Michael Abels

Gudrun Germakowski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits Law and Labor and Employment Law. Gudrun, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gudrun is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Kristina Klaaßen-Kaiser is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Kristina, who practices law in Düsseldorf, Germany, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kristina is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

With nearly 20 years of professional experience, Anton is a proven expert in patent litigation. He is among the lawyers with the highest number of appearances at the Federal Court of Justice, Germany’s highest court in patent matters. He has been acknowledged as a recommended patent litigator by various legal publications and handbooks. He is a partner of the firm and the head of the patent law team. In the year 2006, he was among the first lawyers to receive the distinction as a Certif...

Michael Pauli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Michael, who practices law in Cologne, Germany, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Achim Compes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Achim, 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 Achim is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthias Terlau is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Matthias, 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 Matthias is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sabine Dethof is a patent litigator and Salaried Partner at HEUKING, Düsseldorf. As a Certified Specialist Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law with 14 years of professional practice, she has a wide range of experience, in particular in the field of mechanical engineering and in the areas of automotive, semiconductors and medical devices. Besides the daily business of patent infringement proceedings she is especially experienced in nullity proceedings before the Federal Patent Court. For ...

Sven Köhnen is a lawyer and partner at the Cologne office of Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner and a certified specialist for labor and employment law. He also is a lecturer at the Cologne macromedia University of Applied Sciences. His focus is on commercial and distribution law on a national and international level, particular within the automobile sector but also in other areas (insurance, financial services, medical technology, construction, energy, IT, furniture design, pac...

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