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 Handbuch Logo 2021 22 blau2

JUVE Handbook 2021/2022

Munich

Comment: The headquarters of the full-service law firm is firmly anchored in Munich's mid-sized companies, but it is also in demand nationwide due to renowned experts in individual fields of law. This applies, among other things, to the public procurement law team, which counts such well-known clients as Airbus and Gasteig among its clients. It also applies to real estate and construction law, where the firm handles a considerable number of transactions and is involved in several district developments throughout Germany. In relation to this, Heussen is less present in corporate law nationwide, but is known as an advisor to other firms of self-employed professionals. After a younger partner devoted himself increasingly to succession advice and gradually built up a client base, the firm recently strengthened itself with two further partners in corporate law and compliance. The firm is thus well on the way to leaving a clearer footprint on the market in this area as well. In addition, Heussen is also regularly seen in mandates with an international connection, which come to it via the international network of law firms, such as an energy company from Pakistan, which bought a coal-fired power plant in southern Germany.

Often recommended: Dr. Dirk von dem Knesebeck ("fast and pragmatic", competitor; corporate law/M&A), Uwe-Carsten Völlink ("excellent procurement lawyer, pragmatic", "super, very practical with suggestions for concrete action, very broad knowledge", client; "extensive experience, proven litigator", competitor), Dr. Jan Dittmann ("fast and clever head", client; real estate and construction law). Construction Law), Dr. Hermann Waldhauser (IT), Dr. Ralf Busch (Labour Law)

Main focus: Wide range of corporate law (restructuring), M&A and capital markets law (including financing, media and real estate funds), labour law, real estate/construction, trademarks and competition, media, succession/assets/foundations; IT, public procurement. Also commercial and competition law, public law (environmental law), insolvency advice. Own tax practice. Compliance.

Stuttgart

Comment: (...) Departures reduce the capacity of the Stuttgart office at a time when more intensive internal networking has been achieved in advisory areas such as corporate and real estate. Nevertheless, precisely this networking and the full-service offering for clients created in this way remains essentially intact, although mainly in association with the other Heussen offices. Competitors see the IT and data protection area as well positioned with the Stuttgart partner, independent of the large Munich practice. Frühmorgen's restructuring reputation also extends far beyond Baden-Württemberg, and Heussen's IP practice in Stuttgart has recently gained in reputation.

Often recommended: Dr. Michael Frühmorgen (corporate/insolvency), Dr. Sabine Hohmann ("consistently good and solid work", client; trademarks), Sven Hoffmann (corporate/distribution), Mark Münch, LL.M. ("very good understanding of client interests", competitor; IT).

Main focus: Corporate law, often as ongoing advice, as well as restructuring, insolvency law and advice to creditors, real estate and construction law, media, trademark and competition law, distribution law, IT law, intellectual property law, employment law. Close integration into the international law firm network Multilaw.

Corporate law

Comment: Corporate practice active in various locations, primarily in Munich and Stuttgart. Further information in these regional chapters.

Main focus: Broad practice including litigation and advice on succession solutions. Strong roots in medium-sized companies as well as in the IT, energy and real estate sectors.

Real Estate Law
Project development and plant construction

Comment: The real estate and construction practice pursues a holistic advisory approach, which includes regulatory law as well as financing, public and tax law. Well-known regular clients rely on this all-round service, especially in project development. While Heussen also handles acquisitions and disposals in this context, it is seen less in individual transactions. This is probably also the reason why the team with its strong personnel is less conspicuous in the market than comparable players. However, this should not obscure the fact that Heussen is also involved in large-volume projects in construction law, including numerous hospital projects. Here it has (...) developed a sector focus.

Often recommended: Dr. Jan Dittmann, Christian Weinheimer, Benedikt Murken ("good litigator", competitor).

Main focus: High number of project developments advised. Transactions, also portfolios incl. financing and tax. Asset management and commercial tenancy law. Construction law. Public procurement law

Information technology: contracts/processes

Comment: The IT lawyers are increasingly bringing their many years of experience in classic IT contract law to bear in advising on digitalisation projects, often for mid-sized clients. Cooperation across practice groups is also proving its worth. For example, the public procurement practice established a connection with the client Goethe Institute, for which Heussen secured a large tender for a digital language testing solution in terms of IT and data protection law. As is the case with many competitors, Heussen's data protection advice is often the gateway to more extensive advice, including IT law advice. This was most recently achieved through the function of external data protection officer - a position which the firm regularly assumes for medium-sized clients, among others in the banking sector.

Often recommended: Dr. Hermann Waldhauser

Main focus: Contract drafting for software projects (increasingly embedded software projects) and outsourcing. Increasingly data protection and IT compliance in connection with cloud computing as well as internet and e-commerce. Close to the interface with media law practice. Clients: mainly users, some providers.

Media: transactions and financing

Comment: The media practice is closely integrated with the IT practice, which is due in particular to the involvement of the renowned Waldhauser. Thanks to this linkage and its knowledge of the sector, Heussen is in demand for advice on a broad range of issues relating to digitalisation. For example, she advises on the design of social media channels, the commercialisation of content, also in connection with events, and in the context of streaming offers. She also advises service providers who are active for streaming providers. As a partner with a broad range of practice areas, Hotze continues to win new clients from various sectors: clients from the housing industry are increasingly coming to Heussen for advice on copyright and copyright management issues, as are various federal and state ministries on media and IP law issues and, most recently, the Max Planck Digital Library on projects in the area of IT and media law.

Often recommended: Dr. Hermann Waldhauser, Marcus M. Hotze ("experienced, quick to the point", competitor).

