Insight

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Germany

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms, including our inaugural Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recipients.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Germany
Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers

June 24, 2021 04:45 PM

Best Lawyers has, since 1981, produced the most reliable global source for legal referrals. We highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of those in the legal profession with a list of outstanding lawyers compiled by conducting exhaustive peer review surveys..

Candidates who are nominated for consideration are voted on by currently recognized lawyers working in the same practice area and located in the same geographic region. Our awards and recognitions are based purely on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews undergo a thorough verification process to ensure they are currently still in private practice. Only then can these top lawyers be recognized by Best Lawyers.

The 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in Germany recognizes the professional excellence of 5,680 lawyers in 83 practice areas. For the 13th Edition, Best Lawyers honored approximately 3.6%* of practicing lawyers in Germany.

We are pleased to celebrate 227 “Lawyer of the Year” recipients across 10 metropolitan areas in Germany. "Lawyer of the Year" honors are awarded annually to only one lawyer per practice area in each region with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.

For 2022, we are also excited to announce our first ever edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Germany. For Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, all nominated candidates were eligible to vote on other nominated lawyers working in the same practice and located in the same geographic region. Then, much the same as Best Lawyers, our awards and recognitions are based on the feedback we receive from these top lawyers. Those who receive high peer reviews are verified by our trusted research and development team for accuracy of information and confirmation of private practice. These verified lawyers are then listed as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. For the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Germany, we recognize 397 lawyers in 25 practice areas. Lawyers are listed in 95 firms across 15 metropolitan areas.

Germany Publication Statistics

Publication Statistics

Here are highlights from the 2022 13th Edition of The Best Lawyers in Germany:
  • 5,680 Lawyers Recognized
  • 559 Firms with Listed Lawyers
  • 83 Practice Area

Top Metro Area with Most Listed Lawyers:

  • Bayern

Top 10 Practice Areas by Number of Recognized Lawyers:

  • Corporate Law
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Litigation
  • Tax Law
  • Restructuring and Insolvency Law
  • Banking and Finance Law
  • Information Technology Law

Top 10 Most Searched Practice Areas in Germany in 2020 on bestlawyers.com:

  • Labor and Employment Law
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Corporate Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Tax Law
  • Arbitration and Mediation
  • Restructuring and Insolvency Law
  • Litigation
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Information Technology Law

Law Firm of the Year

“Law Firm of the Year” awards recognize a single top firm for its work in a specific legal practice area nationwide. Awards are determined based on a handful of factors including lawyer feedback, the number of lawyers included in Best Lawyers for that firm and practice area, the number of office locations a firm has, historical analysis of the firm’s “Lawyer of the Year” awards, materials submitted by firms, and the firm’s overall scope and areas of expertise.

We are honored to present the following 26 “Law Firm of the Year” recipients in Germany for 2022:

  • Arbitration and Mediation
    • CMS Hasche Sigle
  • Banking and Finance Law
    • Hengeler Mueller
  • Capital Markets Law
    • Sullivan & Cromwell
  • Competition / Antitrust Law
    • Blomstein Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten
  • Construction Law
    • Kapellmann und Partner Rechtsanwälte
  • Corporate Law
    • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
  • Criminal Defense
    • Wessing & Partner Rechtsanwälte
  • Data Security and Privacy Law
    • SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte
  • Energy Law
    • Raue
  • Environmental Law
  • Information Technology Law
    • Bird & Bird
  • Insurance Law
    • Clyde & Co
  • Intellectual Property Law
    • Harte-Bavendamm Rechtsanwälte
  • Labor and Employment Law
    • Gleiss Lutz
  • Litigation
    • Clifford Chance Deutschland
  • Media Law
    • DLA Piper
  • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    • Milbank
  • Pharmaceuticals Law
    • Baker & McKenzie Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten, Wirtschaftsprüfern und Steuerberatern
  • Private Equity Law
  • Public Law
    • Redeker Sellner Dahs
  • Real Estate Law
    • Clifford Chance Deutschland
  • Restructuring and Insolvency Law
    • Latham & Watkins
  • Tax Law
  • Telecommunications Law
    • Noerr
  • Trusts and Succession Planning
    • Flick Gocke Schaumburg
  • Venture Capital Law
    • Vogel Heerma Waitz Partnerschaft

*Based on information published by The German Bar Association

Interested in seeing Best Lawyers honorees in Germany? Use our Find a Lawyer tool to search by location and specialty.

Access the full report of Best Lawyers international releases, updated continuously.

Related Articles

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Germany™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Germany.

