Made to measure.
I am a Rechtsanwalt (German lawyer) for intellectual property, IT and business law, a specialist lawyer for information technology law (Fachanwalt) and a business mediator – your guide through my areas of law.
Practice areas
- Information technology law (IT law) – software development/distribution, IT projects, law of the information society and digitalization, Industry 4.0, web design, internet law, AI, data protection (General Data Protection Regulation – GDPR)
- General civil and commercial law, in particular sales law (e-commerce, selling Europe-wide), law on contracts for work, construction law (construction defects), neighbor law, service contracts, drafting and negotiating contracts, general terms and conditions (also in English); localization from the English-speaking world
- Employment law (telework / home office / remote work; actions for protection against dismissal)
- Intellectual property, in particular copyright, trademark law and protection of know-how (including warning letters, e.g. due to downloads via file sharing)
- Corporate law, cooperation law, cooperation between companies, GmbH, GbR, association law
- Media law, e.g. press law, publishing law, right of expression (e.g. publications, ratings, comments)
- Competition law, especially in e-commerce (e.g. web stores, general terms and conditions, advertising law, eBay, withdrawal notices)
- Business mediation
I take on questions from other areas of law if we agree on this.
I provide my legal services in a competent, experienced, qualified, discreet and reliable manner.
First call and initial consultation
The first call, by phone or by message, is usually free of charge and generally lasts up to 10 minutes. As a rule, you will already receive a rough initial legal assessment of the matter.
An initial consultation (Erstberatung, by phone/online) on one set of issues costs EUR 49.98 (incl. VAT) and usually lasts up to 30 minutes. This usually includes reviewing documents during the conversation. Within one conversation you receive an initial, summary consultation for a low flat fee. In many cases, this already clarifies the legal position for you. Also suitable for obtaining a second opinion! More information here.
Fees
In the absence of an express agreement, billing is governed by the German Lawyers’ Remuneration Act (Rechtsanwaltsvergütungsgesetz – RVG), which essentially bases the fees on the value in dispute. For many cases, this ensures proper legal work and a fair and reasonable fee.
For other cases, a fee agreement is concluded. The hourly rate is competitive; my way of working is digital, efficient and focused.
- Transparency: On request, you receive a record of the work done with every invoice.
- Budget: We can agree that I will inform you as soon as a certain amount has been reached; you can request an interim statement at any time.
- Reimbursement by the other side: If you win or settle, the other side usually only has to reimburse the statutory fees. Any agreed fee beyond that is borne by you.
For particularly accelerated processing beyond the usual, a surcharge of 25 % on the hourly rate may be agreed, and, where applicable, a further surcharge of 50 % for work outside regular business hours (weekends, public holidays, evenings). Meeting deadlines for which I have assumed responsibility does not, of course, depend on any additional agreement.
Levels of service
Especially when billing is based on time spent, the client essentially determines the effort to be made and thus his or her costs. The more legal work is done, the more secure the legal position usually is.
There are four different levels of service in the provision of my legal services; I will suggest which one suits your matter:
- Level 1 (Review): Assessment of the legal situation and brief check
I am often instructed to “look over the matter, assess what the legal position is and, if necessary, write a letter”. The client typically sets a rather tight time frame and the effort to be made; the costs are to be kept rather limited. The standard of performance is comparable to that of an initial consultation. - Level 2 (Standard): Proper processing and preparation of the necessary means
The matter is quite important to the client and must be dealt with properly, using reasonable time and appropriate legal means, but with a view to effort and costs. The effort is of a medium nature and quality. - Level 3 (Intensive): In-depth review and strategic safeguarding
The matter is very important to the client, and a correspondingly increased effort is justified. High costs are also justified in the overall view. - Level 4 (Academic): Systemic analysis and legal-philosophically grounded elaboration
Finally, there is the quasi-academic elaboration, where time and money hardly matter. Such an instruction is rather the exception.
Scope of the mandate
I attend court hearings, appointments with authorities and other appointments on your behalf myself or, where appropriate, through a suitably qualified colleague.
Location-independent
In suitable cases, appointments take place by video call or by telephone, and of course in person where necessary; this saves you travel time and travel costs. In handling your matter, I also make use of supporting technologies, including artificial intelligence, where this is sensible and compatible with my professional duty of confidentiality; the legal assessment and responsibility always remain with me personally.
When instructed in connection with a legal action (Klage), the following are not included without an express agreement:
The comprehensive review, preparation, assessment and procedural assertion of further claims or counterclaims of the client going beyond the mere defense against the claim asserted, in particular the review, preparation and filing of a counterclaim (Widerklage). Likewise not included without an express separate agreement is the review and assessment of whether the client has further claims beyond those already covered by the litigation mandate or the claim already asserted, and whether such claims can be asserted by way of an amendment of the claim (Klageerweiterung) or separately.
Tax and accounting aspects are generally not reviewed; please consult your tax advisor or auditor for these.
Your cooperation is a decisive factor in ensuring that my legal services help you achieve the best possible success. What you can contribute is described under How we work together.
Of course, you can contact me at any time regarding the desired service and the costs incurred or to be expected!
Legal expenses insurance is generally accepted; what it reimburses, however, depends on the insurance contract. The terms of engagement apply.