Team

Team

Dr. Mark Wilhelm, LL.M.
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)
Master of Insurance Law

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-0
mark.wilhelm@wilhelm-rae.de

Dr. Mark Wilhelm specializes in insurance, reinsurance and liability.

He advises national and multi-national companies and stock corporations as well as reinsurers and social insurance carriers on issues regarding liability and coverage. He offers legal, strategic and tactical advice to managers and advises on liability, coverage and complex insurance products.

Liability

  • Strategic and tactical advice on important management decisions
  • Prevention and protection against liability risks for companies and their managers
  • Claiming against and defending managers
  • Coordination of complex multi causal liability cases

Coverage

  • Coverage disputes in commercial insurance
  • Issues regarding D&O insurance
  • Supervision / coverage counsel for reinsurers in international disputes
  • Run-off of insurance portfolios

Drafting/ development

  • Development of insurance products for special risks
  • Drafting of insurance contracts
  • Group insurance contracts
  • Financial reinsurance, ART, alternative financing

Mark worked several years for an international law firm. In spring 2006, he founded the law firm Wilhelm together with Lars Winkler. In the course of a post-graduate program of studies, he obtained the “Master of Insurance Law – LL.M.” He is a specialist solicitor (Fachanwalt) for insurance law.

Mark acts as a counselor in the field of negotiation. He gives lectures and seminars on this issue and is author of the book “Verhandeln im Schadenfall” (“Negotiation in the event of loss”).

Recommendations

Highly recommended in insurance law  (JUVE Handbook German Commercial Law Firms 2009/10 - 2015/16)

“Highly qualified and experienced“  (JUVE Handbook German Commercial Law Firms 2014/15)

“Combines ‘a comprehensive knowledge of the law, a quick grasp of issues and practical advice’“  (Legal 500 Germany 2016)

"Known for his experience in D&O and coverage matters. Sources commend his negotiating ability."  (Chambers Europe 2016)

Recommended in Insurance (Handelsblatt Best Lawyers since 2019)

 

Lars Winkler
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-0
lars.winkler@wilhelm-rae.de

Lars Winkler is Head of our Litigation-Team. 

He represents companies, public corporations and decision-makers to ward off claims or to assert damages or cover claims.

The first goal of our advice is always to find a pragmatic dispute resolution out-of-court. Often however, a judicial proceeding is inevitable. Our clients then profit from Lars‘ extensive trial experience and legal know-how in insurance and liability law, corporate law and labour law.

Litigation

  • Representing clients in litigations and arbitration proceedings particularly with regard to liability and insurance matters
  • Representing clients in appeal proceedings including appeal against denial of leave to appeal
  • Representation before labour courts and social courts

Litigation

  • Claiming against and defending managers and board members
  • Advice on issues regarding liability, employment and labour in critical business situations
  • Product liability law and product insurance law
  • Assessment and assertion of damages

Dispute resolution in further areas

  • Representation of companies in matters regarding the collective labour law (mergers, partial shut downs, section 613 a German Civil Code) 
  • Representation of social insurance carriers in disputes with third parties
  • Advice and representation of companies, board members and mangers in proceedings regarding individual labour law (e.g. protection against dismissal)

In 2012, the acquisition of the former Commerzbank subsidiary PJSC Bank Forum on which Lars and Dr. Friedrich Isenbart advised received the “Ukrainian Banker Award: M&A Deal of the Year” issued by the Ukrainian InvestGazeta.

Lars worked several years as a partner for a medium sized law. Previously, he worked as a tutor. In 2006, he founded the law firm Wilhelm together with Dr. Mark Wilhelm. He is a specialist solicitor (Fachanwalt) for labour law.

Recommendations

Highly recommended in insurance law  (JUVE Handbook German Commercial Law Firms 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16)

Recommended in Litigation (Handelsblatt Best Lawyers since 2016)

“Tough opponent in proceedings“  (JUVE Handbook German Commercial Law Firms 2014/15)

“Very good understanding of technologically difficult issues and their translation for the court”  (JUVE Handbook German Commercial Law Firms 2015/16)

"Lars Winkler is ‘very structured and analytical’"  (Legal 500 Germany 2016)

 

Felix Schaefer
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-0
felix.schaefer@wilhelm-rae.de

Felix Schaefer specializes in corporate and insolvency law. 

