Gleiss Lutz has long maintained a product liability offering and it prizes collaboration with its teams in compliance, dispute resolution, and regulatory law. Its clients include public bodies and some of the foremost global names in cosmetics and automotive manufacturing. The joint leaders of the practice are Eric Wagner, an expert in contractual disputes and the defence of liability claims and class actions, and Marc Ruttloff, whose focus is on the public law and regulatory aspect of such disputes. Enno Burk is also noted for his public law expertise, while Simon Wagner bolsters the firm’s commercial contracts capacity. Lisa Kappler is a further key figure, assisting with the range of matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘In-depth knowledge, ability to understand global legal regimes and their applicability to their clients, commercial bent of mind, and client service!’
- ‘The individual partners I worked with are the best in the domain, available, intelligent, understanding of client needs and always responsive.’
- 'Gleiss Lutz’s product liability team distinguishes itself by offering unmatched command over complex liability matters - from preventive risk avoidance and seamless recall coordination to masterful defence in cross-border litigation and authority proceedings - backed by a truly global network and deep industry insight.'
- 'Marc Ruttloff distinguishes himself through his sharp strategic thinking and calm handling of high-stakes, cross-border cases. He is both detail-oriented and pragmatic, giving us clear guidance and confidence in managing complex liability risks and proceedings.'
- 'Gleiss Lutz couples classic civil‑law defense with capability to manage related regulatory and criminal inquiries, evidence preservation and crisis response excellent. Gleiss Lutz stands out by combining heavyweight dispute‑resolution capacity with a strong investigations/compliance practice, enabling seamless management of litigation and any regulatory exposure.'
Work highlights
Advised a manufacturer of skincare products on a product compliance and liability matter, with affected customers all over the world.
Represented the Federal Republic of Germany in the defence of recourse claims by COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers regarding their agreed indemnification under EU treaties.
Acted for several car manufacturers, coordinating defence counsel in one of the world’s biggest safety issues in the automotive sector ever, regarding airbags.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Eric Wagner; Marc Ruttloff
Other key lawyers
Enno Burk; Simon Wagner; Lisa Kappler