News

We are delighted to announce that FGvW is once again named among the azur100 top employers . The azur research is based on the results of associate and applicant surveys, in which a total of 5,400 young lawyers participated this year. In addition, the azur editorial team evaluates information provided by employers and conducts numerous...

The daily press has already reported on the Federal Court of Justice’s “Birkenstock sandals” decision (judgement of February 20, 2025, case no. I ZR 16/24). For example, the F.A.Z. wrote on February 20, 2025: “‘Birkenstock sandals are not works of art and therefore do not enjoy copyright protection’, decided the highest German civil judges.” Many...

FGvW has advised the Endress+Hauser Gruppe on its strategic partnership with SICK AG. SICK and Endress+Hauser are bringing their strategic partnership in process automation to life: SICK’s advanced gas analysis and flow measurement technology is now an integral part of Endress+Hauser’s comprehensive instrumentation portfolio. The collaboration is designed to offer customers in the process industry...

Many businesses are legally required to help prevent money laundering. This obligation is often referred to as “Know Your Customer” (KYC). If a company suspects that a business partner is involved in money laundering, they usually cannot remain inactive. Courts have reinforced this duty in recent rulings. The: Submission of a money laundering suspicion report...

The director of a retail store is not to be regarded as a senior executive within the meaning of Section 5 (3) of the German Works Constitution Act (BetrVG), even if she is authorized to hire and fire staff independently. This was decided by the Regional Labor Court of Hessen (‘LAG Hessen’) in a ruling...

Preventing money laundering and terrorist financing has become a constant concern for lawmakers. In Germany alone, the Money Laundering Act has been revised sixteen times since 2020. The EU is also taking action, introducing significant new regulations in recent months. These rules no longer just apply to banks and financial institutions – now, professional soccer...

The investment company Fidelity International was advised by a real estate team of our firm on the acquisition of a logistics property for the newly launched Fidelity Real Estate Logistics Impact Climate Solutions Fund (“LOGICs”). The property, which covers around 34,500 square meters, was built in two phases between 1997 and 2017 in the Wustermark freight...

If a European Company (Societas Europea – SE) is established, a so-called negotiation procedure must generally be carried out with regard to the involvement of employees in this company in accordance with the provisions of the SE Participation Act (SEBG, i.e. the German implementing act to the Council Directive 2001/86/EC). At the end of this...

As part of a management buy-out (MBO), our firm has advised the new shareholders on the takeover of Teldex Studio Berlin GmbH. The new shareholders are long-time employees Wolfgang Schiefermair and Benedikt Schröder. The renowned sound engineers and producers Friedemann Engelbrecht and Martin Sauer, who had managed the company since 2002, have sold their shares...

A number of legislative changes have come into force since the beginning of the year, with more to follow in the course of 2025. Some legislative initiatives that were expected to take effect at the beginning of 2025 remain unimplemented due to the failure of the federal government. It is unclear whether and how these...