Main Focus: Advice to internet portals, increasingly outside the classic media sector and in social media. In Berlin, media regulation (distribution issues, media concentration law), also copyright and contract law for broadcasters, film, radio and associations, increasingly also for event organisers and the real estate industry; also press and statements law.

Succession/assets/foundations

Comment: The Munich firm's succession practice, which was rather inconspicuous for a long time, has now developed its own business and increased its presence in the market. Clients include foundations as well as HNI and UHNI, which seek advice on inheritance and tax issues. The interface with the real estate lawyers works particularly well, especially with a Munich partner who regularly does real estate deals for family offices.

Often recommended: Dr. Frank-Grischa Feitsch, M.C.L. ("high professional competence, pleasant personal manner", competitor).

Main focus: Succession advice for family and owner-managed businesses, asset structuring for HNI, foundation law, partly international tax law, each with a strong real estate focus.

Public Procurement Law

Comment: The public procurement team at this mid-sized firm has established itself as a central player in the German public procurement market. The large practice is rooted in both the Munich area and the defence sector. Clients such as Airbus, Rohde & Schwarz, MBDA and the Gasteig in Munich continuously place their trust in the team in their economically significant proceedings.

Most recently, the firm convinced the Helmholtz Zentrum München in extensive procurement projects as well as the Association for rescue services and fire brigade alarms Traunstein. For the special-purpose association, the firm designed an innovative open-house procedure as a substitute for a concession procedure in order to meet the low number of providers in the market for fire alarm systems. Numerous hospitals also rely on the integrated advice of the public procurement lawyers on construction, real estate and IT contract law for new construction projects. 

A recent highlight of the firm's internal cooperation was a new project for the Goethe Institute, in which Heussen implemented a tender for online examinations at the interface of IT and public procurement law - a mandate which would otherwise be more likely to be found with international law firms and which illustrates the successful cooperation within the firm. The team is well-positioned in terms of personnel and is continuously growing at associate level in order to keep pace with the development of the client base.

Often recommended: Uwe-Carsten Völlink ("very practical with suggestions for concrete action, very broad knowledge", client), Dr. Norbert Huber.

Main focus: Security and defence sector, interface with strong construction and real estate practice.

 

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JUVE Handbook 2020/2021

Munich

Comment: With a whole range of specialized practices, Heussen has developed far beyond the advice to Munich's mid-sized companies. This includes IT and public procurement law, where the firm regularly works for clients such as Airbus Defence, MAN and ITT. Heussen has more experience in the field of renewable energies than many other Munich law firms of comparable standing. In the real estate sector, the firm is also one of the well-connected players in the local market. What is new, however, is the development that the lawyers are increasingly focusing on special know-how, even within central practices such as corporate, in order to open up profitable market niches. For example, Heussen is well known as an advisor to other partnerships of freelancers on corporate law issues, and recently a young partner has been devoting more attention to succession consulting. German subsidiaries of US corporations such as Albany also regularly rely on Heussen (...).

Often recommended: Dr. Dirk von dem Knesebeck, Dr. Ralf Busch (employment law), Dr. Jan Dittmann (real estate and construction law), Dr. Hermann Waldhauser (IT), Uwe-Carsten Völlink

Focal points: Broad range of corporate law (restructuring), M&A and capital markets (including financing, media and real estate funds), employment law, real estate and construction, trademarks and competition, media, IT, public procurement. Furthermore, commercial and competition law, public law (environmental law), insolvency advice. Own tax practice.

Stuttgart

Comment: The fact that the Stuttgart office is establishing itself across the entire breadth of its practice is demonstrated by the fact that numerous lawyers have earned recognition from specialized firms in their respective disciplines. The office is also in greater demand than before from financial institutions, which has resulted in an increased volume of work on loans and deferrals as part of the fight against the corona crisis. An international facet is added by the firm's construction law team, which has developed strong connections to companies from Turkey with a young partner. Thanks to Münch's work, Heussen's paraded discipline of IT/data protection is now also a strength recognized by competitors in Stuttgart. The know-how of the corporate lawyers at the transition to insolvency and restructuring is even more in demand in view of the consequences of the crisis.

Often recommended: Dr. Michael Frühmorgen ("very competent, a good mediator", competitors; corporate / insolvency law), Sven Hoffmann (corporate / distribution law), Mark Münch, LL.M. ("very good understanding of client interests", competitors; IT)

Focal points: Corporate law (incl. restructuring, insolvency law and creditor advice), often as ongoing advice, employment law, real estate and construction law, media, trademark and competition law, distribution law, IT law, intellectual property rights. Close integration into the international law firm network Multilaw.

Real Estate Business Law
Project development and plant construction

Comment: The core business of the real estate and construction practice lies in project developments. This is exemplified by advice to regular client Industria, for whom Heussen has been handling a considerable project volume for years. At the same time, the team manages to convince new clients of its excellence. The fact that Heussen's activities comprise more than just the combination of their competences in construction and real estate law is shown by the advice they provide to their clients on corporate and tax law issues, which are currently in great demand, especially when setting up JV structures for the realization of project developments. Transactions play a role especially in the development context, which means that the firm is less noticed for this. However, the firm has recently succeeded in securing market shares in the highly sought-after healthcare real estate market - in transactions and in construction-related advice, for example in the expansion and modernization of hospitals.

Often recommended: Dr. Jan Dittmann ("very target-oriented, cool in the matter", competitors), Christian Weinheimer ("competent and deal-oriented", competitors)

Focal points: High number of managed project developments. Transactions, also portfolios including financing and tax law. Asset management and commercial tenancy law. Building law.

