The lawyers division of the Federal Supreme Civil Court (Bundesgerichtshof, "BGH") first addressed the requirements for specialist attorney continuing education events for the first time in a judgment published today (AnwZ (Brfg) 46/13). The case involved a specialist in traffic law who had visited a seminar with the title "Theory and Tactics of Interrogation". The relevant bar association and the Bavarian Supreme Court for Professional Matters (Anwaltsgerichtshof) had considered the seminar not to be suitable for continuing education for the purpose of obtaining the designation as a specialized attorney (Fachanwalt). That was not correct, as the Federal Supreme Court of Justice has now decided in the final instance in the favor of the plaintiff. GvW Graf von Westphalen partner Prof. Dr. Christian Winterhoff represented the plaintiff in the proceedings also in the interest of the organizer of the seminar, the German Attorneys Academy, and Prof. Winterhoff succeeded for the plaintiff in having both the appeal admitted by the Federal Supreme Civil Court as well as in winning the appellate judgment published today.
In order to continue to be able to have the designation as a specialized attorney, an attorney must attend annual continuing education courses. However, there had not yet been any clarification in the highest courts about the process and which substantive standards decide are determinative for recognizing attended continuing education events. The Federal Supreme Court of Justice has now held that an event must serve the purpose of developing, intensifying and updating knowledge that is already present in the respective field of specialization in order to qualify as a mandatory continuing education event. Proof of basic knowledge, which would be the case with any attorney, however, was held not to be sufficient. Based on these standards, the Federal Supreme Court of Justice held that the attended seminar "Theory and Tactics of Interrogation" qualified as continuing education for the specialized attorney in traffic law. The court held, namely, that the cases in this field all take place in public and are perceived often above average by persons who are initially not involved. The seminar was held to also provide more than the basic knowledge acquired in the course of studies and the clerkship program.
GvW Graf von Westphalen advised the transmission system operator 50Hertz on the award of a major contract for the North Sea Connector 2 offshore grid connection project. The project involves the planning, construction, installation and commissioning of a converter system comprising an offshore converter platform in the North Sea and an onshore converter station in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The North Sea Connector 2 project is intended to connect offshore wind farms in the North Sea to the German electricity grid in future.
GvW Graf von Westphalen has advised Primepulse and Vsquared Ventures on the Series C financing round of NEURA Robotics GmbH. The transaction ranks among the largest venture financing rounds in the European startup ecosystem to date.
GvW Graf von Westphalen has advised Ethereal Space, Inc., a pioneering commercial space company, on space and satellite law matters and the establishment of its affiliate Ethereal Space GmbH.
You don't want to miss any more of the latest legal developments? And be invited to our events? Then register here.
