Dirk Schmalenbach

Born in Aachen in 1965, Dr. Oliver Nowoczyn studied law in Constance, Geneva (Switzerland) and Freiburg/Breisgau. After completing his legal clerkship in Berlin and Boston, USA, he received his doctorate in European law in Freiburg in 1995. His thesis was on the subject of “Educational policy competencies of the EU after Maastricht”. Dr. Oliver Nowoczyn has been a lawyer at ZENK since 1995 and a notary since 2007.

Alexander Hartmann is partner at FGvW and head of our Berlin M&A team. His broad practice covers a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions both for strategic and for financial investors. Based in Germany’s preeminent VC hotspot, his venture capital work covers the full range from early financing rounds to various exit constellations, including complementary fields of advice such as corporate finance and employee or management participation schemes. Alexander advises in ...

Christopher Bremme is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Christopher, who practices law in Berlin, Germany, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Claudia Gehricke, born 1986 in Berlin, studied law at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt/Oder and at the University of Essex, UK. She completed her legal traineeship in Berlin at the Court of Appeal and was already working at ZENK’s Berlin office during her traineeship. Further stages of her legal traineeship took her to the Federal Ministry of Economics and an international business enterprise, among others. Claudia Gehricke has been a lawyer at ZENK since 2015. She is a sal...

Martin Hamer is a Partner in the Environmental Group in Germany. He focuses on environmental matters including soil and groundwater contamination, environmental permits, nature protection, waste management, mining and climate protection. Martin represents clients in complex permit procedures vis-à-vis public authorities, environmental liability litigation and public law contract negotiations. In addition, he advises on environmental and other regulatory matters in corporate and real es...

Lucas Wüsthof is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Competition / Antitrust Law. Lucas, who practices law in Berlin, Germany, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lucas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dr. Philip Schwarz van Berk, LL.M . is a partner at POELLATH in Berlin. Philip has been advising German and international fund managers on the structuring of alternative investment funds for over 15 years. He and his team have advised numerous German fund managers on venture capital, buyout and real estate private equity funds. His expertise also includes secondary transactions and advising family offices on investments and investment structures for private equity and venture capital. Philip ...

Sebastian Lutz-Bachmann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Sebastian, who practices law in Berlin, Germany, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sebastian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Partner, Dentons, Berlin, 2017 to date Partner, DLA Piper, Hamburg and Berlin, 2012-2017 Partner, Baker McKenzie, Berlin, 2000-2012 Associate, Baker McKenzie, Frankfurt and Toronto, 1996-2000 Freie Universität Berlin, 1996, Dr. iur. Freie Universität Berlin, 1992, Law School Apprenticeship, Deutsche Bank, Berlin

Markus Appel is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Public Finance Law and Public Law. Markus, who practices law in Berlin, Germany, has been recognized since 2014. 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.