WilmerHale Germany is again highly recommended as a top firm in JUVE Handbuch, Germany’s leading legal publication. This year, the firm’s outstanding work in globally acclaimed, landmark cases with substantial political and regulatory bearing in the EU earns WilmerHale top rankings in the 2022–2023 edition. The following are the descriptions given to each of the firm's practices in JUVE Handbuch*:

• Compliance / Investigations: “Not many firms are as closely interwoven with their US offices as WH's compliance practice… the team knows how to leverage its experience from the Fresenius and Bilfinger monitorships when it comes to new matters, thus effectively raising its profile. The team has also won new business in preventive compliance advisory through tenders. The fact that the team is also being brought on board for recent topics such as ESG and #MeToo demonstrates that the firm knows how to win business in Germany.”
• Antitrust: “Complex disputes with regulatory impact are a trademark of the practice, as was recently demonstrated by two further developments: WH is defending Deutsche Telekom against Vodafone in a landmark antitrust case for the approval of a fiber-optic joint venture with EWE and is representing Meta in significant proceedings before European courts… (formerly Facebook), in which Latham is the lead firm. Kamann and a partner from IT law took on the lead representation for the ECJ preliminary ruling; demonstrating proof of the practice's strength: Data Protection as it interfaces with EU law.”
• Dispute Resolution – Litigation: “The hallmark of this small practice, often praised for high-quality work, is complex disputes at the interface of civil and regulatory law. This is reflected, for instance, in antitrust-focused civil litigation on the side of Deutsche Telekom and the Federal Association of Public Banks. The work for WhatsApp and other US tech companies before German courts, for which Wettner particularly stands out, and Kamann's work before the EU courts also have a notable regulatory component. WH took the lead from Latham for the ECJ preliminary ruling in a landmark case by the German Cartel Office against Meta (formerly Facebook) – proof of the practice's strength in Data Protection and EU law terrain.”
• Information Technology & Data Protection: “… the Data Protection practice is in greater demand than almost any competitor in data protection litigation. Braun regularly appears with a litigation partner before the highest courts for Meta (formerly Facebook), which remains a sought-after [and] ongoing client. Simultaneously, the team is in demand in the pharma sector, where WH is historically well-connected. Based on years of know-how in Data Protection–Big Data, which is becoming increasingly relevant–WH should be well equipped for the future, all the more so as the German practice is part of a wider international practice in this regard.”
• State Aid: “One of the firm's main areas of expertise in state aid is litigation. The firm is regularly in-volved in proceedings with political significance and comes into play when significant amounts are in dispute.”
• Public Commercial Law – Administrative and Constitutional Law: “Clients, often from the US, trust the firm when strategic decisions have to be made against the backdrop of regulatory changes in Europe. Most recently, this applied to the Lobby Register Act. Clients such as a Big Four company also rely on the team for administrative proceedings. Kamann is particularly instructed by clients in other European jurisdictions due to his expertise in State Aid proceedings. Notably the best example is the Italian construction conglomerate Inc SpA and Consorzio Stabile. Only a handful of lawyers in the German market can demonstrate this longstanding litigation experience before the EU courts.”
• Energy Law – Regulatory: “Matters such as the longstanding representation of Opal Gastransport are proof of the team’s litigation experience, who, in addition, supports clients in implementing business plans in a heavily regulated landscape, through political strategy and occasional detours via antitrust law.”
• Corporate, M&A: “In addition to work for major international companies, the partners also advise a range of German clients. In corporate and M&A, this includes regular acquisition work for German SMEs.”

JUVE Handbuch also names the following WilmerHale lawyers as “highly recommended” in their respective practice area(s): 

• Dr. Martin Braun (Information Technology & Data Protection, Compliance)
• Dr. Christian Crones (Corporate, M&A)
• Dr. Oliver Fleischmann (Energy Law - Regulatory)
• Dr. Peter Gey (Antitrust)
• Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Kamann (Antitrust, Dispute Resolution – Litigation, Public Commercial Law – Administrative and Constitutional Law, State Aid)
• Dr. Stefan Ohlhoff (Antitrust, Dispute Resolution – Litigation, Energy Law – Regulatory)
• Ulrich Quack (Antitrust, Energy Law – Regulatory, Public Commercial Law – Administrative and Constitutional Law)
• Dr. Jan Wendler (Compliance/Investigations)
• Dr. Vanessa Wettner (Dispute Resolution – Litigation)

JUVE recommendations are determined by a research team based on information collected from clients, lawyers and academics through interviews that assess a respective law firm's legal excellence, strategic direction, service orientation and future potential.

As the leading legal publication, JUVE Handbuch has long since become a reference source for the German legal market. Extensive research with law firms, corporate executives, representatives of public authorities, and employees from the judiciary and academia create the basis for this handbook. The strictly independent editorial team draws on more than 20 years of experience in the legal market.

Learn more about the JUVE Handbuch.

*The quotes from JUVE Handbuch displayed here are translations from German to English.