On 23 July 2026, the EU adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia. With 216 new individual listings, this represents the largest number of new listings in the past four years.
On 12 June 2026, the Council of the EU adopted its position on the extension of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
A shift in security policy is taking place in Europe, leading to significant rearmament efforts both at Member State level and at European Union level.
A hidden shard of broken glass causes trouble rather than a caffeine buzz – yet the Frankenthal (Pfalz) Regional Court remains level-headed. What business owners really need to check – and where liability ends.
The scope of protection of a registered EU design may be extremely limited if the visual features of the protected product are largely dictated by its technical function. In a preliminary ruling on this matter, the Higher Regional Court of Nuremberg provides several practical indicators...
In a recent ruling on a reference for a preliminary ruling concerning the Portuguese football league, the ECJ has now, for the first time, set out fundamental guidelines for the assessment under competition law of non-solicitation agreements.
At the end of 2025, the legislature fundamentally reformed the Carbon Dioxide Storage Act and developed it into the Act on the Permanent Storage and Transport of Carbon Dioxide.
In practice, when shares in owner-managed limited liability companies (GmbHs) are sold, it is common for payments to be agreed in return for the selling shareholder continuing to act as managing director. This can make good business sense...
Within the space of a few weeks, two of the world’s leading AI companies have unveiled models specifically designed for use in cyber security: Anthropic, with its Claude Mythos Preview as part of Project Glasswing, and OpenAI, with GPT-5.5-Cyber.
With the entry into force of the Public Procurement Acceleration Act on 1 July 2026, competition law relating to public procurement has finally been amended again for the first time in around 10 years, following the Public Procurement Modernisation Act 2016.
The world’s largest arbitral institution, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), has revised its Rules of Arbitration with effect from 1 June 2026.
In 2025 and 2026, the Federal Court of Justice and several Higher Regional Courts ruled on the limits of permissible gratuities and promotional gifts in the pharmaceutical sector. Three issues were central to these ruling.
On 15 June 2026, new sanctions against Russia were published, apparently as an anticipated part of the 21st sanctions package, and existing EU Regulations were amended accordingly.
Berlin has had a new qualified rent index since 28 May 2026. It significantly alters the legal and economic scope for rent increases and new tenancies
With the REACH restriction on intentionally added synthetic polymer microparticles (SPM), a new regulatory instrument has been in force since October 2023 that extends far beyond a mere prohibition on placing on the market.
The draft bill on the GModG provides for far-reaching changes to the property sector. Here is an overview of the key changes affecting existing and new-build properties.
The Federal Court of Justice has clarified the scope of the reversal of the burden of proof in a manner that is clearly favourable to consumers.
The EU Forced Labour Regulation is increasingly moving towards the practical implementation phase: the new Implementing Regulation clarifies technical and administrative questions.
In the early hours of 20 May 2026, representatives of the European Parliament and EU Member States reached agreement in Strasbourg on the implementation of the trade deal with the United States.
Die neue gesetzliche Regelung zum „Failure to Prevent Fraud“ im Vereinigten Königreich sorgt derzeit für viel Aufmerksamkeit. Sie geht auf den Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 zurück und trat am 1. September 2025 in Kraft.
The debate about a levy on sugar-sweetened beverages is not new, but it has gained considerable momentum in recent weeks. The Federal Government has now decided that it intends to introduce such a levy from 1 January 2028.
The regulatory process for the planned EU-wide restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has reached another important milestone.
On 1 May 2026, US President Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he would be raising import tariffs on cars and lorries from the European Union from 15 to 25 per cent. The measure is set to come into force later this week.
On 13 April 2026, the German government announced its intention to temporarily ease the financial burden on petrol stations by temporarily reducing the energy tax on fuels.
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published a comprehensive methodology for determining the data requirements for the Digital Product Passport (DPP) under the Ecodesign Regulation (EU) 2024/1781 (Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation – ESPR).
An accommodation contract generally requires that the offer also includes details of the price of the accommodation, unless this was communicated to the enquirer in advance or was otherwise known to them.
In its judgment of 24 February 2026, the Federal Court of Justice clarified that the right of access under data protection law pursuant to Article 15 of the GDPR remains with the data subject in the event of the purchase of a claim and does not pass to the purchaser as a subsidiary right by analogy with Section 401 of the German Civil…
The Act implementing the EU Renewable Energy Directive in the areas of offshore wind energy and electricity grids marks the first time that a key mechanism for accelerating progress under the revised Renewable Energy Directive has been transposed into German law: the designation of infrastructure areas for grid projects.
