When foreign companies need to react to a German judgment

Typical situations include:

• You have just received a judgment from a German court and disagree with the outcome
• You lost by default because no proper defence was filed in time
• You were represented, but the case was handled without a clear strategy
• Only now do you see the full financial and practical consequences of the decision

In all these constellations, the first step is to check which procedural instruments are still open.

Appeal and other remedies against German court decisions

German law provides structured remedies, but they are strictly limited by:

• Time limits running from service of the decision
• The type of decision (final judgment, default judgment, order)
• The level of court (first instance or appeal court)

In some cases, a full appeal on facts and law is possible. In others, only specific procedural attacks or applications are available.

The options are not decided by feeling, but by the exact form and timing of the judgment.

Default judgments and missed deadlines

Many foreign companies are confronted with a German default judgment because they did not react in time or did not understand the court documents.

In such cases, special remedies may be available, but:

• They must be filed within tight deadlines
• They require a clear explanation of why the default occurred
• They must satisfy formal requirements under German procedure

If these steps are not taken correctly and on time, the default judgment usually becomes final and enforceable.

My role in post-judgment strategy

I am a German litigation lawyer focused on commercial disputes and cross-border proceedings.

In post-judgment situations my work is:

• To review the judgment and the procedural history
• To identify any remaining remedies or strategic moves
• To give a clear recommendation whether to escalate, negotiate or stabilise the situation

Sometimes an appeal or other remedy is justified and promising. Sometimes the better strategy is to use the judgment as a basis for controlled negotiation and to limit damage.

Common mistakes after losing a case in Germany

Foreign companies often:

• Assume that nothing can be done and wait
• Try to negotiate while legal deadlines continue to run
• Rely on informal advice instead of checking the concrete procedural position
• Underestimate the speed with which enforcement can start in Germany

The damage in many cases is not caused by the judgment itself, but by passivity afterwards.

Costs and risk structure in appeal and post-judgment proceedings

Appeals and other remedies in Germany involve additional court and legal fees that are linked to the amount in dispute.

The central questions are:

• Is there a real legal or procedural opening, not just dissatisfaction with the result?
• Wie hoch ist das Vollstreckungsrisiko, wenn nichts unternommen wird?
• Steht der mögliche Gewinn einer Anfechtung in einem vernünftigen Verhältnis zu den Mehrkosten und zum Zeitaufwand?

A structured assessment at this stage prevents throwing good money after bad – and avoids giving up viable options too early.

When you should act

You should seek urgent legal assessment if:

• You have received an unfavourable German judgment and do not understand its impact
• A default judgment has been issued against your company
• You know that enforcement measures in Germany may start soon
• You are within a few weeks of service of the decision

In post-judgment situations, the calendar often decides what is still possible.

German litigation lawyer for post-judgment work

I represent foreign companies in appeals and other post-judgment proceedings before German courts and in the strategic handling of enforcement risk.

Focus of my work:

• Appeals against German commercial judgments
• Attacking default judgments where possible
• Developing realistic strategies after losing at first instance