Heuking > Dusseldorf, Germany > Firm Profile

Heuking > The Legal 500 Rankings

Public sector > Public procurement Tier 1

Heuking excels in advising public sector players at both federal and local levels on large-scale projects in the traffic, transport, healthcare and hydraulic engineering sectors. Ute Jasper, who is experienced in large-scale infrastructure projects, is one of the key contacts here; she jointly heads the unit with Martin Schellenberg, who frequently handles procurement review procedures. Alongside tenders and award procedures, the group also counts transactional advice and associated contracts among its core consulting competencies. Christopher Marx, who is experienced in the transport and traffic sectors, is a key contact for the latter. Senior associate Max Richter (contract drafting and review procedures) joined 3T.LAW as a partner in June 2024, while Reinhard Böhle, who is experienced in advising public clients, joined WR Legal Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB at the same time.

Trade and distribution > Foreign trade law Tier 1

Heuking is frequently instructed by German medium-sized companies, international corporations and financial market players on various foreign trade matters: Bodo Dehne regularly advises on investment control proceedings and Wolfram Meven on customs and export control, while Michael Kreisler focuses on sanctions, with additional expertise in export control issues. The practice also fields Anna Coenen, who is an expert in foreign trade law investigations as well as criminal and fine proceedings; the latter has also assisted with establishing the firm's voluntary disclosure practice in recent years.

Trade and distribution > Trade, distribution and logistics

Heuking offers longstanding expertise in advising international medium-sized companies on trade and distribution law and, in addition to its distribution antitrust law competencies, the team also assists with the structuring of distribution systems as well as commercial agent and dealership agreements, including related disputes and supply chain matters. The team also advises its client roster, which includes renowned companies from the automotive, mechanical engineering, textile and chemical industries, on ESG and supply chain issues, here, Christoph Schork is the key contact. Practice head Reinhard Siegert is experienced in distribution and antitrust law as well as franchise matters.

Corporate and M&A > M&A

Heuking advises German and international companies and investors from the retail, IT, logistics, industrial and energy sectors, among others, on transactions in the mid and small-cap sphere . In addition to classic M&A transactions, its offering also includes distressed transactions, PE transactions and carve-outs. Practice heads Thorsten Kuthe and Jörg Schewe, who cover PE, VC and capital market law in addition to M&A, also focus on this range of topics. In June 2023, Mark Rossbroich (M&A and PE) joined from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

Restructuring and insolvency > Restructuring Tier 2

Heuking routinely supports companies from the real estate, banking, healthcare and chemical sectors and recently increasingly advised on insolvency-related transactions and other interfacing insolvency law matters such as the advice on restructuring and reorganisation measures according to StaRUG. Practice head Georg Streit is particularly well versed in the automotive sector.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 3

German companies and stock corporations across various industries instruct Heuking to assist with group restructuring and corporate governance issues as well as with ongoing corporate issues and annual general meetings. Most recently, the team advised several listed companies on these matters. The practice group is headed by Thorsten Kuthe, who recently assisted listed shareholders on annual general meetings, and Jörg Schewe, who focuses on M&A, PE and VC. The team expanded its advisory expertise in stock corporation and SE law in September 2024 with the addition of Timo Piller from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 3

Heuking most recently demonstrated its expertise across the hydrogen, charging infrastructure and photovoltaics sectors, where the team advised on projects and contract negotiations. Marc Baltus heads the practice and recently assisted an international company with deep geothermal projects in Germany as well as supporting a client from the e-mobility sector in a tendering procedure.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 3

Heuking is a popular address for clients from the automotive, banking and technology sectors and impresses with relevant expertise at the interface between data protection and cyber security, accordingly, the team is regularly instructed on platform matters and technology projects. Other core topics include the defense against information and damages claims as well as the advice on data protection framework conditions for new business models. Thomas Jansen jointly heads the practice with Hans Markus Wulf and is a key contact for IT and data protection matters pertaining to the automotive industry, while Wulf advises on the effects of European legislation such as the Data Act, DORA and NIS2.

Insurance > Insurance litigation Tier 3

Heuking's client roster includes insurers, insolvency administrators, banks, hospital groups and accountancy firms, which call upon the team's expertise in the defense against and enforcement of damages claims as well as business interruption claims. The two practice heads Rüdiger Schnug and Michael Lauterbach are key contacts for professional liability matters, while Andreas Schmitt is well versed in financial loss liability insurance. Martin Karwatzki (D&O, E&O, fidelity insurance, professional liability, product liability) joined the partner roster in January 2024.

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 3

Heuking primarily assists medium-sized companies and has extensive expertise in the pharmaceuticals and automotive sectors. The patent practice acts both nationally as well as coordinates parallel proceedings in cross-border disputes and covers inspection and interim injunction proceedings in addition to main proceedings. The team, led by Anton Horn, also features Sabine Dethof, who has particular expertise in antitrust-related cases.

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 3

Transport > Advice to the transport sector Tier 3

Heuking focuses on advising public sector clients, including transport associations, on all aspects of procurement law in connection with public transport projects, where the team is experienced in supporting large-scale projects in the road, rail and water transport sectors. Ute Jasper advises on these topics as well as on the sourcing of new rail vehicles; she is also well versed in the structuring of project financing. Co-head and distribution lawyer Martin Imhof advises on the establishment of transport-related joint ventures and jointly leads the practice with construction law expert Carsten Schrader, who advises on construction and modernisation projects pertaining to rail and road transport.