With a package of regulations that has recently come into force, the European Commission has revised the EU legal framework for state aid in sustainable land transport.
The Federal Administrative Court has, for the first time, examined the requirements of Section 2(1) of the Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG) regarding the rearing of fattening turkeys.
Further sanctions against, amongst others, the shipping and energy sectors, expanded transaction bans and export bans, now also extending to the Kyrgyz Republic.
As a prerequisite for the recognition of a tax group for income tax purposes, Section 14(1), first sentence, No. 3, first sentence of the Corporation Tax Act (KStG) requires that the profit transfer agreement (GAV) be concluded for a period of at least five years and be (effectively) implemented throughout its entire term.
The Federal Court of Justice has relaxed the requirements for the validity of so-called exit clauses, thereby providing greater scope for the incentive structure based on equity participation that is popular with private equity investors.
The ‘Bauturbo’ scheme, initially introduced into the Federal Building Code until 31 December 2030, is intended to significantly simplify and speed up housing construction in local authorities.
On 30 March 2026, the European Commission published the long-awaited guidelines and a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the interpretation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
If a construction contract is terminated for good cause due to defective performance, the contractor may forfeit their entire claim to remuneration if the work performed is of no value to the client.
In its judgment of 11 March 2026, the Regional Court of Bamberg ordered Google, as the operator of YouTube, not to allow the publication of influencer videos unless their promotional nature and the identity of the client are made sufficiently transparent.
On 20 January 2026, the European Commission presented a draft proposal aimed at fundamentally overhauling the existing Cybersecurity Act of 2019.
On 7 April 2026, the State Council published the Regulations on Industrial and Supply Chain Security as State Council Order No. 834, effective immediately.
On 11 December 2025, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union agreed on a comprehensive reform of European pharmaceutical legislation: the EU Pharmaceutical Package.
Reform of Arbitration Law 2026: What the Draft Bill Means for Businesses, Arbitration Tribunals, and Practice.
One of two proposed regulations presented by the EU Commission on November 19, 2025, as part of the “Digital Omnibus Package,” deals with amendments to Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 (AI Act). But is this proposal really an “AI Act 2.0” – or rather a series of targeted fine-tuning measures to the current AI Act?
With its proposal to simplify the Medical Device Regulation and the In-Vitro Diagnostics Regulation, the EU Commission took an important step towards reducing bureaucracy in medical device law on 16 December 2025.
MOFCOM Announcement 1/2026 resembles—and goes beyond—Announcement 46/2024; immediate effect; re-export ban for PRC-origin items
Beijing Suspends October 2025 Measures and Adjusts Key Re-Export Ban Against the US
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors are increasingly influencing both strategic direction and operational decision-making within the Health Care & Life Sciences sector.
Further and new acceleration options for residential construction have been under discussion since 2024. Far-reaching authorisation simplifications are now coming into force: almost everything "can" - nothing "must".
On 9 October 2025, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), in some cases jointly with the General Administration of Customs (GAC), issued a series of announcements that significantly expand and deepen its export control regime.
The UK government is currently emphasising the potential of innovative technology to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of patient care.
The PRC Administrative Measures on Beneficial Owner Information (the “Measures”), jointly issued by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), require business entities to proactively submit their ultimate beneficial owner information starting November 1, 2024.
In view of fluctuating economic data, increasing pressure on the cost of capital and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, earn-out clauses are currently becoming more topical than the German transaction market last experienced during the financial crisis.
Since the adoption of the so-called EU Anti-SLAPP Directive, officially entitled "Directive (EU) 2024/1069 of 11 April 2024 on the protection of individuals who engage in public participation against manifestly unfounded claims or abusive legal proceedings ("strategic lawsuits against public participation")" is that editorial offices and…
In its ruling of 1 August 2025, the ECJ significantly strengthened legal protection in international sports arbitration. The decision is in line with recent ECJ case law, which clarifies that sports associations are subject to the limits of European competition law when organising competitions and may not abuse their rules to foreclose…
Having your own AI in the server room sounds like control, security and science fiction. Meta, Google, DeepSeek and OpenAI are already making language models available for download. However, those who fail to observe the following points, among others, risk significant legal and economic consequences.
In its opinion of 23 July 2025, the International Court of Justice clarified the existing obligations under international law to protect the climate and outlined the conceivable legal consequences of breaching them
On 5 June 2025, the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court declared a value protection clause in a commercial tenancy agreement invalid - with potentially far-reaching consequences for the drafting of contracts in commercial tenancy law.
In June of this year, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety published a draft bill for an "Act implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on the restoration of nature and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869".
