LEGAL+ / INTERNATIONAL LITIGATION
Sue a German
Company?
A commercial claim against a German company needs a clear procedural route. I assess jurisdiction, evidence and the realistic prospect of recovery – and conduct proceedings in Germany personally.
THE STARTING POINT
First the route.
Then the claim.
A claim is only as useful as the judgment you can realistically obtain and enforce.
When a German business has failed to pay or perform, pursuing a claim requires more than setting out why your position is right. The first task is to determine whether the German courts are the correct forum – and whether litigation offers a commercially sensible route.
The dispute may concern unpaid invoices, advance payments, defective performance, termination, damages or obligations under a long-term supply or services agreement. The facts differ, but the need for disciplined preparation is the same.
Contract terms, jurisdiction clauses, delivery records and correspondence can determine where proceedings may be brought and how the claim should be presented. The defendant’s actual ability to pay belongs in that assessment too.
I examine the legal and commercial position, identify the decisive documents and take responsibility for proceedings before the German courts where litigation is justified.
INITIAL CLAIM ASSESSMENT
What needs to be checked first?
The right claim starts with a reliable picture of the defendant, the forum, the evidence and the economic objective.
Identify the German defendant
Confirm the correct legal entity, registered address and contractual relationship. A claim against the wrong company can waste time and costs.
Check jurisdiction and applicable law
Does the contract contain a jurisdiction or choice-of-law clause? If not, which rules govern where proceedings may be brought?
Establish the claim and evidence
Which performance was agreed, what happened in fact, and what documentary or witness evidence can prove the disputed points?
Assess recovery and procedural strategy
Is the debtor solvent, is enforcement in Germany likely to be meaningful, and should the matter begin with a demand, payment-order procedure or ordinary litigation?
A first assessment starts with the contract, the amounts involved and the key evidence.
YOUR DISPUTE / PRACTICAL GUIDES
Which situation are you facing?
A payment dispute requires a different approach from a delivery failure or a contested termination. Start with the issue closest to your case.
PAYMENT & RECOVERY
German Company Refuses to Pay an InvoiceAn unpaid commercial invoice may lead to a payment claim before a German court. Recovering Advance PaymentsYou paid in advance, but the German business did not provide what was agreed. Debt Collection in GermanyWhich route is appropriate when a German business has outstanding commercial debts? Is It Worth Suing in Germany?Weighing recoverability, evidence, cost and the prospects of obtaining a useful judgment.SUPPLY, DELIVERY & CONTRACTS
German Supplier Fails to DeliverWhat to examine when goods or agreed performance never arrive. Defective Goods from GermanyClaims and evidence in cross-border quality and performance disputes. Wrongful Termination by a German PartnerAssessing termination rights, damages and contractual consequences. Sue in Germany Without TravellingHow the initial steps of commercial litigation can be managed from abroad.Describe the transaction and the breach. The procedural route should follow the facts, not the other way around.
PERSONAL REPRESENTATION IN GERMANY
Your claim can be pursued from abroad.
Your business is outside Germany? Send me the essential contract and claim documents; we can begin the assessment without a trip to Germany.
Contact me about your claimThe commercial question comes first
Even a well-founded claim may be a poor investment if the defendant cannot pay or the evidence is insufficient. I examine those issues early, alongside likely costs and procedural risks.
A formal demand can be appropriate; in other cases immediate court action or a different route is needed. The choice should be deliberate.
A German lawyer takes the proceedings forward
I communicate with the court and opposing counsel, develop the pleadings and manage the evidence. You remain informed of the decisions that matter, without having to coordinate every procedural step from abroad.
Attendance at a hearing may become necessary depending on the case. The initial assessment, drafting and filing can usually be organised remotely.
PREPARING YOUR CLAIM
What documents should you send?
The most useful starting point is a clear factual record – not a long legal memorandum.
SEND YOUR DOCUMENTS
Email the principal documents, the amount claimed and a short explanation of what happened. I will personally review how to proceed with your enquiry.
kontakt@legal-plus.euAn initial enquiry does not interrupt or suspend any limitation period.
- The contract, order, order confirmation and any terms and conditions
- Invoices, payment records and the amount outstanding
- Delivery notes, acceptance records or evidence of non-performance
- Relevant emails and other correspondence with the German company
- Documents concerning complaints, defects, termination or set-off
- The German company’s exact name and registered address
- Information about assets, insolvency concerns or previous recovery efforts
I can identify which further documents are needed once the contractual and procedural position is clear.
LEGAL+ / DIRECT CONTACT
A claim against
a German company?
Let us address the procedural position first.
Tell me who owes or failed to perform, what you seek to recover and which documents support the claim. I will personally assess the procedural and commercial starting position.
Daniel Meier-Greve / Rechtsanwalt kontakt@legal-plus.eu +49 (40) 571 99 74 80