SERNETZ • SCHÄFER
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