Inheritance law. Corporate law | M&A.
Committed to excellence.
We are trusted by shareholders and directors of medium-sized companies, family businesses, high net worth individuals, foundations, associations and non-profit organisations.
Our lawyers.
Dr. Claudius Werwigk
Lawyer, Partner
Specialist in inheritance law
Specialist in commercial and corporate law
Dr. Alexander Henne M.Jur. (Oxford)
Lawyer, Partner
Dr. Bettina Sauter
Lawyer, Partner
Oliver Wolf
Lawyer, Partner
Dr. Stefan Reuter, LL.M. (London), Maître en droit
Lawyer, Partner
Dr. Fritz Oesterle
Lawyer, Of Counsel
Dr. Sebastian Biedenkopf
Rechtsanwalt, Of Counsel
Cornelia Scholl
Lawyer, Mediator
Specialist in family law
Specialist in tenancy and residential property law
Cheyenne Nollet
Lawyer
Patrick Hardtke
Lawyer, Partner
Specialist in employment law
Lawyer, Partner
Specialist in inheritance law
Specialist in commercial and corporate law
+49 711 222901-48
claudius.werwigk@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Corporate and wealth succession
Inheritance and corporate law disputes
Corporate law
Law on foundations and non-profit organisations
Reputation
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2024: “One of the best lawyers for corporate law in Germany”
Profile
Honorary Consul of the Kingdom of Sweden for Baden-Württemberg since 2021
Lawyer at WERWIGK HENNE since 2011
Lawyer at CMS Hasche Sigle in Stuttgart, 2006 – 2011
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, 2004 – 2006
Doctorate at the University of Düsseldorf (“Raising Capital through Intellectual Property Rights”), 2002 – 2004
English Law and Legal Methods Summer Programme at the University of Cambridge (UK), 2002
Scandinavian Studies at Humboldt University, Berlin, 1997 – 1999
Law studies at the Free University of Berlin and the University of Lund (Sweden), 1997 – 2002
Lawyer, Partner
+49 711 222901-43
alexander.henne@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Corporate law
Mergers & Acquisitions
Corporate litigation, in particular shareholder disputes, director liability, post-M&A disputes
Inheritance law and company succession
Reputation
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024: “One of the best lawyers for corporate law in Germany”
The Legal 500 Germany 2019: recommended lawyer
JUVE Handbook of Commercial Law Firms 2021/2022: frequently recommended lawyer (statements made by competitors: “capable”, “constructive”, “collaborative”, “delves deep into the subject matter”)
Profile
Lawyer and partner at WERWIGK HENNE since 2022
Lawyer and partner at a national commercial law firm, previously lawyer at a boutique firm specialising in corporate law in Stuttgart, 2014 – 2021
Lawyer at Hengeler Mueller in Munich (Senior Associate), 2010 – 2013
Legal clerk at Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, 2008 – 2009
Master’s degree at the University of Oxford (M.Jur.), 2006 – 2007
Doctorate at the University of Heidelberg (“Information and Corporate Governance”), supervised by Prof. Werner F. Ebke, 2005 – 2006
Scholarship holder of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the European Graduate Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
Law studies at University of Constance, 2000 – 2005
Lawyer, Partner
+49 711 222901-46
bettina.sauter@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Corporate law, M&A
Corporate law disputes, in particular D&O liability
Inheritance law and company succession
Reputation
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2023 and 2024: ONES TO WATCH for corporate law
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2024: ONES TO WATCH for corporate governance and compliance
Sponsorship award from the Esche Schümann Commichau Foundation and Christian Wilde Prize from Bucerius Law School for dissertation
Profile
Lawyer and partner at WERWIGK HENNE since 2023
Lawyer at Gleiss Lutz in Stuttgart (Associated Partner), 2014 – 2023
Legal clerk at Hamburg Higher Regional Court, 2012 – 2014
Doctorate at Bucerius Law School, Hamburg (“Notes and Management Report at the Intersection of Corporate and Accounting Law”), supervised by Prof. Rüdiger Veil, 2009 – 2015
Semester at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, 2006
Law studies at Bucerius Law School, Hamburg, 2004 – 2009; LLB 2007
Lawyer, Partner
+49 711 222901-40
oliver.wolf@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Corporate law
Mergers & acquisitions (transactions)
Corporate law disputes, including D&O liability and post-M&A disputes
Inheritance law and company succession
Reputation
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2023 and 2024: ONES TO WATCH for corporate law
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2024: ONES TO WATCH for mergers and acquisitions
Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers 2024: ONES TO WATCH for corporate governance and compliance
Profile
