Head of legal | Europcar Mobility Group Germany
Florian Agthe
Head of legal | Europcar Mobility Group Germany
How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?
We believe our company and legal department are well prepared for periods of instability or crises, as we have proven in similar situations that we adopt a proactive and adaptive strategy closely aligned with the overall business strategy.
What are the main cases or transactions that you have been involved in recently?
Our legal team has been involved in a wide range of complex cases and transactions. The most significant include the acquisition of our company by a consortium of bidders, among them a major automobile manufacturer, followed by its subsequent post-acquisition integration phase; litigation concerning an insurance contract for comprehensive and liability damages related to multiple claims against an insurance company undergoing bankruptcy proceedings; and the acquisition and upstream merger of a competing car rental company with various group entities.
How do you measure the impact of ESG initiatives on the company’s overall performance and reputation?
The measurement of the impact of our ESG initiatives is incorporated into our company’s risk analysis, conducted annually by our risk advisory department.
How have you integrated technology into your legal processes, and what impact has this had on efficiency and compliance?
From a legal operations perspective, we have integrated solutions that support our team in the following areas: legal spend and budget management, corporate housekeeping, and contract management with electronic signing functions.
What role does the legal department play in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility in your organisation?
The legal department at Europcar plays a crucial role in promoting and ensuring corporate social responsibility within our organisation. Every contract with our service providers is reviewed through the lens of our company’s commitments and the obligations of our suppliers. Furthermore, the legal department advises and supports Europcar’s Social Responsibility and Human Rights Officer in the annual risk analysis.
What do you see as the major legal challenges for businesses in Germany over the next five years, and how are you preparing to address them?
In my view, the legal challenges for companies in Germany over the next five years will be primarily characterised by advancing digitalisation, new regulatory requirements, and the issue of sustainability. Companies must prepare for these changes by continually adapting their internal structures, compliance systems, and risk management strategies. A proactive approach, based on transparency, flexibility, and forward planning, is crucial to minimising legal risks while exploiting opportunities in terms of innovation and market positioning.
Head of legal | Europcar Mobility Group Germany
Head of legal | Free Now
Starting his professional career as an expert lawyer in banking, corporate and competition law with Buse Heberer Fromm in 2011, Florian Agthe moved in-house with app-based ride-hailing services startup company...
