LEGAL+ | EXPERTISE
Disputes and contracts must be considered together.
The expertise of LEGAL+ is built on more than twenty years of deliberate work on two interrelated layers of commercial relationships: contract design and litigation in the event of a dispute.
From the very beginning, contracts and litigation have never been separate disciplines for me. I have drafted contracts that later had to withstand judicial scrutiny, and I have conducted proceedings in which precisely these contracts formed the basis of the court’s decision. Each case has informed the next contract, and many disputes can only be understood by analysing how the underlying contract was created and what function it was intended to fulfil.
Particularly in long-term client relationships, where I have accompanied business models and projects contractually and in litigation over many years, two complementary perspectives emerge on the same economic processes: forward-looking contract work and disputes over their implementation. What is regulated in the contract determines the later dispute landscape. What becomes visible in litigation sharpens the next contract.
This experience forms the foundation of the LEGAL+ approach: dispute and contract must be thought together. Contracts are therefore designed from the outset to anticipate the dispute scenario and to withstand conflict in practice. Litigation is conducted with a clear understanding of which considerations shaped the contract and how courts actually interpret comparable clauses.
The law firm for litigation and contract law - applied to your sector
Sales success needs contracts that hold
In trade and distribution, success depends not only on the product but also on legal structure. Vague exclusivity clauses, under-engineered commercial agency agreements, or unsuitable terms of delivery quickly lead to disputes—domestically and internationally. Typical areas of dispute range from compensation claims by former commercial agents to conflicts over international distribution networks and non-competition clauses.
Contracts as the engine, processes as enforcement
My work combines contract drafting and litigation. In sales, this means drafting contracts in such a way that they not only mitigate risks, but also actively secure market success – for example through clear structures for commission models, distribution rights or international supply chains. If a dispute does arise, I consistently enforce claims in court or defend against unfounded claims. Experience from litigation shows me where contracts fail in practice – and that’s exactly where I start when drafting them.
Trade and Distribution
Examples from my practice:
- Ongoing representation of a well-known consumer goods manufacturer in distribution matters
- Advice on setting up suitable distribution structures for a plant manufacturer for the Australian market
- Defense against commercial agent compensation claims
- Enforcement of commercial agent compensation claims
Leadership needs clear contracts – and strong legal protection
Managing directors, board members and shareholders bear great responsibility – and are often legally exposed. Many conflicts arise because contracts have gaps or duties are unclear: Managing director contracts without a clear delineation of responsibilities, shareholder agreements without effective compensation mechanisms or compliance rules without effective delegation. In a crisis, liability suits, internal disputes or compliance proceedings quickly arise.
My approach: corporate law with a litigation and contract vsion
I advise and represent executives and companies in liability and shareholder disputes – from defending against multi-million liability claims to enforcing shareholder rights. In parallel, I draft and review the associated contracts so that conflicts do not escalate in the first place. My litigation experience shows me which clauses are effective in the event of a dispute – and where companies are dangerously exposed. Drafting contracts here is not just protection, it is active risk management and the basis for a strong litigation position.
Managing director liability and compliance
Examples from my practice:
- Regular advice to managing directors on liability issues
- Comprehensive expert opinion on questions of management board liability of a DAX company for compliance violations
- Comprehensive compliance report for a nationally operating Volksbank due to board liability
- Drafting, review and revision of corporate agreements
- Support in shareholder disputes
- Advice on company formation
Projects rarely fail on technology – they fail on contracts and interfaces
In construction and plant engineering, projects move between tight schedules, complex supply chains and high investments. Problems arise where services are not clearly described, supplements are not clearly regulated or responsibilities are not clearly assigned. Delays, defects or acceptance problems then quickly lead to massive cost shifts – and to litigation.
Law as a tool for project success
I advise and represent companies in construction and plant engineering where contracts and procedure determine outcomes. I draft agreements so that change orders, warranty, and technical risks do not turn into incalculable disputes. If a case goes to court, I use experience from comparable projects to enforce or defend claims—often involving expert testimony and cross-border dimensions. From litigation I know which clauses hold up in practice and which project structures withstand judicial scrutiny. That experience flows directly back into drafting—so contracts secure projects rather than jeopardise them.
Machinery and plant engineering
Examples from my practice:
- Representation of a general contractor in several lawsuits in connection with a major plant construction project
- Lawsuit filed by a global leader in the field of metal recycling against major customer for breach of contract
- Legal representation in connection with the purchase of a wind turbine
- Representation in an extensive multinational dispute with suppliers and well-known automobile manufacturers
Typical conflicts in transport and logistics
Whether carrier, freight forwarder, shipping company or shipper – in transport law, conflicts almost always arise at the interfaces: Damage or losses en route, delays in delivery, customs issues or toll questions. In addition, there are complex contractual arrangements such as charter agreements or international framework agreements. Because transportation crosses borders, international contract and procedural law often plays a central role.
My approach: think contract and litigation together
I represent transport and logistics companies in contentious proceedings before German courts, frequently with an international dimension. At the same time, I draft and review my clients’ agreements so that disputes are avoided or channelled from the outset. In this way, my litigation experience flows directly into contract drafting—and vice versa.
Transportation, Logistics and Travel
Examples from my practice:
- Strategic litigation of a major global airline handling agent
- Drafting and review of general conditions of carriage of international logistics companies
- Ongoing legal representation of an international logistics group in liability cases due to loss, damage or delay
CONTACT
kontakt@legal-plus.eu
+49 (40) 57199 74 80
+49 (170) 1203 74 0
Bleichenbrücke 11 D-20354 Hamburg
Benefit from my active network!
I look forward to our networking.
This post is also available in: DE