Commercial litigation

Linklaters

Linklaters is considered one of the leading addresses for dispute resolution; since February 2024, the practice has been headed by Julia Grothaus, who is experienced in antitrust, post-M&A and corporate disputes. The team has in-depth expertise in banking and energy law disputes – including in connection with EU sanctions against Russia and ESG issues. Alongside its focus on energy sector conflicts, Alexandros Chatzinerantzis also handles construction, commercial and corporate disputes. Product liability and cartel damages claims, which are part of Rupert Bellinghausen's skill set, as well as commercial disputes and class actions represent additional practice cornerstones, while the team has recently also seen an increase in instructions from the automotive, healthcare, industrial and technology sectors. Counsel Anke Krause focuses on product liability proceedings, post-M&A arbitration proceedings and contractual conflicts, while Christian Schmitt specialises in national and international litigation and alternative dispute resolution, particularly with regard to contentious banking and capital market matters. Kerstin Wilhelm is also particularly adept in this area.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'Linklaters' advice is targeted and solution-oriented. In addition to its outstanding legal expertise, the practice has a great deal of experience in negotiation tactics. It is able to mobilise significant resources at short notice if necessary and/or incorporate expertise in foreign legal systems.'
'Very good team of reasonable size.'
'Christian Schmitt is very experienced and knowledgeable.'
'Strong technical advice, very deep into the topic, good handover within the team.'
'Outstanding technical expertise, uncomplicated and to the point communication, high availability and flexibility, at the same time partners and other contacts are unobtrusive and personable.'
'Julia Grothaus draws on extensive experience, but does not lecture, developing confident, creative and at the same time easily understandable solutions to complex problems. She develops appropriate solutions for complex tasks, and you receive an equally short and pragmatic answer to short inquiries.'

Work highlights

Defense of Erste Abwicklungsanstalt AöR (EAA) against the attempt by Portigon AG to shift its cum/ex tax liabilities of over €1 billion onto EAA.
Advising and representing EY in a mass action lawsuit regarding alleged breaches of duty of care by a German auditing firm that is a member of the same auditing network.
Advice and legal representation of VISA in the defense against cartel claims for removal, injunction and damages from several hundred banks in relation to the permission of direct customer fees in a four-party payment card procedure (stand-alone lawsuits).