Sophia Merzapour

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.

Markus Beaumart is a lawyer and partner at Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner. Since July 2018, Markus Beaumart has been a partner in the area of real estate law and construction law at the Cologne office. He moved from DLA Piper to the Practice Areas Plant Construction, Real Estate and M&A of FGvW in Cologne with partners Arnt Göppert, Uwe Steingröver and Jörn Zons. Markus Beaumart began his legal career in 1996 in the Cologne office of the (then) law firm Oppenho...

Dr Marcus Richter offers advice on all aspects of individual and collective labour law to national and international companies. In particular, he has considerable experience advising on corporate acquisitions, reorganisations, restructurings, outsourcing and integration projects. As part of this he is responsible for both the strategic conception and the negotiations with unions and works councils on wage agreements, settlement of interests, social plan, company agreements and arbitration pro...

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.

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

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

Lawyer Partner

Born in 1960 Apprenticeship as banker 1981 Legal studies at the University of Münster First Exam ("1. Staatsexamen") in 1986 Postgraduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA, 1986 - 1987 Master of Laws (LL.M.) 1987 Doctor of Laws (Dr. jur.) 1989 Second (Bar) Exam ("2. Staatsexamen") in 1990 Bar admission in Germany in 1990, with the firm since then Admission to the New York bar in 1991 Certified Specialized Attorney in International Business Law since 2014 Member...

Christian Bärenz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Restructuring and Insolvency Law. Christian, 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 Christian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tobias Lenz is a lawyer and partner at Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner. In addition, he is a professor for national and international commercial law at the Rhineland University of Applied Sciences (Rheinische Fachhochschule) in Cologne and the director of the Institute for Liability and Insurance Law (Institut für Haftungs- und Versicherungsrecht). Tobias’ main focus lies on product liability and insurance law, liability of managing directors and execute board members, ...