Company Law Network

After a three-year hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the company law network was able to hold an in-person event once again on 29 June 2022. The commercial law firm Hengeler Mueller, in collaboration with the Chair of Private Law and Company Law, hosted a workshop entitled ‘Takeover Battles – Companies and Lawyers in Exceptional Circumstances’. The team visiting Regensburg consisted of two partners and four associates. First, one of the partners gave a presentation on the firm itself. All members then provided brief insights into their day-to-day work before the workshop began. This clearly demonstrated to the participants just how much work, energy and time goes into a takeover. The session not only examined both parties involved but also provided an insight into the lawyers’ own work.

Finally, Hengeler Mueller hosted a dinner at the ‘Gänsbauer’ in Regensburg’s old town. There, the participants were able to ask all their questions, both regarding the fascinating workshop topic and about working in a large law firm. This led to fruitful discussions, during which participants were given the opportunity to get to know the firm better in terms of career prospects and its strategic direction.

On 17 January 2019, the commercial law firm Hengeler Mueller, in collaboration with the Chair of Private Law and Company Law, hosted a workshop entitled ‘Takeover Battles – Companies and Lawyers in Exceptional Situations’.
Following a warm welcome from Professor Servatius, the visiting team – comprising two partners and four associates – first introduced the firm itself, before the two partners began to examine, using a case study, the public takeover of a company from the perspective of the acquirer, the target company and the advising lawyers.
The lawyers’ presentation clearly demonstrated that this is a highly nerve-wracking yet extremely exciting phase of their work, in which every minute counts and every decision must be scrutinised meticulously despite enormous time pressure.
Once they had discussed how the parties should act in the specific situation and what risks they face at the various stages of the takeover, the discussion continued over dinner at the ‘Roter Hahn’.
However, Hengeler Mueller organised this dinner not only to explore the workshop’s topic in greater depth, but also to give the participants – who, due to their varying stages of training, had a wide range of questions about working in a large law firm – the opportunity to get to know the firm and its approach to careers and professional development in greater detail.

On 28 November 2018, the commercial law firm Latham & Watkins, in collaboration with the Chair, organised a lecture on the ‘diesel issue’ at the University of Regensburg.
After Prof. Servatius had welcomed the students, PhD candidates and assistant professors, Dr Rieder gave an insightful lecture, examining the diesel issue from all legal perspectives. Such a clear and concise presentation of such a highly topical issue is certainly of great benefit, particularly for students preparing for their exams.
Afterwards, the law firm hosted a dinner at the Bodega, where, over wine and tapas, there was an opportunity to explore the topics discussed and address any questions that had arisen in greater depth.

On 7 June 2018, a workshop on company acquisitions organised by the law firm CMS Hasche Sigle took place at the department headed by Professor Dr Wolfgang Servatius.
Five lawyers from the CMS office in Munich visited the university to simulate the purchase of a vineyard with the workshop participants.
In the simulation, the participating students and trainee solicitors took on the role of the buyers’ lawyers.
The focus of the workshop was on conducting a targeted due diligence process in the areas of labor law, IT & data protection, dispute resolution, and real estate & public law. Working in small groups, the participants analysed potential legal risks and learnt how to assess them. Potential issues such as soil contamination, financial risks arising from pending litigation and past unlawful handling of client data were identified as problems, and solutions were developed to address them.

Following the interactive workshop, the firm hosted a reception at the Leerer Beutel restaurant, allowing participants to learn more about working at a major law firm – and in particular at CMS Hasche Sigle – in a relaxed atmosphere.

On 19 June 2017, law students were given an insight into what it is like to work at a major law firm. Konrad Zdanowiecki from the law firm Noerr gave a talk as part of the Law Clinic for Start-ups organised by Professor Dr Wolfgang Servatius’s department, sharing his experiences as a lawyer at a major law firm with the students.

He outlined the advantages of working for a large law firm as an employer, ranging from professional development opportunities and good earning potential to high-level international collaboration.

Konrad Zdanowiecki indicated that large law firms are heeding the call for a healthy work-life balance and responding with alternative job offers, such as a reduction in working hours to 70 per cent. Following the talk, the students had the opportunity to ask questions.

On 1 June 2017, the law firm Gütt Olk Feldhaus visited the faculty. As part of the company law network at Professor Dr Wolfgang Servatius’s chair, lawyers Dr Kilian Helmreich and Attila Oldag gave a presentation on M&A through auction procedures.

In addition to the fundamental differences between a sale via an auction process and a transaction resulting from one-off sales negotiations, the lawyers highlighted in particular the advantages and disadvantages of open competition.

The lawyers used practical examples to illustrate the tension between the vendor’s duty of disclosure and their interest in presenting the company in the best possible light during the sale.

Following the presentation, the law firm hosted a dinner for the attendees at the Amore, Vino & Amici restaurant.

On Wednesday, 1 July 2015, at the , lawyers from the international commercial law firm CMS Hasche Sigle provided an insight into life and work across the various practice areas of a major German law firm, using the example of handling a shareholder dispute. Afterwards, a dinner provided an opportunity for discussion with the speakers. Further information on the event can be found here (external link, opens in a new window).

In collaboration with the Chair of Private Law and Company Law held by Prof. Dr Wolfgang Servatius , Dr Ferdinand Fromholzer, LL.M. (Berkeley) from the international commercial law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP on Tuesday, 9 June 2015, on the topic of matrix organisation within corporate groups. Afterwards, a dinner provided an opportunity for discussion with the speaker and other lawyers from the firm. You can find the event poster here (external link, opens in a new window).

On Thursday 11 December 2014, lawyers from the major international law firm King & Wood Mallesons gave a presentation on the topic of ‘Pitfalls in Company Acquisitions’. Following the presentation, interested students, graduates and faculty staff had the opportunity to exchange views and discuss matters with lawyers from the firm over a dinner together.
Further information can be found here (external link, opens in a new window).

On Tuesday, 4 November 2014, Mr Solms U. Wittig, a solicitor at the Linde Group, gave a talk on the inner workings of an industrial company’s legal department. He outlined the department’s working methods, typical tasks and organisational structure from a practical perspective. You can find the event flyer here (external link, opens in a new window).