The European Union and the United States have published a declaration that creates a new framework for transatlantic trade and puts economic relations between the EU and the US on a new footing.
The agreement reached by the EU Member States in the Council of the European Union on the reform of the Union Customs Code forms the basis for the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament and the Commission in the trialogue procedure.
Berlin is thinking big and fundamentally rethinking – at least if the SPD parliamentary group has its way. With the draft of a socialisation framework law, the capital is for the first time preparing the concrete application of Article 15 of the Basic Law, i.e. the socialisation or communitisation of private property.
According to the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart, an investment advisor has a duty to draw investors' attention to prospectus forecasts that are "outdated" by reality at the time of subscription and are therefore too positive.
On 25 June 2025, the EU Commission presented the long-awaited proposal for an EU Space Act. Interested parties have until 11 September 2025 to submit their comments.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump have now announced an agreement in the months-long customs conflict. A further escalation of the conflict thus appears to have been averted for the time being.
It is a truism that one should not save money at the wrong end. A recent judgement by the Darmstadt Regional Court (LG), in which the action for rescission brought by a GmbH shareholder...
After weeks of blockade by Slovakia, the representatives of the EU member states agreed on a further comprehensive sanctions package against Russia in the night of 18 July.
There are currently over 8,000 German companies or Turkish companies with German capital participation operating in Türkiye. Turkish labour law is therefore playing an increasingly important role in German-Turkish legal relations.
The telecommunications, media, and technology (“TMT”) sector operates at the forefront of global innovation and connectivity, shaping industries across the world. While China represents one of the largest and most rapidly growing TMT markets, it has historically remained less accessible to international players due to foreign investment…
On 1 April 2025, the new Section 273a of the German Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) enters into force. The new provision will introduce enhanced protection for trade secrets in civil proceedings.
The decision of the Bavarian Higher Regional Court (Bayerisches Oberlandesgericht - BayObLG) strengthens confidence in the recognition and enforceability of foreign arbitral awards.
On 29 May 2024, significant amendments to the Commercial Code were published in the Turkish Official Gazette, particularly affecting company law. These modifications aim to facilitate business operations and eliminate existing uncertainties.
The long-awaited decision of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), judgment of 27 June 2024, in case I ZR 98/23 – ‘climate-neutral’ on advertising with the claim ‘climate-neutral’ has finally been published.
Particularly in the automotive and mobility segments, but also in many other industrial sectors, so-called just-in-time delivery contracts are the order of the day.
The European Parliament adopts the directive in its amended version and ensures the first-time establishment of the so-called right to repair.
The long-awaited amendments to Turkey’s Personal Data Protection Law, numbered 6698 (PDPL), were implemented through the Amendment Law on the Code of Criminal Procedure and Certain Laws and published on 12 March 2024.
The AI Regulation, which has been developed over a long period of time and is the subject of much debate, came into force today. Even if the resulting obligations will only be applicable in stages, companies should start to familiarise themselves with the content of this extensive and complex set of regulations now at the latest.
While avoidance proceedings with insolvency administrators used to be focused on the question of whether and to what extent the party to whom avoidance is declared was aware of the illiquidity, more recent decisions seem to focus more on the question of whether the would-be insolvency debtor acted with the intent to place creditors at a…
Clarification by court: In a thoroughly detailed judgment, the Higher Regional Court [Oberlandesgericht – OLG] of Munich explains at great length all the mistakes supervisory board members can make when entering into a consultancy agreement with their company that includes bonus payments.
The Union list has been in force since 28 April 2024. For the first time the list also includes 65 electrolyzers and hydrogen infrastructure projects.
On 18 April 2024 the German Federal High Court of Justice [Bundesgerichtshof – BGH] heard arguments on the conditions under which the term “climate neutral” may be used as an advertising claim.
The Federal Administrative Court has ruled that laboratories are also obliged to notify the authorities if an analysis was carried out as part of a release test and the placing on the market of the product should be made dependent on the result of the analysis.
The planned legislative proposal to modernise arbitration law aims to strengthen Germany’s competitive position as a venue of arbitration internationally.
From 2040, there are to be no more fossil fuel boilers in the EU, a solar obligation will be gradually introduced and the ‘zero-emission building’ is to become the new efficiency standard by 2050.
In its session on 12 April 2024, the German Bundestag adopted the new regulations in the EnWG for financing the hydrogen core grid.
Just two days before the adoption of the CSDDD in the Council, the Council also adopted the Regulation on a ban on the import of products made using forced labour (Forced Labour Regulation, or FLR for short).
On 15 March 2024, the Council of the European Union confirmed the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDCD) in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper).
