Hogan Lovells International LLP has expertise in corporate, advertising and commercial disputes, with a further focus on antitrust and insolvency disputes. The team, which is often appointed as chairman, sole or co-arbitrator in arbitration proceedings, is led by Karl Pörnbacher, whose expertise ranges from disputes in the energy industry, plant construction and infrastructure projects to post-M&A disputes and conflicts in the automotive, aviation and life sciences industries. Inken Knief, who regularly acts as an arbitrator, is also particularly well versed in these areas. Additionally, the practice was strengthened by the arrival of Thomas Nebel (antitrust, corporate and commercial disputes), who joined from Dentons in December 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Inken Knief is one of the best lawyers in Germany for pharmaceutical disputes. Top of the class!'

  • 'Very experienced team, close cooperation with other areas of the firm.'

  • 'Karl Pörnbacher is very pragmatic and solution-oriented.'

  • 'The team at Hogan Lovells LLP is characterised by excellent specialist knowledge of the law of various countries and, by bringing in colleagues from other Hogan Lovells offices in various countries, was always able to answer any questions that arose in the various legal areas competently and comprehensively and to comment on them in the arbitration proceedings.'

  • 'I can safely say that the team is made up of highly qualified professionals, each with their own unique approach to client matters. What I particularly appreciate about Hogan Lovells is the personal approach to each issue. Another outstanding quality that deserves attention is the attention to detail.'

  • 'I worked mainly with Karl Pörnbacher. He was highly professional, always available to me and always reacted very quickly to the steps that needed to be taken in arbitration proceedings.'

  • 'Hogan consistently demonstrates his expertise and deep knowledge of the legal field. We value their partnership and ability to provide sound advice in any situation.'

  • 'Ina Brock is a high-quality and transparent partner in the firm. She understands our business and is a great thought partner.'

Key clients

  • Moderna
  • Haemonetics S.A.
  • Lockheed Martin
  •  

Work highlights

  • Advising and defending Moderna in relation to ex-US product liability claims relating to a COVID-19 vaccine.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Karl Pörnbacher

Other key lawyers

Ina Brock, Sebastian Polly, Matthias Schweiger, Tanja Eisenblätter, Inken Knief, Thomas Nebel