Public procurement law

Comment: The public procurement team brings its internal interfaces in construction, real estate and IT contract law to the benefit of its clients. For example, the Munich office is regularly involved in locally important construction and infrastructure projects, such as the general refurbishment of the Gasteig. Similar to numerous competitors with strong IT practices, the team is one of the advisors who benefit greatly from the continuing high level of public sector investment in IT projects. In addition, Heussen has established itself in the circle of law firms that are regularly mandated by bidders in the field of defence procurement. Consequently, the law firm is also one of the largest teams in the market in terms of personnel.

Often recommended: Uwe-Carsten Völlink ("our first choice", "excellent and pragmatic", clients), Dr. Norbert Huber

Focal points: Security and defence sector, interface to the strong construction and real estate practice.

Information technology: contracts/processes

Comment: The IT practice has considerable experience in IT law advice to mid-sized companies. The client relationships are in part long-standing. Heussen succeeds better than many of his competitors in getting involved in digitization projects. For example, Heussen advised a spice manufacturer on the introduction of an electronic legal department. The media and IP lawyers traditionally work closely together, most recently when a social service company needed both IT and IP legal advice when setting up a platform. Heussen is also pushing a focus on the banking sector, which has resulted in successful mandates, for example from a service provider for data centers and outsourcing in the fintech environment.

Often recommended: Dr. Hermann Waldhauser 

Focal points: Contract drafting for software projects (increasingly embedded software projects) and outsourcing. Increasing data protection and IT compliance in connection with cloud computing, Internet and e-commerce. Close to the interface with media. Clients: mainly users, some providers.

Media:
Contract and copyright law
Transactions and financing

Comment: The practice for media law is closely linked to the IT law practice, which can be attributed in particular to the commitment of the renowned Waldhauser. Thanks to this connection and industry knowledge, Heussen is in demand in a broad range of topics relating to the digitalization process. For example, she advises on the design of social media channels and the marketing of content, also in connection with events. The fact that in Hotze Heussen has a partner with a broad range of content ensures that the firm is constantly winning new mandates with a wide variety of thematic focuses. One hospital, for example, turned to Hotze for the extensive cooperation agreements for a live broadcast. Heussen found stronger access to the housing construction sector through contacts with Berlin associations, where she advised on multimedia contracts for residential units, among other things.

Often recommended: Dr. Hermann Waldhauser , Marcus M. Hotze ("very competent, committed", competitor)

Focal points: Consulting for Internet portals, increasingly outside the classic. Media industry and social media; in Berlin, media regulation (distribution issues, media concentration law), also copyright and contract law for broadcasters, film, radio and associations, increasingly also for event organizers; also press law and the right of expression.

Corporate Law

Comment: With several industry specializations, the corporate practice stands out from many medium-sized competitors, especially in the IT sector, but also with a view to real estate and energy companies, where the firm can score points with its strong public procurement practice. Apart from this, the lawyers in Munich and increasingly also in Stuttgart are deeply rooted in the southern German mid-sized sector, which relies on the firm not only in ongoing business but increasingly in succession situations. It is precisely here where a younger partner now places a more pronounced emphasis than previously the more experienced partners, who tended to see succession issues as part of the all-round advice. Recently, the former Simmons & Simmons partner Heym has been providing reinforcement at the interface to M&A consulting.

Often recommended: Dr. Dirk von dem Knesebeck ("fast, pragmatic", competitor), Dr. Christof Schmidt

Focal points: Broad practice including legal representation. Strong anchoring with medium-sized companies.

 

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 JUVE Handbook 2019/2020

Munich

Comment: The Munich office is the firm's most highly staffed and is deeply rooted in the Bavarian midmarket and numerous municipalities. Clients praise the team for its " well-founded advice and pragmatic approaches to solutions" and its "excellent knowledge of the industry". Within its full-service approach, Heussen has developed a number of specializations that set it apart from local competitors, some of which it has significantly expanded. This includes first and foremost the strong public procurement law practice, which advises renowned clients such as Airbus Defence and recently won a tender for a mandate from the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs. Heussen is also an established player in the market for IT law. She positions herself with litigation, for example for Cyando on the question of liability of sharehosters. A further focus is on consulting on renewable energies, where Heussen successfully contributes its know-how in public procurement law. One example is EnValue, for which she recently reached a highly regarded decision on funding opportunities. Although she is not the only one on the Munich market with her equally strong focus on real estate law, she is always able to impress new clients, such as the ABG Group, with her competence.

Often recommended: Dr. Dirk von dem Knesebeck ("fast and pragmatic", competitors; corporate and capital market law), Dr. Ralf Busch (employment law), Dr. Jan Dittmann ("very experienced and skilful negotiator, goal-oriented and pragmatic", "fights hard but fair for our interests, formulates briefly, precisely and understandably", client; real estate and construction law), Dr. Hermann Waldhauser (IT), Uwe-Carsten Völlink ("proven trial lawyer with extensive experience", competitor)

Focal points: Broad range of corporate law (restructuring), M&A and capital markets (including financing, media and real estate funds), employment law, real estate and construction, trademarks and competition, media, IT, public procurement. Furthermore, commercial and competition law, public law (environmental law), insolvency advice. Own tax practice.

Stuttgart

Comment: This firm has continued to make good use of the upswing in the real estate sector at its Stuttgart office and is well utilized with a 4-person team both in real estate transactions and in project development and construction law issues. The IP department, which is active for well-known long-term mandates, is more oriented towards litigation, especially in trademark and competition law. In close cooperation with the Munich office, the Stuttgart office is also very active in IT law, as the proven combination of IT and public procurement law advice shows. Despite limited local capacities, Heussen is able to offer extensive teams both through its international contacts and through the functioning interfaces with Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin. Good potential is offered by the high reputation of the corporate lawyer Frühmorgen as well as the Stuttgart employment lawyers in the insolvency scene, which could quickly result in an expansion of crisis-related mandates in the event of an economic downturn.