He advises companies and decision makers in critical business situations, for example in case of imminent insolvency or during corporate restructuring projects. He has extensive expertise in advising companies of the financial industry.

Advice

  • Advising managers on crucial decisions to avert liquidity crises
  • Advice on issues regarding insolvency law
  • Advice on capital market law

Development

  • Drafting of group restructuring concepts
  • Development of financial reorganization strategies
  • Conception and transaction of mergers, takeovers and joint ventures

Before joining Wilhelm Rechtsanwälte, Felix worked for several years as a partner with an international major law firm.

 

Dr. Fabian Herdter, LL.M. Eur.
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)
Master of International and European Business Laws

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-50
fabian.herdter@wilhelm-rae.de

Dr. Fabian Herdter specializes in insurance, reinsurance and liability.

He supports our clients in asserting and enforcing liability claims as well as in fighting off defense claims. He represents clients in coverage disputes, particularly in D&O and fidelity insurance. Fabian further assists our clients in drafting and reviewing insurance programs and in developing and revising group insurance concepts.

Liability and coverage

  • Advising managers and executive boards in the event of expected claims
  • Representing managers and members of executive boards in liability disputes
  • Assertion and enforcement of coverage claims in commercial insurance on behalf of companies
  • Advising reinsurers on coverage issues and on how to enforce such claims

Insurance programs and insurance contracts

  • Optimization of international insurance programs
  • Identifying gaps in coverage in layer based insurance programs
  • Improving primary and excess cover (harmonization of insurance terms)
  • Improving co-insurance concepts
  • Drafting of insurance and reinsurance contracts
  • Review of insurance terms and conditions in order to avoid gaps in coverage

Group insurance

  • Drafting of group insurance concepts
  • Examination of existing group insurance contracts (liability risks, tax issues, suggestions for improvement)

Fabian obtained his doctorate on group insurance as a research assistant at the Institute for Insurance law in the House of Finance at the Goethe-University Frankfurt. He gave lectures at the Université Lumière Lyon and at the Open University Hagen. Fabian holds a Master of European and International Business Laws (LL.M. Eur.). He is business fluent in English and French. Before coming to Wilhelm, he worked as a lawyer in the practice group Insurance/ Reinsurance of an international law firm.

Recommendations:

Highly recommended in insurance law  (JUVE Handbook German Commercial Law Firms 2015/16)

"Analytically outstanding" (Legal 500 Germany 2017/18)

Recommended in Insurance (Handelsblatt Best Lawyers since 2019)

 

Dr. Friedrich Isenbart
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-21
friedrich.isenbart@wilhelm-rae.de

Dr. Friedrich Isenbart specializes in corporate law, compliance, regulatory and reinsurance law.

Friedrich advises on domestic and cross-border transactions (asset and share deals) and on issues concerning capital market and regulatory law. He has particular expertise with transactions in the financial industry.

A further focus of his advice is on compliance and the organization of companies. He advises clients on the optimization of internal processes and structures as well as on the development of effective compliance systems. 

Friedrich furthermore advises reinsurers in the context of major liability proceedings (litigation monitoring) and on coverage issues.

Transactions

  • Domestic and cross-border M&A-transactions and private equity investments
  • Restructurings
  • Asset deals (esp. real estate and loan portfolios)

Compliance

  • Assessment and optimization of processes and organizational structures
  • Design of compliance systems and advice on their implementation
  • Advice on compliance requirements

Regulatory and capital market law

  • Advice on Solvency II
  • Capital market law (esp. securities trading law, MiFID II)
  • Regulatory advice on transactions in the banking and insurance sector 

Reinsurance

  • Advice in major (national and international) liability proceedings (litigation monitoring)
  • Advice on coverage issues under reinsurance agreements
  • Regulatory advice

Friedrich worked with a major international law firm in the areas of corporate and restructuring as well as with a renowned German law firm specializing in banking law. He studied law in Osnabrück, Paris und Lausanne.

