Germany: Product Liability Defence
Our research picks out 11 practitioners from across the country who are recognised both nationally and beyond for their expertise in the defence of product liability-related claims across a range of industries.
Noerr is recognised as being “particularly strong in this sector”, and sees two of its partners listed. Michael Molitoris was commended to researchers as “the pre-eminent products lawyer in Germany”, and received recommendations from sources around the world. His disputes expertise is “top drawer” and he is joint head of the firm’s litigation department. Alongside him, Thomas Klindt is “absolutely outstanding for product recall work”, and heads the firm’s international compliance team.
Dietmar Knopp at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in Frankfurt is “a real authority for products work”, and his expertise in relation to medical preparations, food production, pharmaceuticals and life sciences was repeatedly highlighted to researchers. Thomas Kreifels in Düsseldorf heads the firm’s national dispute resolution practice group and is a “formidable litigator” known for his product and professional liability work.
At Hogan Lovells, Ina Brock is “world-renowned” for her products and life sciences related expertise. Co-head of the firm’s global life sciences industry sector team, she is much in demand for her counsel on product safety issues and international recall and defence strategies.
Peter Klappich of Oppenhoff & Partner in Cologne is very well regarded for his expertise across a range of sectors. He has experience of products work relating to consumer products, pharmaceuticals, automobiles and mechanical devices, and is also much in demand for his product safety knowledge and for his counsel to insurants and insurers in product liability policy cases.
At Taylor Wessing, Henning Moelle is very highly rated for both his product liability litigation and his knowledge of product safety regulation. Described as a “real asset to his clients”, he is recognised for his courtroom work as well as his counsel on compliance and product recalls.
Timothy Smith of Carroll Burdick & McDonough LLP is a US lawyer based in Boblingen and internationally renowned for the strength of his trial practice. His expertise extends across a range of industries including automotive, aircraft, construction, pharmaceuticals and food products, and he is “extremely good at what he does”.
Friedrich Graf von Westphalen in Cologne is an “acknowledged authority”, praised for the quality of his writing as well as for his work as expert and arbitrator.
Thomas Weimann of Clifford Chance LLP attracted a range of admiring comments for his international product liability work relating to the automotive and healthcare industries in particular, and is also well known for his arbitration practice.
Baker & McKenzie earns a place in this chapter through the inclusion of Juergen Mark, a “tremendously impressive litigator” who was praised for his product distribution and liability practice.