Often recommended: Dr. Michael Frühmorgen (corporate law), Sven Hoffmann ("pleasant cooperation, also on the opposite side", competitors; distribution law)

Focal points: Corporate law (incl. restructuring, insolvency law and creditor advice), often as ongoing advice, employment law, real estate and construction law, media, trademark and competition law, distribution law, IT law, intellectual property rights. Close integration into the international law firm network Multilaw.

Real Estate Business Law
Project development and plant construction

Comment: The firm regularly manages to win over new clients thanks to its broad positioning in all advisory segments of real estate law. These include KGAL, which Heussen now advises in its prime discipline of project development. The law firm also increasingly advises on joint venture structures, as its clients are looking for suitable project partners with whom they can bring projects to a conclusion, as investors often do not have their own project development competence. The reason for this development is the necessity to purchase and develop projects at an early stage. The firm also secured a considerable market share in the classic transaction business, especially in the mid-cap segment. Since a large part of this market is accounted for by forward deals, the firm's project development expertise often enables it to go beyond the mere purchase of land and to advise on the realization of the project.

Key areas of focus: High number of managed project developments. Transactions, also portfolios including financing and tax law. Asset management and commercial tenancy law. Building law.

Public procurement law

Comment: The work of the team on the part of bidders in German Armed Forces procurements has recently developed dynamically. The practice supports its clients in strategically important projects. Both bidders and clients, particularly at the municipal and state level, are consulting the team very intensively in view of the continuing high demand for IT procurement in the market. In addition, the practice has excellent networks in Munich and is regularly involved in important infrastructure projects. For example, the firm is currently advising on the extension of the U6 subway line. Clients benefit from the cooperation with the construction and real estate lawyers, which allows for comprehensive support. The public procurement team, which is already large in comparison to the market, has recently grown even further at the associate level and appointed a salary partner - strategically important steps to enable the practice to keep pace with the increasing volume of advice.

Often recommended: Uwe-Carsten Völlink ("good trial lawyer", competitor), Dr. Norbert Huber

Focal points: Security and defense sector, interface to the strong construction and real estate practice.

Corporate Law

Comment: Firmly anchored in the Mittelstand, especially in southern Germany, but in some sectors definitely at federal level - for several years now the firm's corporate lawyers have combined the classic role of a strong local all-round advisor with a number of outstanding specializations. While the firm's presence in the market as a whole remains largely constant, Heussen has made progress in recent years, especially in its traditional focus industries: classic technology producers such as the regular clients Kärcher and ITT, real estate and energy companies, some with a public background, but also, for example, the IT industry. Some lawyers also have particularly good contacts with the owner families of various client companies who seek advice on investments. By advising law and patent law firms, architects, engineering offices and other freelance partnerships, most recently more frequently in litigation cases, Heussen has also developed a specialization that only few other firms offer to this extent.

Often recommended: Dr. Dirk von dem Knesebeck, Dr. Christof Schmidt

Focal points: Broad practice including legal representation. Strong anchoring with medium-sized companies

Information technology: contracts/processes

Comment: The IT practice team is part of an integrated TMT group that operates across practices and locations. The data protection lawyers are characterized (...) by the fact that they are particularly well rooted in the upper midmarket. The practice compensates the lack of foreign offices with a functioning international network, which it flexibly expands and thus offers a competitive edge to internationally positioned competitors. Most recently, Heussen intensified its relationship with a UK law firm in a case that they worked on together on employment law and data protection. The team was particularly visible in the lawsuit on Cyando's side concerning the question of the liability of sharehosters - a procedure whose results are likely to have far-reaching consequences. This is a good example of how Heussen succeeds in remaining a constant in the market for IT processes.

Often recommended: Dr. Hermann Waldhauser

Focal points: Contract drafting for software projects (increasingly embedded software projects) and outsourcing. Increasing data protection and IT compliance in connection with cloud computing, Internet and e-commerce. Close to the interface with media. Clients: mainly users, some providers.

Media:
Contract and copyright law
Transactions and financing

Comment: The media law team represents the important link to the IT practice with the experienced Waldhauser. With roots in both core areas - IT and media - Heussen has thus been able to establish itself more firmly in the platform business. A good example of this is the new client BBU, who approached the firm to set up a state-owned online apartment swap exchange. But also foreign clients rely on the know-how, such as an OTT streaming service. Once again, Hotze's strong focus on regulatory advice, for which he is now well known in the market, comes into play here. Another driver of the business has recently been the establishment of various new companies in the marketing or production business, where the team can apply its market knowledge, for example for Finya to establish a digital marketing company.

Often recommended: Dr. Hermann Waldhauser, Marcus M. Hotze (" profound consulting and pragmatic solutions, short-term availability and excellent industry knowledge", client)

Focal points: Consulting for Internet portals, increasingly outside the classic. Media industry and social media; industry-related financing and M&A, especially in Berlin Media regulation (distribution issues, media concentration law), also copyright and contract law for broadcasters, film, radio and associations as well as press law and the law of public statements.

 

JUVE Handbook 2016/2017

Publisher JUVE has just released its official Handbook 2016/2017 of commercial law firms in Germany. In its latest edition, HEUSSEN has moved up the ranks in no fewer than 6 law practice areas, two of which (Project Development & Facilities Construction and Trademark & Unfair Competition) now rank HEUSSEN for the first time. Here’s how the firm’s individual law offices and practice groups rank:

Stuttgart

Ranking

The firm’s recommended Stuttgart office remains focused on continuing its policy of expansion. By adding no fewer than two new partners to its Industrial Property Rights group, HEUSSEN managed to close a gap in the range of consulting services at its Stuttgart office. One of these new partners is Dr. Wolfgang Heisrath, formerly of the law firm Boutique Haggeney Heisrath, primarily works in strategic trademark consulting, while the other one, Dr. Thomas Beck (formerly of the law firm KMZ Kullen Müller Zinser) includes trademark, competition and distribution law among his specialties. Another new partner, Volker Mattausch of the law firm Vogel Volz Kress, not only adds his talent to the employment law practice group, but to that of real estate law too. (…) Meanwhile, the HEUSSEN law firm has been increasingly succeeding on an international level, especially by intensifying its ties to the global law office network Multilaw.