As the German government's "power plant strategy" also provides for a reduction in the levies and charges for the electricity required for electrolysis, the following section describes the current levies, charges, taxes and fees that make the purchase of electricity for hydrogen production in electrolysers more expensive.
On December 29, 2023, the Standing Committee of the 14th PRC National People's Congress adopted a substantially revised version of the Company Law.
Regulation 1115/2023 (EU) on Deforestation and Degradation (EUDR) has been in force since June 2023. Companies subject to the EUDR must be ready to apply the Regulation by 30 December 2024 (SMEs by 30 June 2025).
The new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation 2022/720, which has been in force since 1 June 2022, provided for a transition period for previously concluded contracts. This expired on 31 May 2023.
The legislation titled "Rental of Residential Properties for Tourism Purposes and Amendments to Certain Laws" was published in the Official Gazette on 2 November 2023.
The Skilled Labour Immigration Act 2023 facilitates the immigration of skilled workers from third countries to Germany. The first legal changes to the right of residence came into force on 18 November 2023, with more to come. Here is an overview of the main changes relevant to employers.
The 2024-2026 Medium-Term Program (MTP) prepared by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Presidency of Strategy and Budget was published in the Official Gazette on 6 September 2023 and numbered 32301.
The Future Financing Act ("ZuFinG") is intended to eliminate the existing tax law "showstoppers" for genuine employee share option plans (ESOPs).
According to the government's explanatory memorandum to the Growth Opportunities Act, the tax exemptions for property transfers involving partnerships will expire when the MoPeG comes into force on 1 January 2024.
The provisions on administrative fines as set out in the German Minimum Wage Act do not result in liability to pay damages on the part managing directors of a German limited liability company pursuant to Sec. 823 of the German Civil Code.
The European legislator has recently agreed on a final version of the EU Data Act which introduces new rules for agreements on data access and sharing.
By Presidential Decree (“Ukaz”), Russia has suspended the application of the main provisions of double taxation treaties (hereinafter referred to as “DTTs”) with what it calls “unfriendly states”.
On 13 July 2023, in a preliminary ruling pursuant to Art. 267 TFEU, the Second Chamber of the European Court of Justice, following a request from the Budapest High Court addressed the standards a prohibition under foreign direct investment review laws and regulations must meet and, in this context, also commented on the EU Screening…
On 1 February 2023, the European Commission presented the Communication 'A Green Deal In-dustrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age'. The ‘Communication’ is a package of measures designed to help the EU industry make progress in the transition to climate neutrality and strengthen its position in global competition, since subsidies abroad are…
Following a proposal by the European Commission and an agreement in the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the EU on 21 June 2023, the Council of the European Union adopted the eleventh sanctions package against Russia on 23 June 2023. The relevant regulations were published in the…
Law No. 7445 on the Amendment of the Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law and Certain Laws was published in the Official Gazette dated 5 April 2023, and numbered 32154.
On 19 April 2023, the European Parliament adopted a Regulation on deforestation. Subject to formal approval by the Council, this paves the way for more protection and restoration of forests.
Foreign legal entities directly or indirectly (via subsidiaries) owning or purchasing real estate in Germany must notify the details of their ultimate beneficial owners (UBO) to the German Transparency Register unless they have already duly registered their UBO(s) with the UBO register of another EU member state. Based on recently…
The draft bill of the Future Financing Act (ZuFinG) provides for improved framework conditions for Germany as a financial and business centre.
The Law on the Amendment of the Social Insurance and General Health Insurance Law and the Decree Law Act No. 375, Law Act No. 7438 (“Law”) (also known as the Regulation for Those Ineligible to Retire due to Age), was published on 3 March 2023 in the Official Gazette with number 32121 and entered into force on the date of its publication.…
Der Gesetzgeber möchte mit einer Änderung des § 26 InvStG die Investitionsmöglichkeiten für Spezial-Investmentfonds in Erneuerbare Energieanlagen und E-Ladestationen verbessern.
The Chinese Government has officially deposited with the “Hague Conference on Private International Law” the instruments of accession to the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, also known as the Apostille Convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for Foreign…
The right of access by data subjects pursuant to Article 15 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is increasingly proving to be a sharp sword, as already seen last year from decisions of various courts clarifying just how far such right goes, thus clearly setting out the requirements to be met by controllers under data…
On 26 February 2023, new sanctions against Russia came into force as the EU unleashed its 10th sanctions package on the occasion of the anniversary of Russia’s attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2023.
New statutory requirements entered into force on 1 January 2023 regarding the assurance to be given a new managing director or board member upon notification of their appointment to the commercial register.
