 

“The Düsseldorf-based law firm has significantly strengthened its full-service approach, which enjoys a strong reputation especially among medium-sized clients and subsidiaries of international groups”.

 

“In some practices, such as labour law, the new entrants created a new and exciting field of work. Added value”.

 

“Synergies can be seen in real estate law, where the team accompanies some project developments and strengthens them with additions to public procurement and construction law.”

 

“With the firm’s established China practice and in corporate law, compliance issues are already starting to emerge.”

 

“In M&A and corporate law, the firm has recently been increasingly active in transactions for its existing clients in particular, not infrequently with a Chinese connection. This underlines the firm’s competence in China. A partner with good contacts to India expands the international practice. Spectrum”.

 

JUVE Handbuch Wirtschaftskanzleien 2018/2019 (JUVE handbook of German commercial law firms 2018/2019)

 

“A team of nine from Mütze Korsch, including a respected antitrust lawyer, moved to the local competitor Hoffmann Liebs Fritsch & Partner.”

 

“The D’dorfer law-firm offers its clientele, which consists predominantly of medium-sized companies and subsidiaries of internat. companies, full service consultation on accustomed high level.”

 

[…]”excellent specialist area coverage” and “large law firm quality at moderate hourly rates”.

 

“Commercial and contract law as well as labour law, in which restructuring projects are increasingly being accompanied, are playing an increasingly important role.”

 

“HLF’s focus continues to drive forward and they are working for a company in transactions with reference to Africa and the Middle East.”

 

“Top-class legal advice at low costs; strong in stock market companies and China competence”.

The Legal 500 (based in London) has been analysing the strengths of law firms all over the world.
Here, you will find the 2021 review of Hoffmann Liebs.

 

Legal 500 Germany 2021

 

Hoffmann Liebs has been active in Düsseldorf for more than 40 years. With a knowledgeable 60-person team, the firm offers comprehensive business law support with a full-service approach, covering all areas of law relevant to corporate practice.

 

The team is mandated by medium-sized companies and international groups from a wide range of industries, from energy to IT and banking, as well as by the public sector.

 

Norbert Bröcker and Andreas Hecker are responsible for housekeeping in capital markets and corporate law and ongoing advice in this practice area.

 

The recently expanded team in employment law, which was additionally strengthened by Of Counsel Ulrich Federlin in spring 2020, provides employment-law advice, for example, on dissolutions or sales.

 

The addition of energy lawyer Andreas Gabler from RWP Rechtsanwälte has also significantly strengthened the energy expertise.

 

Björn Neumeuer again advises on national and international transactions as well as major projects, especially wind farm projects and power plant projects.

 

The firm is internationally active; of particular note is the China desk, where German clients are assisted in doing business in China and, conversely, Chinese companies are supported in entering the German market.

 

The firm’s core lawyers include IT lawyer Peter Huppertz, Lothar Köhl specializing in manager liability and compliance systems, and banking lawyer Roland Erne.

 

Christian Breetzke and Sabrina Hemforth have been appointed counsels.

The selection of outstanding lawyers is based on extensive peer review surveys in which leading lawyers evaluate their professional colleagues confidentially. Every year, the Handelsblatt publishes the “Lawyers and Law Firms of the Year”, which are determined in cooperation with the US publisher “Best Lawyers”.

 

The Best Lawyers in Germany:

Dr. Norbert Bröcker (2013)

Capital Markets Law

Corporate Law

Wolfgang Bucksch (2020)

Labor and Employment Law

Dr. Roland Erne (2020)

Banking and Finance Law

Claus Eßers (2018)

Corporate Law

Andreas Hecker (2021)

Capital Markets Law

Dr. Volker Hees (2021)

Corporate Law

Julian Hoff (2021)

Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Peter Huppertz (2014)

Information Technology Law

Heiko Langer (2018)

Labor and Employment Law

Raoul Mosel (2021)

Corporate Law

Dr. Björn Neumeuer (2020)

Corporate Law

Capital Markets Law

Dr. Dirk Oldigs (2021)

Real Estate Law

Dr. Kerstin Pallinger (2021)

Competition / Antitrust Law

Dr. Jörg Podehl (2020)

Labor and Employment Law

Dr. habil. Peter Preu (2021)

Corporate Law

Dr. Philipp Wehler (2021)

Intellectual Property Law

(Year) First year the lawyer was listed in any practice area.

Chambers and Partners (based in London) has been reviewing global commercial lawyers and commercial law firms since 1990.

 

Ranked Departments 2020

 

Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market – Germany

 

What the team is known for Particularly popular with domestic clients for advice on corporate mandates. Assists clients with corporate governance issues and contractual matters. Also acts on transactional matters, advising on acquisitions, divestments and investments. Advises on holding structures and restructurings for family companies. Represents clients in contentious mandates, including shareholder disputes and corporate litigation.

 

Work highlights Advised Friedrich J. Keppel on its merger with PMG Print Medien Gesellschaft, Leverdy and Wilhelm Schmitz, to form the press distribution company Qtrado.

 

Ranked Departments 2019

 

Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market – Germany

 

What the team is known for Particularly popular with domestic clients for advice on corporate mandates. Active of late assisting clients with corporate governance issues, changing corporate type and contractual matters. Also act on transactual matters, advising on acquisitions, divestments and investments. Represents clients in contentious mandates, including shareholder disputes and corporate litigation.

 

Strengths Clients describe the team as “very constructive, goal oriented, customer-oriented and real team players.”

 

Work highlights Acted for Paul Kauth on the acquisition of all shares in Manfred Albrecht Werkzeugbau.

 

Ranked Lawyers 2019:

Björn Neumeuer

Peter Huppertz

Ranked Departments 2018:

Commercial Contracts – Germany

 

What the team is known for  Compact team that stands out for its niche expertise in terms and conditions advice. Assists an array of long-standing clients with international contract drafting and distribution systems. Also advises on purchase agreements, agency and dealership agreements across a variety of sectors. Boasts strong ties with a network of partner firms in China.

 

 Strengths  Sources note that the firm “has a good reputation” in the market, with clients adding: “We were very satisfied.“

 

Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market – Germany

 

 What the team is known for  Compact team best known for its expertise in M&A transactions, venture capital financing and corporate structuring matters. A popular choice among mid-sized German companies, as well as Asian clients entering the German market. Particularly visible on share and asset acquisitions for energy and technology companies. New client wins include Kuhn Gruppe and Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corporation.

 

 Strengths  Clients note that the lawyers are “very flexible and always available,” and appreciate the “backup for other areas of law” at the firm’s disposal.

 

Ranked Lawyers 2018:

Christoph Schmitt
Björn Neumeuer
Peter Huppertz

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