Frequently Recommended

Range of Services

Broad-ranging law practice for mid-sized clients in Stuttgart; corporate law (incl. restructuring, insolvency law and creditor advice), labor law, real estate law, regulations concerning project development/facilities construction, trademarks/unfair competition, distribution law, IT law and industrial property rights. Close involvement in international law office network Multilaw.

 

Munich

Ranking

The client list established by the firm’s recommended Munich office just within the last few years is certainly impressive. Attorneys at this office have handled 2 notable cases, mainly the merger between rival tank makers KMW and Nexter and the successful contract bid by video-on-demand provider Maxdome for video streaming services on German railways. However, unlike other cases handled by HEUSSEN, both of these cases neatly fit into clearly defined legal areas, namely tax and distribution law. By contrast, some of the more comprehensive cases handled by HEUSSEN have involved numerous and occasionally far-reaching real estate deals – one of the strengths this law firm is known for. In fact, HEUSSEN ultimately focused on this sector as a model for some of its other law practice groups, like Renewable Energy or IT Law. What’s more, HEUSSEN has been increasingly profiting from its international contacts through the Multilaw network, which has proved a major source of the firm’s restructuring caseloads. Beyond that, the law firm retains its traditionally close ties with mid-sized clients in southern Germany as well as government clients.

Frequently Recommended

Range of Services

Broad-ranging law practice (restructuring), M&A/capital market law (incl. financing & media/real estate fund regulations), labor law, real estate law, regulations concerning project development/facilities construction, trademarks/unfair competition, media, IT and distribution law. Add to that commercial law, anti-trust law, public (environmental) law as well as insolvency consulting and a separate tax consultancy.

 

Labor Law

Leading partners in the special legal area of executive consulting include, among others, Dr. Ralf Busch

 

Corporate Law

Ranking

This is a renowned corporate law practice, which has benefitted from the renewed focus on restructuring matters and increasingly international networking efforts by the law firm in terms of client work. Add to that some well-coordinated teamwork in particular between the firm’s Munich and Stuttgart offices, which was of great help in fortifying the firm’s role as trusted advisor to a number of major mid-sized companies. More than ever before, the firm furthermore prioritizes focusing on specific law fields, including IT and renewable energy law. Compared to many of its competitors, HEUSSEN is just beginning to venture into these fields – unlike the fields of real estate law and public sector law consulting, where the firm already has established a solid and wide range of clients, particularly in southern Germany.

Frequently Recommended

Range of Services

Wide range of advisory and litigation services. Strong client base among mid-sized companies, especially in the real estate and energy sectors, along with clients in the automotive supply, engineering, IT, and life science industries, plus a growing number of clients in the finance industry.

 

Real Estate Law

Ranking

HEUSSEN’s vast real estate law practice keeps up the same positive development it successfully built up over the previous years. Once again, the expert team surrounding Dr. Norbert Huber (“very thorough, client-oriented and pragmatic,” according to competitors) handled the legal aspects of numerous business transactions, especially in the mid-cap market. (…) At the same time, team members in this law practice are continuously fine-tuning communication between themselves and members of the firm’s finance, corporate and tax law teams. Equally worth noting is the commitment of these team members during lucrative project developments, as demonstrated by their advisory services for local real estate client Ehret+Klein involving an urban public development project in the southern German town of Landsberg am Lech. This is just one of many examples showing that the HEUSSEN law firm has already expanded its client list far beyond its Munich powerbase to include a growing number of international clients as well. The firm also offers comprehensive advisory services in regular construction law matters and in public procurement law matters.

Frequently Recommended

 

Media: Contractual & Copyright Laws, Transaction & Financing Laws

Ranking

: On the one hand, HEUSSEN‘s recommended media law practice focuses on consulting services for traditional media institutions like German TV stations Anixe TV and KG Hamburg 1, whom they advise on regulatory matters. On the other hand, the law firm has done an excellent job in advancing its know-how on digitation. This has paved the way for the firm to increasingly gear its law consulting services towards social media matters. Case in point: A local cabaret team calling themselves Frankfurter Klasse recently began hiring the firm’s law services on regulatory matters affecting YouTube channels. Add to that clients in the housing and real estate industry hiring the firm’s law services to handle advertising and media matters affecting social media and apps. Moreover, its combination know-how of copyright and social media laws, along with its cross-disciplinary IT law consultancy, also makes HEUSSEN‘s media law practice increasingly interesting to start-ups like the Internet app “flowkey”, for example.

Frequently Recommended

Range of Services

Legal consulting on the issue of Internet portals, moving beyond conventional media industry to include new clients in legal matters involving social media; industry-specific financing (mostly games funds) and M&As, new clients in Berlin primarily dealing with media regulatory matters (broadcasting and media concentration issues, among others), plus copyright and contract issues affecting broadcasters, film studios, radio stations and media associations, along with issues involving freedom of the press and freedom of speech.