Friedrich received the Financial Business Award 2014 and Law Award 2015 for Wilhelm Rechtsanwälte (both in the category Private Equity) issued by Finance Monthly Magazine. In 2012, the acquisition of the former Commerzbank subsidiary PJSC Bank Forum on which Lars Winkler and Dr. Friedrich Isenbart advised received the “Ukrainian Banker Award: M&A Deal of the Year” issued by InvestGazeta.

 

Tobias Wessel
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-29
tobias.wessel@wilhelm-rae.de

Tobias Wessel represents clients in legal disputes, in particular in the area of property insurance law.

With his experience in litigation and out-of-court conflict resolution, Tobias asserts among others claims for damages or recourse and coverage claims or defends clients against unjustified claims.

He has extensive knowledge and experience in property and technical insurances. He regularly represents insured companies against insurers to enforce claims arising, among others, from fire and business interruption insurance.

Litigation and settlement of disputes

  • Representation in court proceedings
  • Enforcement of claims (e.g. for damages or insurance payment)
  • Out-of-court representation and settlement negotiations to resolve disputes

Property insurance

  • Enforcement of insurance claims arising from property and technical insurance, e.g. machinery insurance, fire insurance, business interruption insurance and EAR insurance
  • Substantiation of damage caused by production stoppages, malfunctions and delay in start-up (e.g. of power plants or production facilities)
  • Advice on the drafting of insurance contracts for industrial and construction companies

Tobias studied law in Freiburg im Breisgau. During his legal internship, he worked with a nationwide law firm specializing in liability and insurance law and represented clients in numerous liability proceedings.

Recommendations:

Recommended in Insurance (Legal 500 Germany 2021)

 

 

Magdalena Möhlenkamp
Lawyer (Rechtsanwältin)
Certified Compliance-Officer 

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-57
magdalena.moehlenkamp@wilhelm-rae.de

Magdalena Möhlenkamp advises companies and decision makers on corporate and liability law.

Magdalena focuses among others on risk management and the design of compliance systems. She advises companies and decision makers on minimizing liability risks, for example in the context of transactions and investments or in critical situations of the company. In this context, she considers insolvency and insurance law issues.

Corporate law

  • Advisory of companies and decision makers on corporate design options
  • Preparation of decisions of managers and supervisory boards with regard to the prevention of personal and corporate liability
  • Restructuring and reorganization

Compliance

  • Drafting and design of compliance systems
  • Assessment and optimization of processes and organizational structures
  • Advice on individual measures with regard to the avoidance of personal and corporate liability

Liability

  • Evaluation of liability potentials
  • Advising companies and decision makers in crisis
  • Advice of decision makers on (imminent) claims for damages

Magdalena studied law at the University of Passau and at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Bonn. She passed a specialist language training for lawyers in English. During her legal traineeship, she worked with a leading corporate law firm specializing in property and liability law in New York City. She is a certified Compliance-Officer.

Magdalena is also Vice President of the Supervisory Board of Bonn Conference Center Management GmbH (BonnCC).

 

Dr. Andreas Shell
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-0
andreas.shell@wilhelm-rae.de

As former Global Head of Claims with a multinational insurer, Dr. Andreas Shell is one of the leading experts in Germany for property insurance. 

After more than 25 years of experience in commercial insurance, Andreas today advises reinsurers as well as insured companies on claims settlement and related insurance issues.

Policy holder advice

  • Supporting policy holders during claim settlement, in particular re the communication with insurers
  • Representation in negotiations with insurers and before international arbitral courts
  • Pre-contractual advice on individual risks and on drafting of property insurance policies

Re-insurance advice

  • External Claims Control Counsel (loss adjuster) re medium-sized and major insured events
  • Advising on cost-optimization in claims handling and on accumulation of reserves
  • Party representation in (re-)insurance arbitration

For many years, Andreas was responsible for the settlement of major damages around the world at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS), for example coordinating the claims settlement across all lines after September 11, 2001. A special focus of his expertise is on property, energy and technical insurance.

Andreas knows how insurers decide, argue and negotiate, which helps him advising insureds with complex major losses seeking cover.

He is fluent in English, French and Italian.