In a judgement of 16 February 2023 (case no. 8 AZR 450/21), the German Federal Labour Court awarded the difference in salary, plus lump sum compensation equal to 15% of the difference, to a female field sales agent whose salary had been approx. EUR 1,000.00 lower than that of her male co-worker also employed in field sales.
The validity of contract clauses allowing a party to exit the contract solely for the reason that the other party becomes illiquid and/or a petition for insolvency is filed or insolvency proceedings are instituted is a matter of intense debate.
On 12 January 2023 the EU Regulation on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market entered into force.
As an immediate response to Russia’s massive attacks on civil infrastructure in Ukraine, the EU adopted its ninth sanctions package on Russia on 16 December 2022.
The new Vertical Block Exemption Regulation 2022/720, which replaces the previous, now expired, Vertical Block Exemption Regulation 330/2010, contains some significant innovations as well as clarifications. The following is an overview of the rules now applicable to distribution contracts.
A few days ago, the German Federal Labor Court (“Bundesarbeitsgericht”, BAG) finally published the written reasons for a decision dated September 13, 2022, in which it found - unexpectedly for many - a far-reaching obligation to record daily working hours.
The German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains, which came into force on 1 January 2023, will have a major impact on M&A transactions in Germany moving forward.
On 28 December 2022, Germany’s Second Sanctions Enforcement Act [Sanktionsdurchsetzungsgesetz II – SDG II] entered into force.
The provisions of the German Packaging Act have been tightened significantly.
With the tense situation on the gas market that has been seen for some months following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the German government announced its Early Warning Level on 30 March 2022 before moving to the Alarm Level of its “Emergency Gas Plan for the Federal Republic of Germany” on 23 June 2022.
Things are still very much in flux in Germany in the area of taxation of remuneration for the transfer of rights entered in a German register (e.g. patents or other industrial property rights).
By Decision of 13 September 2022, the German Federal Labour Court found as follows: Pursuant to Sec. 3 Para. 2 No. 1 of the German Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers are required to introduce a system enabling the working time of their employees to be recorded.
Communiqué No. 2022-32/66 Amending Communiqué No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency (“Communiqué”) was published in the Official Gazette on 19 April 2022 and numbered 31814. The Amendment Communiqué entered into force on the date of its publication.
To mitigate the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the German legislature early in 2020 introduced a moratorium on terminations (Art. 240 Sec. 2 Introductory Act to the German Civil Code [Einführungsgesetz zum Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch – EGBGB]).
The “tried and tested” public enforcement measures known from data protection legislation under the EU’s GDPR are now being enlisted in civil and unfair competition law: since 28 May 2022 infringements of consumer protection regulations have been subject to fines of up to 4% of annual revenues.
It’s the buzzword on everyone’s lips: ESG (environmental, social, governance). This article gives an overview of current and upcoming changes in legislation relating to properties.
Following Russia’s unlawful recognition of the Ukrainian territories calling themselves “Donetsk People’s Republic” and “Luhansk People’s Republic” and Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, sanctions were announced against Russia and Belarus first and foremost by the EU and the US, but also by many other countries as well.
Russia has adopted countermeasures through various presidential decrees and government orders, which are mainly aimed primarily aiming at protecting the capital market, but also at restricting the export of goods.
With exchange rates skyrocketing and inflation in the Turkish economy running high, many citizens have entered the cryptocurrency markets to protect the value of their cash and thus their purchasing power.
The Law on the Approval of Ratification of the Paris Agreement numbered 7335 was passed on October 6, 2021, published in the Official Gazette numbered 31621 on October 7, 2021 and entered into force on the same date.
In order to strengthen consumer rights, the legislator has promulgated the German Fair Consumer Contracts Act [Gesetz für faire Verbraucherverträge] by making some significant changes to the German Civil Code [Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch – BGB] concerning the structuring of obligations arising from legal transactions by way of general terms…
To promote the digital economy in Europe, the EU is further developing the legal framework for digital services and markets. The provisions of the Data Governance Act on data spaces and other platforms for data exchange are an important part of this framework.
This is about trademarks: Shoelace tips are the last 2 cm of shoelaces, i.e. shoelace ends. Think Schuhwerk, a shoe manufacturer in Austria, thought that the market can distinguish its shoes from those of other manufacturers by the shoelace tips – although we are talking about special shoelace tips here.
Anyone registering a trademark is obliged to use such a trademark before a 5-year grace period expires – otherwise, it will “lapse”. This means: The proprietor can no longer assert his trademark rights against third parties, and anyone may apply for a cancellation of the trademark due to non-use. These effects may also occur in part, i.e.…
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