 

IT Law: Contract/Litigation Matters

Ranking

The HEUSSEN law firm’s recommended IT law practice is also part of the integrated TMT Group. Consulting has recently gained new momentum thanks to Industry 4.0. Among others, this increasingly significant area encompasses data protection, a complex issue already known for generating full caseloads for some of the firm’s competitors. The biggest step forward, however, firm’s IT law practice has been in the fintech sector. Here, the firm’s IT law practice has excelled in cross-disciplinary consulting involving, amongst others, banking regulatory laws and other legal issues affecting a start-up as well as the Fidor Bank. Overall, HEUSSEN‘s IT law practice has been steadily growing, partly as a result of client referrals from other law offices and partly as a result of the firm’s trusted contacts with best-friend law offices.

Frequently Recommended

Range of Services

Full-range legal services in computer-/Internet-related matters. Focal points comprise contract drafting for software projects (incl. growing number of embedded-software projects) as well as outsourcing projects. Add to that a growing caseload of data protection and IT compliance matters in conjunction with cloud computing as well as Internet/e-commerce. Close links to media law field. Clients mainly include users as well as some providers.

 

 

Public Procurement Law

Ranking

HEUSSEN‘s recommended public procurement law practice has a rock-solid client base in the public sector HEUSSEN‘s recommended, especially in the central and southern regions of Germany. (…). Not content with its current client base, the law firm has been busy expanding its range of services to the rest of the country as well. For proof, look no further than the firm’s new client acquisition in the form of the Entsorgungsverband Saar, a waste disposal association formed in western Germany. When it comes to the procurement of IT services, the firm’s public procurement law practice generally represents the bidders. (…). Its team members already have a successful track record of expanding their services into a surprising number of industries throughout the years.

Frequently Recommended

Range of Services

Primarily consulting for public sector clients and their associates at all levels (municipal to federal), focusing on medium-scale contract awards. Add to that a formidable construction/real estate law practice.

 

Regulations on Project Development & Facilities Construction

Ranking

Established real estate law practice, whose work interweaves with construction law. Consulting services primarily focus on standard project developments and, to a somewhat limited extent, facilities construction.

 

Trademark & Unfair Competition Law

Ranking

Although active in the media law field, among others, this group recently bolstered its trademark & unfair competition law practice by adding two IP partners, namely Dr. Thomas Beck (formerly of the law firm Kullen Müller Zinser) and Dr. Wolfgang Heisrath (having a law firm of his own), to its Stuttgart office early this year. As a result, the law practice group has also added some promising new clients in the form of CS Instruments and Techart to its list, whose interests the group has since been poised to represent in both trademark and unfair competition proceedings. In addition to its new clients, the group also has its share of large mid-sized corporate clients, including the Kärcher Group, to name just one.

 

 

JUVE: Handbuch der Wirtschaftskanzleien 2014/2015

Munich

Comment

This recommended firm in Munich has been deeply rooted in the Bavarian Mittelstand for many years now and is also popular with numerous municipalities and public sector companies. Besides this, occasional instructions also come up through the international Multilaw network as well as via the Heussen lawyers’ own global connections.

The collaboration with the Stuttgart office is already bearing fruit, generating important contacts for instructions. As in previous years, Heussen rounded off its team with a lateral: following the real estate, tax, corporate and public procurement practices, it was time to bulk up its IT/IP team, which was given a boost in spring 2014 thanks to media lawyer Dr. Martin Feyock from Straßer Ventroni Deubzer Freytag & Jäger.

Highly recommended

Practice

Broad spectrum incorporate (restructuring), M&A and capital markets (incl. financing, media and real estate funds), employment, real estate, media, IT,commercial litigation and liability, public procurement. Advice also on commercial law, unfair competition, public law (environmental law) and insolvency. Also tax practice.(…)

 

Stuttgart

Comment

This firm, which is respected in Stuttgart, is successfully driving integration following the 2012 merger with Wahlert. Lawyers from both Munich and Stuttgart worked together for regular client Kärcher (…)
Like Menold Bezler, Heussen advanced its international contacts, incl. the long-standing, strong contacts stemming from the Multilaw network, and advised a Chinese investor on buying an insolvent hospital, for example. One employment partner retired.(…)

Strengths

Distribution law, (insolvency-related) corporate, real estate.

Highly recommended

 

Information Technology: Contracts/Litigation

Comment

This recommended IT practice advises users as well as providers and works closely with the media practice. The Berlin and Munich offices stand out for their strong collaboration, which was boosted by the addition of a media partner in Munich. The Stuttgart office also raised its profile last year through a new instruction from Alfred Kärcher. Here, the Stuttgart and Munich offices provided comprehensive advice on all IT questions. Heussen is also active in the startup scene: for example, it advises a medicine startup on corporate and IT. Data protection and the IT/compliance interface are growth areas.

Highly recommended

Practice

All-round advice in computer and Internet law. Focus on contracts for software projects (increasingly embedded software projects) and outsourcing. Increasingly active in data protection and IT compliance in connection with cloud computing and e-commerce. Interface with media. (…)

 

Commercial Litigation and Liability

Comment

This practice is active in litigation and also known as a specialist for business mediation. Prof. Dr. Renate Dendorfer-Ditges enjoys an excellent name in the market. Heussen drew attention with work for the state of Brandenburg in a major governmental liability case and frequently litigates for the high-end Mittelstand, e.g. engineering company Kärcher. (…)

 

Media: Contracts and Copyrights
Media: Transactions and Financing

Comment

This recommended practice for media recently expanded its client portfolio to include more creative clients. For example, Braindogs Entertainment instructed Heussen again regarding film rights. The firm was very active at the interface with antitrust while advising Anixe on media regulatory matters. This instruction and the ongoing activity for Langenscheidt are examples of the firm’s successful interdisciplinary cooperation, esp. on the interface with corporate, IT and antitrust. With the addition of Dr. Martin Feyock from Strasser Ventroni Deubzer Freytag & Jäger the practice boosted its advice on film funds and film productions.