 

Petra Ruf
Lawyer (Rechtsanwältin)

Tel +4930817273280
petra.ruf@wilhelm-rae.de

Petra Ruf advises clients in liability and insurance law as well as banking and capital markets law at our Berlin office.

Her focus is on out-of-court and in-court dispute resolution. She has many years of litigation experience and expertise in pragmatic conflict resolution. In particular, she has conducted a large number of successful proceedings before district and higher regional courts throughout Germany, especially in the areas of prospectus liability and professional liability.

She advises policyholders on insurance law, including claims from commercial property insurance and liability insurance.

Liability and insurance

  • Assessment and enforcement of claims, among others against managing directors, advisors and shareholders 
  • Advice and representation in coverage law disputes re commercial insurance (property and liability insurance)

Banking and capital market law

  • Liability law advise on investment models and capital market instruments 
  • Enforcement of and defense against claims arising from prospectus liability and investment advice

Petra is a specialist solicitor for insurance law as well as for banking and capital market law. She studied law at the University of Konstanz. Before joining WILHELM, she worked for more than 10 years in medium-sized law firms and conducted a hig number of proceedings in capital market and insurance law.

 

 

Alicia Verdugo Morales
Rechtsanwältin

Tel +4921168774628
alicia.verdugo-morales@wilhelm-rae.de

Alicia Verdugo Morales advises our clients on insurance law and liability law. 

She regularly clarifies matters of damages or coverage in the context of directors' and officers' liability and breach of fiduciary duty. She also contributes her expertise in criminal and labor law in order, for example, to be able to take coordinated action at all levels against damaging parties and responsible parties in cases of fraud or breach of trust.

She advises companies and their insurance brokers on the drafting of group-wide insurance concepts and on the structuring of insurance purchasing. As part of our advisory team on the consequences of the Corona crisis, Alicia is also representing a number of restaurant and hotel owners to enforce claims arising from business closure insurance.

Insurance and liability

  • Assessment of insurance claims, inter alia, under D&O and fidelity insurance policies
  • Judicial assertion of claims under the company's own property and liability insurance policies (e.g. under business closure insurance)
  • Examination and drafting of insurance programs and individual policies

Criminal law

  • Supporting companies in dealing with compliance incidents
  • Filing criminal charges against damaging parties, coordinating cooperation with investigative authorities

Labor law

  • Advice of companies on labor law issues
  • Employment law advice to decision-makers in the context of breach of trust and directors' and officers' liability cases

Alicia studied law in Tübingen. Before being admitted as a lawyer, she had already spent two years with the law firm WILHELM as a research assistant and legal trainee working on major claims. In addition, she worked at the federal headquarters of a leading employees' association during her optional legal training and completed internships at renowned criminal law firms. She is fluent in English, French and Spanish.

 

 

Dr. David Ulrich, LL.M. 
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel +49308172732840
david.ulrich@wilhelm-rae.de

As part of our Berlin team, Dr. David Ulrich advises clients on liability and insurance law.

One of his main focuses is directors' and officers' liability and D&O insurance. He represents decision-makers in defending liability claims and in coverage disputes against the D&O insurer. In this context, he also advises managers on issues of criminal law protection and in settlement proceedings of the German Federal Cartel Office. In addition, Dr. David Ulrich evaluates potential claims for damages against former decision-makers on behalf of companies and advises companies on the efficient settlement of claims.

Dr. David Ulrich also has extensive knowledge and experience in the areas of competition law and compliance. As a research assistant, he worked for major international law firms in the areas of internal investigations and antitrust law and was involved in negotiations with the German Federal Cartel Office as well as in the largest antitrust damages action in Germany to date.

Liability

  • Defending managers as well as claiming damages against managers
  • Advising companies on options for action after financial loss and compliance incidents
  • Advice on antitrust damages as well as competition law risks and antitrust compliance issues

Insurance

  • Advice of decision makers on D&O-insurance matters and criminal legal protection insurance
  • Assertion of claims, in particular from liability and fidelity insurance

Dr. David Ulrich obtained his doctorate from the European-University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) on the subject "The direct claim against the D&O-insurer". He holds a Master in European and International Commercial Law from the University of Kent.

