Christoph is a Senior Associate in our Disputes Practice in Frankfurt.
Christoph specializes in complex litigation and arbitration. He advises and represents national and international companies in all areas of business law and commercial law. Christoph focuses on litigation regarding capital markets as well as corporate and real estate acquisitions. He also has particular expertise in defending technology companies and financial institutions, inter alia, in mass litigation. He also advises clients in ESG litigation topics, including disputes relating to supply chains, sustainability, and climate change.
Background
Christoph studied law at the Philipps University of Marburg. Before and during his legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg, Christoph worked in international law firms in the field of Dispute Resolution. In 2018, he was admitted to the German Bar. Prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills, Christoph worked for an American tier 1 law firm in Frankfurt, where he was practicing Commercial Litigation. In addition to his client work, Christoph regularly publishes on civil law procedural and liability law topics.
Christoph taught civil law and European law at the University of Hamburg and Nanjing University of Finance and Economics (China). He is fluent in English and German.
Christoph is listed in "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Germany” for Litigation by Best Lawyers/Handelsblatt 2024.
Recent publications
- Author: "Ist das Leitentscheidungsverfahren beim Bundesgerichtshof tatsächlich ein effizienter Baustein für die schnelle Erledigung von Massenverfahren?" Herbert Smith Freehills - Litigation Notes Blog, July 2023
- Co-Author: "Bolstering class actions in Germany – The current state of play" Herbert Smith Freehills - Litigation Notes Blog, February 2023
- Co-Author: "The Regional Court of Stuttgart dismisses claim in a series of climate change lawsuits against automakers and oil and gas company " Herbert Smith Freehills - Climate Change Notes Blog, September 2022
- Co-Author: "German Climate Activists File Climate Change Lawsuits Against Major German Car Manufacturers To Prohibit Selling Combustion Engine Cars"- Lexology, September 2021
- Co-Author: "The New corporate Due Diligence Act: Potential liability under Civil law and Administrative law" - Lexology, July 2021
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
- a US investment bank in the enforcement of multi-million Euro renumeration claims arising from a consulting contract in connection with the acquisition of a healthcare group
- a US commercial bank as regards claims in relation to the delisting of a stock corporation
- a major German bank in pursuing its claims following the disclosure of a large-scale embezzlement scheme with the bank's fleet management
- a global logistics company in the enforcement of remuneration claims based on an open-book cost model (volume of several hundred million euros)
- a leading financial service provider in the defence against claims for damages in relation to payments withheld
- a German commercial bank in ICC arbitration against UAE-based burrowers and guarantors under German law multi-million Euro loan agreements
- a global company based in Australia from the entertainment and events industry in a DIS arbitration due to the disengagement from an M&A transaction. The buyer refused to close, citing financing difficulties and the general state of the cinema industry in light of the covid pandemic.
- a British life assurance, pensions and investments company in the defence against claims for damages in connection with life insurances*
- two US technology companies as regards claims in relation to internet platforms, associated products, and data protection*
- an Asian government on liability issues in connection with the German Supply Chain Act*
- a major German investment and asset management company in pursuing multi-million Euro claims for defects arising from the acquisition of an office building*
- a leading German investment and asset management company in the enforcement of multi-million Euro claims due to a flawed Technical Due Diligence in relation to the acquisition of an office building*
- a major German real estate company in pursuing claims for defects in relation to the acquisition of a contaminated project site (volume of several million euros)*
- a German mining company in the defence against multi-million Euro contractual claims following the sale of a coal mine in East Germany*
- a major German real estate company in the enforcement of a purchase price payment claim arising from the sale of a project site (volume of several hundred million euros)*
*prior to joining Herbert Smith Freehills
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