Lawyer and partner at WERWIGK HENNE since 2024
Lawyer at Gleiss Lutz in Stuttgart (most recently Associated Partner), 2019 – 2024
Doctorate (in process)
Research assistant at Gleiss Lutz in Stuttgart, 2016 – 2018
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court and in San Francisco, 2014 – 2016
Law studies at the universities of Tübingen and Lausanne, 2008 – 2014
Lawyer, Partner
+49 711 222901-40
stefan.reuter@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Corporate law
Mergers & Acquisitions
Corporate litigation, in particular director liability and shareholder disputes
Inheritance law and company succession
Reputation
The Legal500 Germany 2024, 2025: recommended lawyer
Doctoral prize from the Reinhold and Maria Teufel Foundation for dissertation
Profile
Lawyer and partner at WERWIGK HENNE since 2025
Lawyer at BRP RENAUD in Stuttgart (most recently Associated Partner), 2017 – 2025
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court and in Tokyo, 2015 – 2017
Master’s degree at the University of Westminster (LL.M.), London, 2013
Doctorate at the University of Tübingen („Die Qualifiaktion der Haftung des falsus procurator im Internationalen Privatrecht“), supervised by Prof. Martin Gebauer, 2012 – 2015
Master’s degree at the University Aix-Marseille III (Maîtrise en droit), Aix-en-Provence, 2008 – 2009
Scholarship holder of the Evangelisches Studienwerk e.V. Villigst
Law studies at University of Tübingen, 2005 – 2012
Lawyer, Of Counsel
+49 711 222901-52
fritz.oesterle@werwigkhenne.de
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Reputation
Leading lawyer and senior manager
Former partner and founder of highly regarded Stuttgart law firms
Profile
Member of supervisory boards and advisory boards of various major companies
British Honorary Consul since 2006
Member of the Management Board of Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, 2006 – 2009
Chairman of the Management Board of Celesio AG, 1999 – 2011
Harvard Business School, 1998
Founder, lawyer and partner at Oppenländer, Dolde, Oesterle & Partner in Stuttgart, 1990 – 1998
Lawyer and partner at Gleiss Lutz in Stuttgart, 1981 – 1989
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Regional Court, 1979 – 1981
Prize winner of the Reinhold-und-Maria-Teufel-Stiftung Foundation, 1980
Research assistant and doctorate at the University of Tübingen, 1977 – 1979
Law studies at the University of Tübingen, 1971/72 – 1976
Rechtsanwalt, Of Counsel
+49 (0) 160-369 03 22
sebastian.biedenkopf@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Gesellschaftsrecht
Governance
Risikomanagement
Reputation
Top Manager in börsennotierten, Stiftungs- und Familienunternehmen
Mitherausgeber von „Der Aufsichtsrat“
Profile
Geschäftsführender Gesellschafter der Biedenkopf & Associates GmbH, seit 2012
Vorstandsmitglied der Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, 2020-2023
General Counsel Robert Bosch GmbH, 2013-2020
Vorstandsmitglied Conergy AG (Restrukturierung), 2008-2012
General Counsel maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA (vormals Tchibo Holding), 2004 – 2008
General Counsel Bertelsmann Inc., Legal Counsel Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA, 1998-2004
Rechtsanwalt und Partner (1997) in Düsseldorfer Wirtschaftsrechtskanzlei, 1994 - 1998
Promotion an der Freien Universität Berlin, Wiss. Assistent am Institut für Energie- und Regulierungsrecht, Berlin,1991-1994
Studium der Rechtswissenschaft an der Universität Freiburg, 1985-1990
Ausbildung zum Reserveoffizier, 1983-1985
Lawyer, Mediator
Specialist in family law
Specialist in tenancy and residential property law
+49 711 222901-47
cornelia.scholl@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Family law
Custody law
Property disputes
Profile
Lawyer at WERWIGK HENNE since 2019
Lawyer at Plato Rechtsanwälte, 2012 – 2019
Lawyer in the Stuttgart region and parental leave, 1995 – 2012
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court and Dresden State Chancellery, 1993 – 1995
Law studies at the universities of Tübingen and Lausanne, 1987 – 1993
Focus areas
Family law
Inheritance law
Wealth succession
Profile
Lawyer at WERWIGK HENNE since 2024
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, 2022 – 2024
Law studies at the University of Freiburg, 2016 – 2021
Lawyer, Partner
Specialist in employment law
+49 711 222901-45
patrick.hardtke@werwigkhenne.de
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Focus areas
Inheritance law
Employment law
Litigation
Profile
Lecturer on “Employment law in practice” at the Stuttgart Bar Association since 2018
Head lecturer on employment law at Stuttgart Regional Court since 2016
Lawyer at WERWIGK HENNE since 2011
Legal clerk at Stuttgart Higher Regional Court, 2009 – 2011
Law studies at the University of Mannheim, 2003 – 2009
Awarded by Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers, WirtschaftsWoche, brandeins, and Juve.