 

Valerie Steinwachs
Lawyer (Rechtsanwältin)

Tel +4921168774614
valerie.steinwachs@wilhelm-rae.de

Valerie Steinwachs is specialized in property insurance, product liability and product liability insurance.

She advises clients on product liability issues in connection with the production, inspection or further processing of defective products. She assists manufacturers and purchasers in defending or asserting product liability claims and gives advice on the legal aspects of product recalls. Valerie enforces claims against insurers under product liability insurance policies and recall cost insurance policies.

Following industrial damages such as factory fires, explosions or natural hazards, she examines coverage issues and asserts claims on behalf of our clients under fire and business interruption insurance policies, machinery insurance policies or assembly insurance policies.

She is also currently representing a number of restaurant and hotel owners in court to enforce claims under business closure insurance in connection with the COVID crisis.

Property insurance:

  • Insurance law assessment of business interruption/loss of revenue damages and property damages
  • Advice on critical clauses and contract drafting in technical insurance and other industrial insurance policies
  • Representation of industrial policy holders in claims settlement against the insurer

Product liability and product liability insurance:

  • Defense against product liability claims arising from allegedly defective products
  • Preservation and assertion of recourse against third parties (e.g. suppliers)
  • Review and assertion of claims under product liability and recall cost policies

Why does Valerie pursue these above mentioned legal specialty areas? Already as a child, she accompanied her father, an industrial insurance broker, to inspect claims sites. Thus, she remained passionate about industrial insurance, chose it as her major and it subsequently became a focus of her studies.

During her legal traineeship in the Foreign Claims Department of the industrial insurer HDI in Chicago, she handled major claims of foreign companies in the U.S. (with a focus on product liability). During her legal traineeship with the law firm Wilhelm, she focused on major claims settlement.

Valerie holds both German and U.S. citizenship and grew up bilingually. She lived in France for two years during her studies, where she worked in the European Parliament, and is also fluent in French.

 

 

Raimund Mallmann
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 4634
raimund.mallmann@wilhelm-rae.de

Raimund Mallmann advises our clients on conflict resolution in liability and insurance law disputes.

A focus of his work is the representation of decision-makers in defending against claims for compensation. Our clients benefit from his additional expertise in corporate law, which he gained when working for a law firm specializing in corporate and tax law.

Liability defense

  • Defending managers against D&O liability claims, currently for example in connection with the Hypo Real Estate complex
  • Advising on aspects of corporate law and matters regarding employment law in the context of possible D&O liability

Insurance law

  • Representation of companies against insurers to enforce claims under business closure insurance policies
  • Assessment of claims for coverage, among others from commercial insurance and personal insurance policies

Raimund Mallmann studied law at the Universities of Bonn and Sevilla. He speaks English and Spanish fluently.

 

Jem Schyma
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel +49308172732810
jem.schyma@wilhelm-rae.de

Jem Schyma advises clients at our Berlin office on liability and insurance law. 

He focuses on property and technical insurance as well as business interruption. When an insured event occurs, Jem helps policyholders settle claims quickly by advising on how to comply with obligations and how to communicate with the insurer.

He examines questions of insurance coverage, accompanies expert proceedings and represents clients in case of disputed issues with the insurer.

In product liability cases, Jem applies his insurance and technical expertise to clarify liability and coverage issues of manufacturing companies - e.g., to defend against third-party claims or to enforce cover claims under product liability and recall cost insurance policies.

Property and technical insurance

  • Clarification of the facts and coordination of expert proceedings after major incidents
  • Assessing insurance law issues, e.g. re breaches of obligations, allegations of gross negligence or the effectiveness of exclusions and other clauses
  • Negotiation and litigation to enforce insurance claims

Product liability

  • Advising manufacturers and customers in case defective products where distributed
  • Defense against or enforcement of liability claims
  • Solving legal problems relating to product liability coverage

Jem studied law at the Humboldt University of Berlin. During his legal clerkship (among others with our law firm), he specialized in insurance law. In addition to his work as a lawyer, he is currently completing a master's degree in insurance law at the Technical University of Cologne.

Further, he regularly publishes expert articles on current insurance law issues in his own column in FOCUS Money together with Malte Krohn. Jem speaks English and French.

