SERNETZ • SCHÄFER advises family business owners and wealthy private individuals on asset structuring and corporate succession, including the establishment of foundations, executing wills and inheritance disputes. In the non-profit sector, the team also assists church-related organisations and research foundations with foundation and corporate law issues, including cross-border disputes. Susanne Zwirlein-Forschner (inheritance and corporate law, litigation) and Frank Schäfer (asset succession, inheritance law, execution of wills, arbitration) jointly lead the team, which also includes Wolf-Dieter von Gronau, who is experienced in matters pertaining to ​​artists' estates.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'They are very competent and work very well together.'
  • 'Miss Dr. Zwirlein-Forschner is very intelligent, has a very good knowledge of German law and sees things from all perspectives. She works hard, quickly and very efficiently. So far she is the best lawyer I have ever had.'
  • 'Medium-sized and independent law firm at an extremely high level.'
  • 'Dr. Susanne Zwirlein-Forschner is empathetic, technically outstanding, fast, reliable and incredibly educated and a quick thinker.'
  • 'What is particularly noteworthy is the extreme care, speed and professionalism of the processing while at the same time extremely open, friendly and pleasant communication.'
  • 'The entire process is extremely polite, competent and efficient.'
  • 'I can't imagine better advice because all wishes are fulfilled or anticipated through forward thinking.'
  • 'Mrs. Dr. Zwirlein-Forschner looked after me and I was extremely satisfied. She is extremely competent, explains things very well and visually, and is extremely organized. In addition, Ms. Dr. Zwirlein-Forschner is very client-oriented and makes the entire process much easier. An excellent service with excellent specialist knowledge!!! '

Key clients

  • Michael Ende
  • Testamentsvollstrecker über den Nachlass Horst Sartorius
  • Stiftung Offene Chancen

Work highlights

  • Supervision of the execution of the will over the artistic estate of the writer Michael Ende and supervision of the film adaptation projects of his works.
  • Advising a large southern German family office on partially cross-border conversions with the aim of a succession-oriented allocation of assets in different family lines.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Susanne Zwirlein-Forschner, Frank Schäfer

Other key lawyers

Wolf-Dieter von Gronau