Gowling WLG

The firm

Founded in 2016 and led by partner Dr Andreas Woelfle, the office is located in Stuttgart, the capital of German engineering innovation, where the firm provides the best service for its clients both in Germany as well as internationally. Gowling is comfortable working in multiple jurisdictions and cultures, and has enjoyed a great deal of success in steering international clients – including those who have never previously done business in Germany – with projects in Germany and beyond through challenges associated with German law. The Stuttgart- based corporate team is tightly integrated with the firm’s other offices across Europe, Canada, the Middle East and Asia.

Many of the premium global players are based in and around Stuttgart. In addition to major international corporations, the many substantial family-owned Mittelstand companies provide a resilient, sound economic basis. Frequently, these hidden champions are global market leaders in their respective fields and thus contribute significantly to the area’s economic performance. Furthermore, when it comes to inventiveness, the region is number one. For a firm with such a strong profile in the automotive and advanced engineering sectors, a Stuttgart-based office makes compelling sense.

Areas of practice

Gowling works seamlessly with all of its offices worldwide as well as with best friend firms in Germany and around the globe, which enables it to provide a cost-effective full service in any jurisdiction.

Through its close ties with German partner law firms, Gowling offers services across all areas of law, including a full-service M&A offering. The depth of the firm’s capabilities means it is always able to assign the right lawyers at the right level to any given job. Its service is partner-led and sector-focused, with in-house experience, and truly knows how corporates operate and what they expect.

Andreas Woelfle, who leads the Stuttgart office and the German corporate/M&A practice, can draw upon more than 20 years of experience in negotiating major and complex cross-border projects. Among the team’s clients, there are leading multinationals, public authorities and private equity-owned businesses. What is more, the lawyers based in Stuttgart bring with them significant expertise in regulated industries and compliance investigations.

Gowling has particular in-depth industry expertise in the automotive sector – a natural fit, with Stuttgart being a hub for numerous major auto manufacturers and suppliers. Its other speciality areas include manufacturing, tooling, engineering and tech.