Catrice Gayer

Claudia Maaßen LL.M. is a lawyer and partner at Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner. She has been working in the litigation and arbitration practice group of Friedrich Graf von Westphalen’s Cologne office since 2016. Claudia Maaßen is a specialist in dispute resolution with a focus on manager liability and D&O and product liability. Her clients include insurance companies, managers and private companies. Claudia Maaßen speaks German, French and English.

Justus Kreuels´ practice involves patent prosecution in the fields of mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, information technology and medical engineering and patent opposition as well as invalidity proceedings before the European Patent Office, the German Patent and Trademark Office, and the Federal Patent Court. He studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and at RWTH Aachen University where he graduated as Master in Engineering in 2007. In 2...

Kirsten Placke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Kirsten, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kirsten is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lawyer and Mediator Partner

Born in 1966 Legal studies at the Universities of Bielefeld and Cologne First Exam ("1. Staatsexamen") in 1991 Legal clerkship ("Referendariat") at the Bielefeld District Court Second (Bar) Exam ("2. Staatsexamen") in 1994 Bar admission in 1994 Lawyer with the firm of Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann (now: Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer), Hamburg and Düsseldorf from 1994 to 1996 Self-employed lawyer in Detmold from 1996 to 1999 Certified Specialized Attorney in Labor and Employment Law since...

Markus Heider is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Markus, who practices law in Cologne, Germany, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Markus is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Frederic Geber is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Public Law. Frederic, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Frederic is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rainer Krüger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Restructuring and Insolvency Law. Rainer, who practices law in Bielefeld, Germany, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rainer is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sebastian von Lossow LL.M. is a lawyer and partner at Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner. He has been working in the corporate law and M&A practice of Friedrich Graf von Westphalen’s Dusseldorf office since 2025. Sebastian von Lossow is a specialist in M&A, joint ventures and real estate transactions. His clients include entrepreneurs, family offices and mid-size companies (industrials, engineering as well as software-as-a-service) and real estate managers and investors...

Monika Wenz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Intellectual Property Law. Monika, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Monika is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.