 

Johannes Laiblin
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel +492116877460
johannes.laiblin@wilhelm-rae.de

Johannes Laiblin advises our clients on insurance law and corporate law matters.

Insurance 

  • Assessment of insurance terms and conditions after property and liability damages
  • Conflict resolution in coverage disputes with the insurer

Corporate Law

  • Advice on corporate law measures, incorporations, changes of legal form, mergers, etc.
  • Assessment of liability claims against current or former managing directors

Johannes studied law in a combined degree program "Unternehmensjurist [Corporate Legal Counsel] LL.B." at the University of Mannheim. During his studies, he worked for a major international law firm and was able to gain experience in the advice on infrastructure projects (e.g., structuring public-private partnerships) as well as in compliance (here, in particular, in internal investigations).

During his legal clerkship, Johannes worked i.a. as a research assistant in our firm and assisted in the resolution of disputes about insurance cover. In this context, he also published on issues of business closure insurance in the journal VersR.

 

 

Michael Rausch
Patent Attorney (Patentanwalt), Of Counsel

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-0
Mobile +491722009370
michael.rausch@wilhelm-rae.de

As part of our practice group Corporate & Compliance, patent attorney Michael Rausch advises companies on all aspects of intellectual property.

One focus of his advice is the comprehensive identification and protection of our clients' intellectual property rights and the inclusion of such rights as an asset in transactions or investments. Our joint services comprise:

  • Collecting and evaluating intangible assets (such as patents, industrial designs, trademarks, as well as developments, constructions or licenses) of companies in preparation of transactions and financing rounds
  • IP risk management: advice on the coverage and insurance of intellectual property rights, e.g. through warranty insurance and patent protection insurance
  • Support in design, trademark and patent application and advice on avoiding trademark or patent disputes with third parties
  • IP-legal due diligence in the context of M&A projects

Michael has been working as a patent attorney for national and international companies for more than 30 years. He is authorized to represent clients before all intellectual property authorities in Germany and the EU (German Patent and Trademark Office, German Federal Patent Court, German Federal Supreme Court as appellate instance for the German Federal Patent Court, European Patent Office, EUIPO, World Intellectual Property Organization).

Prior to his legal studies in Munich, Michael studied aerospace engineering and was then responsible for the maintenance and repair of aircraft as leading engineer. He is fluent in English. In his spare time Michael is a passionate sailor.

 

 

Christian Jurascheck
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-28
christian.jurascheck@wilhelm-rae.de

Th. Christian Jurascheck advises and represents companies and private persons in all areas of commercial criminal law.

Christian has comprehensive experience and expertise in navigating clients through complex investigation proceedings conducted by public prosecutors and in defending clients in white collar crime trials.

He also coordinates internal investigations following suspected compliance breaches and helps to develop and optimize compliance management systems.

Defense

  • Individual defense in investigations and criminal proceedings
  • Defense and advice regarding disgorgement and fines
  • Criminal tax and customs proceedings, corruption criminal law, money laundering, insolvency criminal law

Compliance Advisory

  • Internal Investigations (in suspected cases)
  • Conducting interviews with employees
  • Research and evaluation of files, emails and other digitally stored data
  • Development of compliance management systems
  • Advice on voluntary disclosures (tax related)
  • Selection and coordination of further specialists

Christian is available at short notice with his strategic procedural experience to provide advice also in time-critical situations – for example during searches by public prosecutors.

 

 

Bernd Guntermann, LL.M.
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)
Master of Laws (Commercial Criminal Law)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-0
bernd.guntermann@wilhelm-rae.de

Bernd Guntermann specializes in commercial criminal law and tax criminal law

He supports and represents decision makers during preliminary proceedings and in lawsuits. In addition to the defense of individuals, he coordinates the simultaneous defense of multiple board members or employees on behalf of their company. He works closely with our practice group D&O Liability and Insurance in order to resolve civil and criminal law-related liability issues comprehensively.

Bernd advises companies in critical business situations, for example during internal investigations prior to possible preliminary proceedings. Furthermore, he helps clients avoiding risks concerning commercial and tax criminal law. He advises board members and company owners on the development and optimization of compliance programs.