Banking and finance > Investment funds Tier 4

Heuking advises asset management companies, institutional investors and financial institutions on the structuring and launch of funds with a focus on alternative asset classes as well as on investments, fund-related transactions and ongoing regulatory issues. Michael Dröge heads the group from Hamburg.

Capital markets > Equity capital markets Tier 4

Heuking focuses its advice on medium-sized companies and their financing, including bonds, promissory notes and capital increases, as well as on segment changes, delistings, reverse IPOs, public share buyback programs and various corporate and M&A-related matters. Practice heads Mirko Sickinger (Cologne) and Anne de Boer (Stuttgart) are also dedicated to this thematic combination.

Dispute resolution > Arbitration (including international arbitration) Tier 4

Heuking's litigation and arbitration team acts as both party representatives and arbitrators in national and international arbitration proceedings. The practice particularly focuses on post-M&A disputes, plant construction disputes and energy arbitration proceedings. Elke Umbeck, who regularly acts as an arbitrator and as legal counsel in national and international commercial arbitration proceedings, jointly heads the practice with arbitration expert Daniel Froesch. The team also includes Walter Eberl, who focuses on disputes relating to IP, media, technology and automotive.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 4

Heuking has extensive expertise in representing clients, particularly state institutions and listed companies, in commercial disputes that often take place in a cross-border context. Post-M&A disputes as well as conflicts arising in a plant construction and energy context represent one of the practice's mainstays. Led by practice heads Thomas Wambach and Christian Strasser, the team also assists with insolvency litigation, in particular insolvency challenges. Elke Umberg mainly focuses on corporate and post-M&A disputes as well as energy sector conflicts.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 4

Heuking is renowned for its expertise across the telecoms sector, where the team most recently advised on the procurement of software solutions in the area of ​​voice cloud and on contract design in connection with cyber security matters. Further mainstays include the support in IT security issues as well as software and app developments. Dominik Eickemeier (IP law) and Markus Lennartz jointly lead the practice; the latter focuses on fibre optic expansion and digitisation projects.

Germany > Private clients and non-profits Tier 4

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 4

Heuking is particularly known for its expertise in urban developments and infrastructure projects. The group therefore regularly deals with associated contract drafting as well as with approval and development procedures, including related disputes. Thomas Nickel (environmental and building planning law, energy) and Wolfram Sandner (immission control law, soil protection and contaminated sites) jointly manage the practice.

Public sector > State aid Tier 4

Heuking advises public sector clients and private companies, including non-profit associations and organisations, on various procurement, municipal, state aid and corporate issues with a focus on tenders, start-ups and restructuring. The practice is headed by state aid and procurement expert Ute Jasper, who has particular experience in complex projects at federal, state and municipal levels, particularly in connection with awards, restructuring and cooperation.

Real estate and construction > Construction (including construction litigation) Tier 4

Heuking is instructed by private companies as well as public sector clients to assist with infrastructure and urban development projects, where it advises on construction and architectural contracts as well as tenders and related (extra-)judicial dispute resolution. This offering is also covered by practice head Stephan Freund, who handles court and arbitration disputes and advises clients on private construction as well as architectural and property law.

Real estate and construction > Real estate Tier 4

Capital markets > Debt capital markets Tier 5

Heuking 's team is particularly known for its expertise in SMEs and covers the design, issuance and restructuring of bonds, including numerous Nordic bonds and green bonds, as well as creditors' meetings and various related corporate issues. The team is led by Mirko Sickinger in Cologne and Anne de Boer in Stuttgart.

Germany > Employment Tier 5

Heuking's employment practice is an experienced advisor on individual and collective employment matters and frequently deals with restructuring, works agreements, employee participation, compliance and New Work as well as litigation. Recently, the group assisted with collective bargaining negotiations and employee data protection, among other matters. Since Bernd Weller (works constitution law, compliance) joined Seitz Rechtsanwaelte Steuerberater in January 2025, Astrid Reich, who is experienced in restructuring and business transfers, has headed the team alone. Timo Trefzger (employment and sports law) made salary partner in January 2024, as were Monique Sandidge (business transfers, works constitution and collective bargaining law) and Stephanie Wurm (restructuring and works constitution law) in July 2024.

Intellectual property > Trade marks Tier 5

Heuking offers a broad range of trade mark advice, covering both strategic and procedural issues. The team assists clients with trade mark applications, the administration of protective rights and enforcement before authorities and courts. There are also close links to other soft IP areas such as design, copyright and competition law. Dominik Eickemeier in Cologne and Markus Lennartz in Frankfurt jointly head the team. Trade mark and competition lawyer Antje Münch made partner at the beginning of 2025.

Media > Entertainment Tier 5

White-collar crime > Advice to individuals Tier 5

Germany > Antitrust Tier 6

Heuking focuses on contentious antitrust matters and is routinely instructed by medium-sized companies on cartel damages and fine proceedings. Other mainstays are the advice on compliance and merger control as well as interfacing state aid and procurement law matters. Practice head Stefan Bretthauer complements this with expertise in distribution antitrust law.

Germany > Tax Tier 6

Heuking focuses on transaction and restructuring-related tax advice. This expertise is often sought by investors, corporations and family businesses, while the latter also draws on the practice's experience in company and asset succession. Marion Sangen-Emden (transaction-related tax law, company succession) and Marc Scheunemann (tax-optimised financing and structuring) jointly head the practice. Sarah Slavik-Schulz (transaction tax law) left the team in December 2023 for an in-house role.

Intellectual property > Patent prosecution

Private equity > Transactions

Private equity > Venture capital