Inheritance law.
Your will. Your way.
Your rights.
Inheritance law.
We advise on corporate succession, generational wealth succession and all inheritance law matters:
Structuring and supporting family business succession plans
Developing and implementing succession solutions involving asset management firms
and foundations
Drafting wills and testamentary contracts, in particular entrepreneur’s wills
Tax-optimised wealth succession, e.g. through a lifetime transfer of assets
Execution of wills, settling of inheritances and joint heirships
Avoiding and defending claims to a compulsory portion
Alternative dispute resolution and litigation in disputed inheritance matters
Our lawyers for Inheritance law
Corporate law | M&A.
Ideas. Opportunities.
Processes.
Corporate law | M&A.
Corporate law
We advise , entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial families, self-employed professionals and companies on all corporate law issues:
Formation of companies, subsidiaries and joint ventures
Drafting articles of association, shareholder agreements, pool agreements
Restructurings, capital increases, transformation of companies
Preparing for and supporting shareholders’ meetings
Structuring and supporting corporate succession plans
Shareholder disputes
Corporate Litigation and arbitration
Liability risks for directors and board members
Law on foundations and non-profit organisations
We advise foundations, non-profit organisations and industry bodies on all legal matters:
Establishing dependent and independent foundations, non-profit limited companies, associations and industry bodies
Drafting and optimising articles of association, in particular with regard to non-profit requirements
Restructuring non-profit organisations, formation of subsidiaries and setting up joint ventures
Foundations as a tool for estate planning and corporate succession
Advising board members of foundations and associations, in particular on liability risks
M&A
We advise companies, business owners, business families, family offices and investors on mergers and acquisitions (buy-side and sell-side):
Due diligence
Drafting and negotiating contract documentation
Structuring earn-outs and reinvestments
Management buy-outs and buy-ins
Structuring joint ventures
Venture capital investments
Transaction-related restructuring programmes (carve-outs, carve-ins, etc.)
Post-closing reorganisation
Post-M&A disputes (asserting and defending warranty claims, liability claims, purchase price adjustment, etc.)
Our lawyers for Corporate law | M&A
Employment law.
We advise employers, directors, board members, executives and employees on all areas of individual and collective employment law:
Drafting, reviewing and terminating employment and service contracts, in particular directors’ and board members’ service contracts
Enforcing and defending remuneration claims
Preparing for and defending written warnings, dismissals and other actions
Preparing for and implementing business transfers, including informing employees
Negotiations and litigation in all employment law disputes
Our lawyers for Employment law
Family law.
We advise on all family law matters that are important to married couples, civil partners and families, especially around marriage, separation and divorce:
Drafting prenuptial agreements, particularly for marriages involving entrepreneurs
Settling accrued gains and distribution of assets
Maintenance for children, spouse or partner
Custody and access rights for legitimate and illegitimate children
Pension rights adjustment during and after divorce
Mediation for spouses and civil partners
Our lawyers for Family law
Litigation.
Effective. Responsible.
Successful.
Litigation.
We represent the interests of our clients before courts and arbitration tribunals with total commitment and commercial awareness:
Disputes in connection with large and complex estates, inheritance claims and complicated family circumstances
Shareholder disputes
Actions for defective resolution
Liability cases involving directors and board members (including D&O insurance policies)
Post-M&A litigation
Preliminary injunctions
Employment law disputes
Complex commercial disputes before courts or arbitration tribunals
Our lawyers for Litigation
