Law Firm of the Year for Real Estate and Construction Law
Awards
Law Firm of the Year for Customs and Excise
GvW Graf von Westphalen has won the Law Firm of the Year Award from the legal publisher JUVE Verlag in the Customs and Excise Tax category.
“There is hardly a stronger export control and international trade law practice than that of GvW” – that is the conclusion reached in the now published JUVE Handbook for Tax Law with regard to 13-strong team led by Dr Lothar Harings. GvW is praised for its comprehensive advisory offering when it comes to foreign trade law “in all relevant facets and with all relevant methods”.
In this current period of crisis, the firm is further recognised for the “quick and straightforward help” it provides to its clients as a one-stop shop for legal advisory services. With regard to the issue of sanctions against Russia, the practice was once again “significantly bolstered” by the addition of Tanja Galander. In its 5-star ranking, the publisher also recognised the “groundbreaking” advice provided by the team on Germany’s new Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains [Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG].
“We are very pleased with this award”, stated Dr Lothar Harings. “This spurs us to further pursue our innovative approach and pro-active efforts to help shape the further development of the legal fields we work in.”
In the area of international trade law the lawyers of GvW advise large German and international corporations as well as medium-sized companies. In addition to questions of conventional customs and international trade law, the focus of interest for our clients is increasingly shifting towards ESG issues such as the LkSG, CBAM or the establishment of a circular economy.
“There is hardly a stronger export control and international trade law practice than that of GvW” – that is the conclusion reached in the now published JUVE Handbook for Tax Law with regard to 13-strong team led by Dr Lothar Harings. GvW is praised for its comprehensive advisory offering when it comes to foreign trade law “in all relevant facets and with all relevant methods”.
In this current period of crisis, the firm is further recognised for the “quick and straightforward help” it provides to its clients as a one-stop shop for legal advisory services. With regard to the issue of sanctions against Russia, the practice was once again “significantly bolstered” by the addition of Tanja Galander. In its 5-star ranking, the publisher also recognised the “groundbreaking” advice provided by the team on Germany’s new Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains [Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz – LkSG].
“We are very pleased with this award”, stated Dr Lothar Harings. “This spurs us to further pursue our innovative approach and pro-active efforts to help shape the further development of the legal fields we work in.”
In the area of international trade law the lawyers of GvW advise large German and international corporations as well as medium-sized companies. In addition to questions of conventional customs and international trade law, the focus of interest for our clients is increasingly shifting towards ESG issues such as the LkSG, CBAM or the establishment of a circular economy.
Recommendations: Plant construction, labour law, foreign trade law, state aid law and subsidy law, construction law, data protection, energy, trade/distribution & logistics, real estate law, information technology and digitalisation, food law and consumer goods, media (entertainment), M&A, patent law, restructuring, telecommunications, environmental and planning law, public procurement law, insurance law and competition law.
Construction (including dispute resolution): "Good quality, knowledge of the industry, high level of competence, quick response"; "High level of human and professional competence, a feel for dealing with public bodies"; "Friendly, responsive, professional, knowledgeable"; "Availability, practical thinking, friendliness, economic thinking", "Cross-location expertise in construction support, claim management and litigation also the wealth of experience in dealing with seminal issues such as Building Information Modelling and Lean Management"
Corporate & M&A: "Experienced in handling national and international share deals, asset deals, joint ventures and various transaction structures"
Data Protection: "Special expertise in topics at the interface with public law, public procurement law and healthcare"; "Uncomplicated communication, quick understanding of the client's needs"; "All of the firm's lawyers advise us competently, reliably and very quickly. We have fixed contact persons, each of whom calls in experts. For more complex problems, several experts work together as a team"; "The practice is to be praised in particular for combining the right balance between legal expertise and commercial thinking"; "The work is always characterised by profound legal knowledge (on the part of the companies as well as the authorities), which is very helpful"; "They are also perfectly versed in European and international data protection law. This makes it easy to also map international relationships pragmatically and effectively"; "The team is sufficiently deep (from equity partners to associates) and uses resources appropriately selected and - also from the client's point of view - economically"; "They get the deal done in every situation. We are very satisfied, happy to return at any time"
Commercial, Distribution and Logistics: "An independent law firm which, despite its size, always offers a personal contact person"
Competition: "Special expertise in the digital field"; "Extremely high service level. Reliability at moderate prices"; "Great wealth of experience"
Employment: "I am always struck by the team's very good availability and quick response. Answers always come quickly and reliably"; "Super team, very friendly and polite, always good and quick communication"
Energy: "The firm combines a broad team set-up with cross-disciplinary industry expertise, including in construction law, digitalisation issues, environmental and planning law and insolvency law"; "Friendly, efficient, focused on the solution"; "Very fast, focused, deep industry knowledge, reasonable fees"
Environment and Planning: "GvW has in-depth expertise in planning approval law, but also has extensive experience in advising commercial and industrial enterprises and waste management on immission control law and general environmental law"; "When dealing with large infrastructure projects, the size of the firm is an invaluable advantage, as additional people can be brought in to the core team at any time in order to meet deadlines. Good coordination within the team, so that knowledge of the current state of affairs is guaranteed at all times, even with 6-8 team members. High adherence to deadlines. Very good accessibility of the processing persons and fast processing"; "Reliable, serious and highly qualified appearance as well as in professional exchange. Open and collegial cooperation. High level of experience"; "Outstanding team spirit, good mix of experienced colleagues and new staff"; "Perfect and, above all, up-to-date knowledge of public law (especially public building and planning law). Very good expertise in case law in the aforementioned legal field! Very competent and quick support in "emergencies" (interim legal protection etc.)"
