CMS supports national and international blue chip clients, medium-sized companies and start-ups in trade and distribution law matters and regularly acts across the automotive, energy, consumer goods and retail sectors. The team advises on commercial and procurement matters, large-volume distribution and price adjustment disputes, logistics, distribution antitrust law, franchise and liability issues as well as supply chain compliance in accordance with the new supply chain law. Lars Eckhoff is experienced in e-commerce and dealership matters and in 2024 took over the practice management from Gerald Gräfe, who focuses on the automotive sector. Further key contacts are Robert Budde, who is experienced in Italian distribution law, and Peter Endres (franchise, selective distribution systems).

With the addition of trade and distribution lawyer Silke Goschler and Susanne Weckbach (focus on the automotive, chemical and industrial goods sectors) from DLA Piper in late 2023, the team at Fieldfisher strengthened its practice and now also advises on leasing, supply agreements and online distribution in addition to supply chain compliance and distribution systems. Sara Bandehzadeh complements this with expertise in disputes; all three jointly lead the team.

Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner's trade and distribution practice boasts expertise in international distribution structures, trade and dealership agreements, distribution antitrust law and supply chain issues as well as disputes; the team routinely acts across the automotive industry in its support to dealership associations. The practice also advises clients from the medical technology, insurance and energy sectors and is jointly led by Sven Köhnen (distribution and distribution antitrust law) and Hendrik Thies (trade law); trade and corporate lawyer Jonas Laudahn was appointed to partner in January 2024.

Gleiss Lutz advises across borders and various sectors, including public sector clients, on traditional distribution law matters, trade agreements and disputes and is also well versed in supply chain compliance. Marc Ruttloff, who focuses on regulatory matters, and practice head Eric Wagner are experienced in supply chain due diligence; additionally, the duo jointly heads the firm’s ESG practice. Counsel Anna Pfarr focuses on contract law matters and product liability.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB supports clients in distribution matters, often in contentious contexts, and can also draw on strong IP expertise. The firm represents clients from industries such as consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and healthcare in both national and international disputes – from regulatory proceedings to arbitration proceedings. Practice group head Oliver Spieker combines experience in the areas of distribution antitrust law and intellectual property law.

Haver & Mailänder Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB primarily assists German medium-sized companies with distribution law matters and boasts expertise in distribution systems and cooperations, while also covering supplier and distribution disputes. The practice heads Christian Aufdermauer and Ulrich Schnelle regularly act at the interface with distribution antitrust law, while Alexander Hübner focuses on distribution and procurement law matters.

Heuking offers longstanding expertise in advising international medium-sized companies on trade and distribution law and, in addition to its distribution antitrust law competencies, the team also assists with the structuring of distribution systems as well as commercial agent and dealership agreements, including related disputes and supply chain matters. The team also advises its client roster, which includes renowned companies from the automotive, mechanical engineering, textile and chemical industries, on ESG and supply chain issues, here, Christoph Schork is the key contact. Practice head Reinhard Siegert is experienced in distribution and antitrust law as well as franchise matters.

Kunz Rechtsanwälte primarily advises medium-sized companies across the transport and logistics sectors on contract, distribution and franchise matters as well as related disputes and also offers industry expertise in the retail sector. The practice increasingly advises on ​​supply chain due diligence and is jointly led by Heiko Giermann, who is experienced in trade and logistics, and Dominic Steinborn, who advises on transport, logistics and insurance law.

Loschelder supports various medium-sized companies from the automotive and chemical industries as well as the healthcare, food and IT sectors in trade and distribution matters. The team is well versed in contract support pertaining to supply and distribution systems and also advises on supply chain compliance and trade disputes. The team is led by trade and distribution lawyer Hans-Georg Schreier and also includes Simon Kohm, who has expertise in distribution antitrust law.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH's trade and distribution law experts primarily assist clients from the logistics, automotive and healthcare sectors, including litigation, and recently took the lead in prestigious mandates in the energy sector. The mainstays include the advice on traditional trade, distribution and logistics law issues as well as commercial compliance, commercial AI matters and supply chain due diligence. The team is led by Steffen Gaber, who regularly acts in supplier disputes in the automotive industry, while Anne Wegner, who is well versed in matters pertaining to the automotive industry, logistics and chemical distribution, as well as Johannes Teichmann have in-depth expertise in distribution antitrust law. Maximilian Dorndorf regularly advises logistics services providers on trade agreements and is also experienced in advising on the online distribution of financial products.

LUTZ | ABEL RECHTSANWALTS PARTG MBB's distribution law expertise is regularly requested by medium-sized companies, which frequently stem from the automotive industry. Led by trade and distribution lawyer Marius Mann, who regularly leads in related arbitration proceedings, the practice increasingly advises on distribution antitrust matters, including franchising and selective distribution systems; Daniel Petzold and Ute Schenn are among the key contacts here. Anton Nußbaum is well versed in advising logistics companies.

Noerr's team acts integrated into the Digital Business Group and comprehensively advises on trade and distribution law issues across both the digitised as well as analogue segments. The practice is experienced in advising clients from the automotive industry on the implementation, audit and restructuring of distribution systems, the distribution of digitised products and supply chain due diligence. The team also acts across the healthcare and financial sectors and is well versed in disputes, advertising as well as contract and franchise matters, which is a core strength of Michael Reiling (focus on system catering, trading companies, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers) and of counsel Karsten Metzlaff. Albin Ströbl is well versed in distribution and distribution antitrust law matters pertaining to the automotive sector, while Tom Billing focuses on e-commerce, banking contract and distribution law and Cathrin Wentzel is experienced in cross-border supply chains, trade and distribution law as well as the automotive sector.

Taylor Wessing comprehensively advises various renowned automotive and consumer goods players on trade and distribution law, including the frequent support in matters pertaining to the US, Asia and Italy. Among the recent growth areas is the support in supply chain issues, including compliance and disputes, as well as distribution antitrust law; the latter area as well as franchising issues are core strengths of practice head Benedikt Rohrßen. The Commercial Agreements and Distribution practice fields logistics and transport expert Gregor Staechelin and also includes Peter Hofbauer, who regularly advises automotive clients on trade and distribution law, including litigation. Renowned Martin Rothermel is a key contact for supply chain compliance.