Defense and representation

  • Individual defense of decision makers and private individuals
  • Coordinating the simultaneous defense of several board members
  • Defending companies in cases of disgorgement and company fines
  • Defense in criminal proceedings regarding tax and customs law
  • Corruption and proprietary criminal law, insolvency criminal law
  • Immediate support in cases of search or arrests:  +49 172 2042798

Advice and development

  • Internal investigations
  • Drafting and evaluation of compliance systems
  • Criminal due diligences in the course of transactions
  • Compliance and advice for real estate and investment companies
  • Advice during critical tax audits
  • Advice on voluntary disclosures

Bernd works as an Of Counsel with Wilhelm Rechtsanwälte. He holds a Master in Commercial Criminal Law and is a specialist solicitor (Fachanwalt) for tax law as well as for commercial and corporate law.

 

D. Jürgen Wolters
Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt)

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-43
juergen.wolters@wilhelm-rae.de

Dr. Jürgen Wolters is an expert in liability and financial lines.

As Of Counsel to our law firm, he represents companies and decision-makers in dispute resolution and advises on issues such as the drafting of commercial insurance policies.

Dispute resolution / Litigation

  • Assertion of and defense against claims for damages (liability)
  • Clarification of liability issues of managers (D&O liability and insurance)
  • Negotiations with insurers and third parties to settle industrial claims (liability, property, cyber)
  • Legal representation in proceedings before regional (LG) and higher regional (OLG) courts

Advice

  • Insurance law advice on all questions of pecuniary loss liability
  • Drafting of coverage concepts and insurance terms for complex liability risks of the industry
  • Drafting and negotiation of insurance contracts for property and liability policies
  • Insurance supervisory law advice
  • Strategic advice to the insurance industry (insurers, brokers, insurtechs, captives, etc.)

Dr. Jürgen Wolters has many years of experience and expertise in liability and insurance law – including as a partner in commercial law firms. He was also a member of the supervisory board as well as of the executive board – at times as chairman of the executive board – of a German insurance company specializing in private and commercial risks.

Dr. Jürgen Wolters is also a co-founder, former chairman and honorary member of the German Society for Property Damage Liability (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Vermögensschadenhaftpflicht e.V.). He holds the title of a specialist solicitor for insurance law and speaks fluent Italian and English.

 

Christoph Manke
PR & Business Development

Tel + 49 (0)211 68 77 46-54
christoph.manke@wilhelm-rae.de

Christoph Manke works with Wilhelm as communication consultant specializing in crisis communication and litigation PR. 

He advises our clients on all aspects of public relations to help avoid reputation damages in a crisis. Christoph coordinates legal strategies and the accompanying external communication. He cooperates closely with our clients' communication departments and the legal counsels.

By planning all communication strategically and by keeping close and cooperative contact to the relevant journalists, Christoph offers important support to clients in various situations:

Crisis communication

  • Development of communication strategies to help resolve a crisis
  • Adressing the media actively (press releases, press conferences) and acting as a contact person for journalists (interim press spokesman)
  • Development of wordings (Q&As) that prepare managers and employees for press inquires
  • Advice on the communication vis-à-vis employees and business partners in times of crisis

Litigation PR

  • Implementation of accompanying PR measures supporting the litigation
  • Coordination of the litigation strategy with the client’s public relations strategy
  • Monitoring and analysis of media coverage

Before joining our firm, Christoph  worked as a PR consultant in a leading German PR agency focusing on corporate, financial and crisis communication. He works with various journalists and PR experts.

Christoph is contact person for all press inquiries regarding our firm’s work.

 

Natascha Ambrogio
Management and Insurance Assistant

 

Nicole Hörnke
Lawyer's Certified Senior Assistant
Head of Administration

 

Christina Schulz
Assistant

 

Karolina Absalon
Assistant

 

Janina Reuschenbach
Assistant

 

Katy Kessing
Assistant Foreign Accounts

 

Katarina Lahn
Accounting Assistant

 

Nadine Grosch
Assistant

 

Fadoua Channouf
Apprentice

 

Melissa Seifialou
Apprentice