 

Highly recommended

Practice

Advice to Internet portals, increasingly social media; financing (esp. gaming funds) and M&A, media regulatory law (distribution, media concentration law) esp. at the Berlin office, copyrights and contract law for broadcasters, film, radio and associations as well as press and right of reply law. (…)

 

Corporate

Comment

This firm respected for corporate worked on the closer integration of its Stuttgart office, which arrived in 2012. The lawyers here had already cooperated occasionally with their Munich counterparts, e.g. for Stuttgart core client Kärcher. Additional client contacts emerged from the international network Multilaw, as well as from individual partners' own contacts abroad, e.g. in France. Heussen still focuses on advice to Mittelstand companies and municipalities, as well as companies from the public sector and enjoys deep roots in Bavaria.

 

Highly recommended

Practice

Broad-based advice, incl. litigation. Strong roots in Mittelstand companies, esp. in the real estate, energy, auto supply, mechanical engineering, IT, life science and increasingly finance sectors.

 

Public Procurement

Comment

This firm respected for public procurement consolidated its strong position in south Germany by repositioning itself for the city of Munich and other notable clients in public procurement projects. The partner-focused, all-round advisory concept is also well received by the numerous municipalities among the firm’s core clients. Because of the rise in matters related to state aid law, there was increased cooperation between the Frankfurt and Munich teams as a Frankfurt partner is experienced here.

Strengths

Strong connections in Bavaria and Hessen.

Highly recommended:

Practice

Primarily advice to public authorities and their holding companies at all levels (municipal to national), focus on midsized procurement. Strong real estate practice. (…)

 

 

JUVE: Handbuch der Wirtschaftskanzleien 2013/2014

Stuttgart

Market Analysis: HEUSSEN and Wahlert Fusion Spells Success

One of very few fusions in recent times turns out to be a success. (...). The integration of both parties has made headway. (...)

Assessment

The respected law firm massively expanded its Stuttgart office through its fusion in early 2012 with the renowned law firm Wahlert, known for its close relations and comprehensive consulting involving Kärcher, the leading German provider of cleaning equipment. (...) The Stuttgart team has been continuously expanding while significantly enhancing its network with the other HEUSSEN law offices. After adding 2 labor law associates, HEUSSEN’s Stuttgart office is now well on its way to becoming a full-service office. (...)

Strengths

Distribution rights, corporate law (especially in insolvency cases), real estate law.

Highly recommended

 

Munich

Assessment

HEUSSEN’s highly recommended Munich office unequivocally aims at providing comprehensive legal consulting for its long-term mid-sized corporate clients in the business and public sector industries. Having established a tax consulting practice at its Munich office last year is bound to foster HEUSSEN’s further growth. (...) The law firm is also successfully gaining foothold in growing legal fields like court litigation and compliance consulting. Its consulting services for investment transactions are also trending positively (...). Add to that its consulting services for a growing number of major real estate deals.

Highly recommended

 

Labor Law

Leading Names for Special Legal Fields: Management Consulting

Dr. Ralf Busch

 

Corporate Law

Assessment

Highly respected for its corporate law practice, this law firm boasts a remarkable client portfolio of mid-sized companies in Bavaria. (...) Also, the intense cooperation between its offices nationwide is coming to fruition, as shown by their joint consulting on 2 major business deals. Bringing aboard former members of Wahlert, one a founding member of the international lawyer network Multilaw, has enabled the firm to integrate various law fields into its client work. Its practice remains widely diversified, many of its cases having involved corporate law.

Highly recommended

 

Highly Recommended Law Firms in Commercial Property Law

Assessment

The law firm offers consulting services for all matters of real estate. Among its traditional strengths in this field is consulting on renewable energy, involving an increasing number of international cases for the firm as well. HEUSSEN is furthermore highly competent in construction and architectural law (...). The law firm is also active in tenancy law and asset management law. In addition, HEUSSEN has been meticulously building its competence in the field of invest fund structuring. (...) Its consulting range would thus be complete (...).

 

Highly Recommended Law Firms in the Field of Litigation

Assessment

Areas of practice include not just litigation, but specifically arbitration proceedings and business mediation. HEUSSEN has a very respected mediator with Prof. Dr. Renate Dendorfer-Ditges, LL.M. MBA. The majority of its cases in this field are related to commercial and contractual law, often involving insolvency law, as in the law firm’s representation of Bauknecht. Many of its cases also comprise litigation around capital market law. HEUSSEN has further established itself by specializing in the growing field of consultant liability. (...)

 

Information Technology: Contracts/Proceedings

Assessment

Highly recommended for IT cases, this law firm advises providers and consumers alike, incorporating different law fields in its line of practice. In doing so, the firm has benefitted from the increased use of its country desks (...) Add to that the highest number of M&A cases handled by the firm’s Munich head office in recent years (...) Still, the latter primarily engages in classic IT law consulting. Here the law firm’s Berlin office serves as interface to media law while its Stuttgart office serves as interface to trademark law.

Highly recommended

 

Media: Contractual & Copyright Law, Plus Business Transactions & Financing

Assessment

It’s obvious that the strategy of the law firm’s recommended media law practice is to incorporate a variety of law fields in its line of work. In Munich, the law firm applied its combined expertise in IT and data protection law to advising a sports betting provider. The firm was also the main media law advisor for client Günther Holding in the latter’s acquisition of Langenscheidt publishing house, further involving the firm’s corporate law practice. Overall, cooperation among the law firm’s nationwide offices works flawlessly. (...) At its Berlin office, attorney Markus Hotze continues consulting on copyright law and distribution rights. Given the ongoing start-up scene in the German capitol, HEUSSEN consulting services continue to score high in crowdfunding projects too (...).

