Philipp Thomssen

Born in 1964 Legal studies at the Universities of Heidelberg and Bonn First Exam ("1. Staatsexamen") in 1990 Doctoral research at the Universities of Valencia (Spain) and Münster Legal clerkship ("Referendariat") at the Detmold District Court Elective posting at the Commission of the European Union in Brussels Doctor of Laws (Dr. jur.) 1993 Second (Bar) Exam ("2. Staatsexamen"), bar admission 1994, with the firm since 1994 Certified Specialized Attorney in Administrative Law since 1997 C...

Dr Maximilian Gutsche specialises in commercial tenancy law, private building law as well as architects’ and engineering law. He represents real estate companies, project developers, property developers, industrial companies, project controllers, architects and engineers, public housing associations, institutional investors, and financial institutions. His main areas of activity are the provision of project-related legal advice as well as dealing with topics involving project developmen...

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...

Dr Otmar Bernhard is an experienced lawyer specialising in public construction and real estate law, as well as project development, with extensive expertise in environmental and nature conservation law. He served for many years as a member of the Bavarian State Parliament and held positions as State Secretary and State Minister for the Environment, Health and Consumer Protection. Before joining FPS, he was a partner at Arnecke Sibeth Dabelstein for many years. Dr Bernhard is known for his in-...

Dr. Jürgen Meier studied biology and biochemistry at the universities of Freiburg im Breisgau, Sussex (England) and Dundee (Scotland). After completion of his Ph.D. at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, he worked for several years at the Centre de Recherche en Neuroscience of McGill University in Montréal, Canada. He joined VOSSIUS & PARTNER in 1998 and became European Patent Attorney in 2001. He is also admitted to practice as German Patent Attorn...

Before he joined our law firm, Dr. Norbert Hebeis headed the EU trademark department of a large US company (pharmaceuticals, consumer products) for ten years. He has been a partner of FGvW for 16 years and specializes in trademark and design litigation and prosecution, unfair competition litigation and counselling. His international key clients are Novartis (pharma), Wilkinson Sword (razors), erima (sportswear), Gloster (furniture) and Haufe-Lexware (publishing house).

Dr Menso Engelmann has been practising as a lawyer in the field of corporate law and M&A since 2008. He advises private individuals, strategic and financial investors, private equity funds, family businesses, joint ventures, and listed companies on all aspects of corporate transactions. He also provides guidance on transactions in the context of corporate crises and restructurings under transformation law, as well as on real estate transactions. In corporate law, his focus is on stock cor...

Peter F. Peschke is a partner at POELLATH in Munich and a member of the management board. He is an recognized tax expert and advises national and international private equity funds, managers and management companies, as well as investors on private equity funds. In this context, he also advises on tax audits and fiscal court proceedings. He studied business administration in Munich, was admitted as tax advisor in 2004 and served as associate in a Munich tax law firm, specializing on private e...

Michael Heise is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Michael, who practices law in Berlin, Germany, has been recognized since 2021. 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.

Dr Bernhard Laas (recommended Lawyer in Real Estate Law, since 2021) is one of the leading hospitality lawyers in Germany. He had a leading role in supporting some of the largest transactions in Germany, including the transaction of the hotel “Esplande” in Berlin or the “Vienna House” portfolio. Also, he was active in project developments like the “Hoxton” in Hamburg. Specialization: hospitality with a focus in real estate, hospitality transactions, hospita...