Black, red and yellow stripes

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Colombia™


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Colombia™

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in South Africa™


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing 2022 Best Lawyers in South Africa

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Austria


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Austria

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Switzerland


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Switzerl

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Switzerland™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Switzerland.

Red flag with white cross

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Austria™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Austria.

Red and white stripes

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Italy™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Italy.

Green, white and red stripes

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Italy


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Italy

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Russia


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

2022 Best Lawyers™ in Russia | Top Lawyers and Firms

Announcing The Best Lawyers in Belgium™ 2023


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms from Belgium.

Black, yellow and red stripes

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Peru™


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Peru™

Germany Is In the Driver’s Seat—Should We Follow?


by Greg Sirico

As Germany aims to become the first nation to legalize autonomous driving technology, it remains to be seen if the benefits outweigh the legal implications.

Germany Aims To Legalize Autonomous Driving

Announcing the 2021-2022 Best Lawyers™ in Belgium


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2021-2022 Best Lawyers™ in Bel

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Australia


by Best Lawyers

The results include an elite field of top lawyers and firms.

Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers™ in Australi

Announcing the 2021 Best Lawyers in South Africa


by Best Lawyers

For the 12th Edition, Best Lawyers recognizes the top 2 percent of practicing lawyers in the nation.

2021 Best Lawyers in South Africa

Trending Articles

Introducing the 2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore


by Jennifer Verta

This year’s awards reflect the strength of the Best Lawyers network and its role in elevating legal talent worldwide.

2026 Best Lawyers Awards in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

Effective Communication: A Conversation with Jefferson Fisher


by Jamilla Tabbara

The power of effective communication beyond the law.

 Image of Jefferson Fisher and Phillip Greer engaged in a conversation about effective communication

The 2025 Legal Outlook Survey Results Are In


by Jennifer Verta

Discover what Best Lawyers honorees see ahead for the legal industry.

Person standing at a crossroads with multiple intersecting paths and a signpost.

The Best Lawyers Network: Global Recognition with Long-term Value


by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how Best Lawyers' peer-review process helps recognized lawyers attract more clients and referral opportunities.

Lawyers networking

Jefferson Fisher: The Secrets to Influential Legal Marketing


by Jennifer Verta

How lawyers can apply Jefferson Fisher’s communication and marketing strategies to build trust, attract clients and grow their practice.

Portrait of Jefferson Fisher a legal marketing expert

Is Your Law Firm’s Website Driving Clients Away?


by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key website issues that may be affecting client engagement and retention.

Phone displaying 'This site cannot be reached' message

A Guide to Workers' Compensation Law for 2025 and Beyond


by Bryan Driscoll

A woman with a laptop screen reflected in her glasses

Best Lawyers Launches CMO Advisory Board


by Jamilla Tabbara

Strategic counsel from legal marketing’s most experienced voices.

Group photo of Best Lawyers CMO Advisory Board members

Common Law Firm Landing Page Problems to Address


by Jamilla Tabbara

Identify key issues on law firm landing pages to improve client engagement and conversion.

Laptop showing law firm landing page analytics

Changes in California Employment Law for 2025


by Laurie Villanueva

What employers need to know to ensure compliance in the coming year and beyond

A pair of hands holding a checklist featuring a generic profile picture and the state of California

New Employment Law Recognizes Extraordinary Stress Is Everyday Reality for NY Lawyers


by Bryan Driscoll

A stressed woman has her head resting on her hands above a laptop

Turn Visitors into Clients with Law Firm Website SEO That Converts


by Jamilla Tabbara

Learn how to create high-converting law firm landing pages that drive client engagement and lead generation.

Laptop screen displaying website tools to improve client conversion rates

ESG Backlash on the Border


by Bryan Driscoll

A warning and opportunity for Canadian business and law.

Three figures stand in forest with refinery ahead

SEO for Law Firms: Overcoming Common Challenges


by Jamilla Tabbara

Tackle common SEO challenges and take the next step with our guide, How to Make Your Law Firm Easier to Find Online.

Graphic image of a phone displaying SEO rankings, with positions 1, 2 and 3 on the screen

6 Steps to Finding the Right Keywords for Your Legal Content


by Jamilla Tabbara

Follow a practical guide to keyword research and boost your law firm’s SEO to reach more potential clients.

 letters symbolizing keywords for legal content

Is Your Law Firm Missing Key Client Acquisition Opportunities?


by Jamilla Tabbara

Discover our free resource to identify ways to stand out and attract more clients.

Arrows and light bulbs rising, symbolizing growth and client acquisition opportunities for law firms