Highly recommended

 

Distribution Rights

Market analysis

Mid-sized domestic law firms such as HEUSSEN, having just acquired a partner from the Noerr law firm, capitalize on their streamlined structures: Their partner-based strategy and overall lower cost ratio combine to attract clients from all the large corporate law firms. (...)

Assessment

Well known for its practice in distribution rights, the law firm has gained substantial expertise in the form of respected ex-Noerr partner Völlink. The latter joins two Munich - and Frankfurt-based HEUSSEN partners in turning a regional, nonetheless sophisticated law practice into a nationwide sophisticated law practice. (...)

Highly recommended

 

 

JUVE: Handbuch der Wirtschaftskanzleien 2012/2013

Munich

Bewertung

This recommended Munich firm is widening its advisory spectrum: it completed a strategic about-face with a new tax team from Sibeth around Rupert Klar and Martin Grasser. The mid-sized business advisor previously used close ties to accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers to cover tax elements, but is now committed to a full-service approach. (...) The transaction team enjoyed a high utilization rate in the mid-cap segment, and occasionally with large deals (e.g. advice to Aurelius on its acquisition of Getronics divisions). The litigation practice benefited from the rise in corporate disputes.

Recommended

 

Information Technology: Contracts/Litigation

Assessment

The March 2012 merger with the Stuttgart firm Wahlert only slightly raised the headcount at this recommended firm for IT, but it extended HEUSSEN's reach among notable industrial companies and on the interface with trademarks, thanks to the advice to Alfred Kärcher in Stuttgart. The Munich office remains the IT hub. HEUSSEN drives its international strategy more consistently than competitors and generated work by opening another international desk. Cooperation between Berlin and Munich improved thanks to advice on the interface with media from a partner who joined the firm last year.

Development potential:

The merger with the strong regional firm Wahlert gave HEUSSEN visibility in Stuttgart. (...)

Recommended

 

Commercial Litigation and Liability

Assessment

Very broad practice for judicial and extrajudicial disputes, mediation and arbitration. HEUSSEN boasts close contacts to financial service providers. Most clients stem from the mid-sized business arena, where HEUSSEN provides ongoing advice on corporate disputes. The firm also advises high-net-worth private clients in banking and capital markets litigation.

 

Media: Contracts and Copyrights and Transactions and Finance

Assessment

This recommended media practice has strengthened its market presence by successfully integrating the expertise brought by new hires in Berlin. A central focus in Berlin has been distribution matters for client GDW in connection with collecting societies. However, regulatory matters, esp. on the broadcaster side, are also now part of the portfolio. Unlike the Munich office, which focuses on IT and financing, the Berlin office is chiefly concerned with content. A sign of the firm's successful integration was the sale of Spox Media, where the media and corporate practice cooperated very closely.

 

Development potential:

The common thread between Munich and Berlin is advice to Internet portals, where the core competences of the respective lawyers really pay off.

Recommended

 

Corporate

Assessment

(...) The firm had a tendency to conduct litigation and demonstrated increased presence in stock, banking and capital markets disputes (esp. for closed-end funds), as well as classic corporate disputes and D&O liability cases. A corporate partner joined the firm from Munich rival Sibeth, while the corporate team also profited from the reinforcement of the tax practice. (...)

 

 

JUVE: Handbuch der Wirtschaftskanzleien 2011/2012

Munich

Assessment

Based in Munich, this recommended law firm has seen major profits in its commercial property law business, owing to a steady rise in business deals in this sector, some of them large-scale. The firm furthermore added valuable expertise in public law and procurement law by welcoming aboard Dr. Norbert Huber, formerly of Sibeth, one of the firm’s local competitors. Regarding the significant impact that litigation had on its corporate law business, the law firm was able to benefit from its influential contacts within the regional economy. In addition, the firm succeeded in further intensifying its contacts in the renewable energies industry. Expansion of its Frankfurt office further boosted business at the firm’s head office in Munich.

Frequently recommended

Areas of Law Practice

Wide range of aspects in corporate law (esp. restructuring), M&A and capital market law (incl. financing, media & real estate funds), labor law, commercial property law, media law, IT law, liability law, commercial & competition law, public (environmental) law as well as insolvency law consulting.

 

Labor Law

Assessment

Labor law practice has been a basic element of this full-service law firm ever since its early days. Based in Munich, the firm offers long-term consulting for mid-sized companies. In view of the economy, the law firm has seen a rising demand for consulting on short time and temporary work. For his legal services involving the withdrawal of managers or executives and any liability questions related thereto, Dr. Ralf Busch maintains an excellent reputation. (...)

 

Corporate Law

Assessment

Also primarily based in Munich, the law firm’s corporate law practice catering to small and mid-sized businesses was in need of some restructuring. One important issue in this matter was the financial restructuring of certain client accounts. One approach the firm came up with was to expand its Frankfurt office by adding 2 banking law experts, Norbert Pahl and Michael Naab, formerly of SNP Schlawien Naab. Another approach by the firm was to maintain its consulting link to commercial property law, which further added a lot of business to its portfolio.

 

Commercial Property Law

Assessment

The Munich law firm maintains a widely diversified commercial property law practice, attracting new clients in the field of asset management in particular. Thus, the firm has built a very solid business base of long-term client accounts in Munich. Among these clients, Jan Dittmann is considered the kind of lawyer “who focuses like a laser on our interests in finding solutions.” The firm has added personnel at both its Munich and Frankfurt offices. (...)

 

Commercial & Liability Law: Dispute Resolution

Assessment

In addition to having its forte in mediation, HEUSSEN has come a long way in classic court litigation. Specifically, its active contacts in commercial property law have attracted clients seeking out the firm’s litigation services. In addition to corporate litigation, HEUSSEN has also handled an important financial litigation case for a major investment fund. (...)