Business
Lawyer
Germany

Our law firm serves private individuals and business clients worldwide in the field of business immigration to Germany. The issues facing individual entrepreneurs coming to Germany via Business Immigration are very different than those facing our business clients who require a reliable German business lawyer for all their company’s immigration issues.

Entrepreneurs from third countries require legal advice regarding the application procedure for a German visa based on entrepreneurial (self-employment) activity, whereas businesses in Germany often require support on visa and residence permit applications for professionals worldwide. As a law firm with a dedicated team of business immigration specialists, we have supported many entrepreneurs in acquiring the residence permit needed. We are widely experienced in working with the German immigration authorities and will look to accelerate the process wherever possible. For companies already in Germany, our lawyers advise on matters of family reunification, EU Blue Cards, other residence permits and possibilities under the Skilled Immigration Act and more.

Ensuring that your company has a secure, confidential, effective, and appropriate internal grievance mechanism has never been more critical. Should employees or other parties discover issues of alleged corruption, poor standards or illegal activity, they may be forced to tell the public unless there is a suitable system in place. Whistleblowing can cause reputational damage to a company and result in lost customers and reduced profits. Having the proper legal protection reduces the risk of such events occurring.

Accusations of anti-competitive practices including price-fixing, misuse of copyright and refusal to deal can be costly to a company. Our German business lawyers advise corporate clients on German compliance, competition and whistleblowing law to reduce the likelihood of legal disputes arising.

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our experienced German business lawyers are available to you regardless of your company’s size. We support start-up companies and established names in the German market. Our lawyers not only understand and advise on the complexities of German corporate law but also provide industry-specific insights to ensure that your company stays ahead of its competition. We will be by your side when dealing with shareholder conflicts, facing difficulties with regulations in the German Commercial Code (Handelsgesetzbuch), setting up a business, or when looking to expand or restructure an existing company.

By engaging with our services, directors and managers can focus their attention on running the business while knowing that their legal affairs are in safe hands.

Although companies can reduce the likelihood of legal disputes, they cannot always avoid conflict. Where suitable, our team support companies in matters such as arbitration and negotiations. Often resolving difficulties outside of court are preferable, as they can save time and costs while reducing the media coverage of the issues. Arbitration can also prove to be the preferred route in more technical disputes, as companies can be assured that knowledgeable professionals will oversee the dispute.

However, this is not always possible, and if matters need to be resolved in court, our experienced litigation lawyers will be in your corner. Determining which method of dispute resolution is preferable will depend on many factors. At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, our team of German business lawyers will assist you in navigating this often complex area.

The certified specialists in employment law at Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte advise managing directors and managers at companies of all sizes. Our team assists in drafting employment contracts, in the creation of anti-discrimination policies, in designing employment termination agreements and in legal disputes. By engaging with our services, you can work alongside a business lawyer who will support your company in implementing best-practice policies and procedures to prevent damaging and costly legal cases from arising. Having legally compliant and fair systems in place is also likely to increase your employees’ motivation in the workplace. Our German business lawyers provide industry-specific insights tailored to your company’s needs.

German contract law forms the basic framework for all types of contracts from the different areas of law. Our lawyers offer you our legal support in the drafting of contracts and general terms and conditions. As a partner in contract negotiations, we ensure that decisive formulations are carried out precisely and in a way that will stand up in court, that formal requirements are adhered to and that the contract corresponds to your interests.

Our lawyers will comprehensively review contractual clauses, model contracts as well as general terms and conditions of business in order to prevent any disputes before the conclusion of the contract. Even after the conclusion of the contract, we take care of the assertion of your rights and claims from any contracts in and out of court or bring about the effective termination of a contract by revocation, withdrawal, termination or cancellation agreement.

Our German business lawyers advise and represent our clients in all German insolvency matters. Our team consists of insolvency law experts with many years of experience and have represented both sides in such cases. Due to our expertise, we can be relied upon to conduct a company’s insolvency proceedings and assert creditors’ rights. Insolvency proceedings can be stressful for the parties involved, and knowing the steps to be taken is vital.

Our lawyers also support our corporate clients in corporate restructuring, whereby critical decisions can decide the future of the business. Please do not hesitate to consult with us in times of crisis.

Protecting intellectual property is vital for the continuing success of a business, as recognisable logos and designs can be crucial in creating connections with customers. Our lawyers advise corporate clients in companies of all sizes and industries regarding their copyrights, trademarks, and patents.  Our legal team can be relied upon in matters of copyright infringement claims, assertion and enforcement of a creator’s (or right holders) rights, and defence against unjustified claims of copyright breach. Assessing whether to claim for an injunction or damages can be of particular importance in this context. Our lawyers will ensure that your intellectual property is in safe hands.

At Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte, we provide extensive services to our clients in the fields of construction law, real estate and commercial tenancy in Germany. Navigating these legal fields can be challenging as laws vary depending on the German state, and there are often interactions between state, federal, and European law. Our business lawyers work with companies of all sizes in commercial property cases and advise those in Germany and those looking to expand to this lucrative market. For those engaged in commercial tenancies, our team regularly advises on commercial leases, commercial rental contracts, terminations, eviction proceedings and allegations of contractual breaches.

Running a business is complex, and German tax law does not make it easier. Our German tax lawyers advise on matters concerning German turnover tax, trade tax, corporation tax, income tax and capital gains tax. Often, the importance of a particular tax will depend on many factors, including the type of business you are running and whether your business can seek exemptions in certain areas. Therefore, it is advisable to work closely with a corporate tax lawyer with specialised solutions to your company’s needs. The tax duties of foreign companies established in Germany depend on whether your company has opened its headquarters in Germany or a branch office. Furthermore, Germany has many double taxation agreements with different countries to prevent double taxation on corporate profits.