Biography: Franchise

Prof Dr Karsten Metzlaff is partner in the Berlin office of Noerr and co-head of Noerr's distribution systems and logistics group. He has specialised in antitrust law as well as franchising and distribution law for more than 20 years. Dr Metzlaff is internationally recognised as one of the leading German franchise attorneys. He has advised a number of well-known national and international franchising systems in Germany and abroad on all aspects of franchising law, including international expansions and acquisitions.

Dr Metzlaff worked at the EU Commission in Brussels for the Competition Directorate where he mainly dealt with franchising matters. He has been educated in Münster, Hamburg, Lausanne and London and speaks German, English and French.

Dr Metzlaff has published a great number of books and articles, including the standard German Franchising Handbook, the book Franchise Agreements and EC Antitrust Law, and the chapter entitled "International Franchise Agreements" in a standard commentary on licensing agreements. He is also the exclusive contributor for franchising in Germany for www.internationallawoffice.com. He is a member of the German and the International Bar Association.

Dr Metzlaff contributes as a lecturer at the European University Viadrina and regularly lectures on various issues of franchising and distribution law. He has been selected as a leading name for distribution and franchising by JUVE and is a frequently recommended individual in all of the main reviewing bodies including Best Lawyers, Chambers, JUVE, Legal 500, PLC's Which lawyer?, The International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers and The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers.

Noerr is a first-class European law firm with a network of 15 offices across Europe and the US. In distribution and franchising Noerr is recognised as one of Europe's leading law firms. The firm has headed the national ranking for distribution and franchising published by the leading German directory JUVE for years.

Biography: Competition

Karsten Metzlaff is a partner at Noerr's Berlin office and head of the firm's antitrust team. He has specialised in antitrust law as well as franchising and distribution law for more than 15 years. Karsten is internationally recognised as one of the leading German competition and franchise lawyers.

Karsten advises on all areas of EU and Germany competition law, particularly in the manufacturing, media, pharmaceutical and retail sectors. Working with the EU Commission in Brussels for the Competition Directorate, his experience includes investigations, proceedings and complaints before the European Commission, the Federal Cartel Office and industry regulators.

Recent merger experience includes advising Blackstone on its €220 million acquisition of German Level One assets; Accell on the intended acquisition of Derby Cycle AG; and Fresenius SE's Helios on its acquisition of hospital operator Damp Group.

Karsten contributes as a lecturer at the European University Viadrina and publishes frequently on competition law and distribution.

He is frequently recognised as both a leading competition and distribution lawyer by Best Lawyers, Chambers, JUVE, Legal 500, PLC's Which lawyer?, The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers and Who's Who Legal: Germany 2012.

Noerr is a leading pan-European law firm with a network of 15 offices in 11 countries, providing interdisciplinary advice and premium services. The firm's antitrust and competition practice comprises over 25 lawyers, based in the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovakia. The practice covers all areas of national and European competition and regulatory matters, with a special strength in compliance, multi-jurisdictional merger filings and cartel damages.