Foreign Trade: Tier 1 law firm; "very practice-oriented and conscientious"; "high level of expertise, good networking with authorities and departments"; "GvW is a front-runner in the field of foreign trade law"; "An outstanding feature of GvW is the actual strength and depth of the practice, both in terms of the number and quality of members and the broad range of clients"; "GvW convinces with expertise in all subject areas of foreign trade law. In addition to compliance advice, the sanctions work of Lothar Harings' team is a key growth driver for the practice group. Customs law, export control and supply chain due diligence law are further core competences which are also regularly requested by blue chip companies due to the international network"; "The team has shown itself to be extremely client-oriented. It was possible to complement in-house competences at an excellent level when addressing several areas of law"; "Very experienced team with great expertise. Very good knowledge of commercial and customs law. Excellent brand and name in Germany and the rest of Europe. The firm has a good team with skills in all relevant trade and customs matters"
IT: "All of the firm's lawyers advise us competently, reliably and very quickly"; "Comprehensive expertise coupled with a sense of proportion and pragmatism"; "The practice is to be particularly commended for combining the right balance between legal expertise and commercial thinking"; "They are enormously digital - and agile"; "The firm's contacts are always extremely competent and responsive"; "We are very satisfied. They get the contract done in every situation and also successfully manage projects"
Insurance/dispute resolution: "Experienced in handling mandates at the interface with insolvency law"
Law on Food and Animal Feed: "Central focus of the firm"
Media (Entertainment): "GvW is particularly known for its work at the interface between media and copyright law. In addition, the addition of Axel von Walter (previously at ADVANT Beiten) in July 2021 has enabled the firm to expand its expertise in the games sector as well as its data protection law interface"
Patent: "A manageable, well-coordinated, competent team with both legal and technical expertise at a very high level. The advice is practical and also suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises"; "Strong and very well organised patent practice under the leadership of Sebastian Heim"; "Very reliable in terms of content and deadlines. Availability is very high, also with regard to timely feedback. Very cooperative approach, the team listens to what the client brings in, strong in analysis"; "Available at all times, otherwise call back as soon as possible. Sound knowledge. We are very satisfied"
Plant construction:Tier 1 law firm; "Good quality, knowledge of the industry, high level of competence, quick response"; "High level of human and professional competence, a feel for dealing with public bodies"; "Friendly, responsive, professional, knowledgeable"; "Availability, practical thinking, friendliness, economic thinking", "Cross-location expertise in construction support, claim management and litigation also the wealth of experience in dealing with seminal issues such as Building Information Modelling and Lean Management"
Public Procurement: "Very well organised law firm, also in connection with cross-jurisdictional advice. Complex issues are dealt with in a goal-oriented manner and at short notice. Very good negotiating skills, availability at short notice and very good"; "Among other things, regularly advises hospitals in connection with funding programmes under the Hospital Future Act"
Real Estate: "Experience in advising on transactions involving logistics, retail, office and commercial real estate as well as project developments"; "GvW has an extraordinary, in-depth knowledge of the real estate sector, which, in combination with the very extensive practical experience, results in the best possible advice on the legal issues that arise"; "The practice group is characterised by its many years of experience and the fact that it is a well-coordinated team without any notable departures"; "The team has immense legal background knowledge and good expertise. The interaction is very friendly and you receive information on your issues promptly"; "The entire team is extremely well coordinated and active across disciplines. The right contacts are involved at an early stage so that no unnecessary hours are spent"
Restructuring: "A practice group that is very well orchestrated and coherent in personal and professional terms, but which also functions very well together as a team"; "Very practical, effectively focused and solution-oriented advice very close to the client, close and, above all, pleasant "without much fuss"
State Aid: "Broadly positioned and experienced in state aid law. Well connected with further EU law expertise and in particular also foreign trade law, so that matters with interdisciplinary aspects can be handled well from a single source"; "Very professional work in a wide range of matters, always available when needed"
Telecommunications: "Team expands advice on space and satellite law"
The law firm is recommended in the following areas of expertise: Foreign trade and export control (2nd place), IT law (2nd place), data protection (5th place), insurance law (5th place), labour law, banking law, compliance, energy law, corporate law, real estate and construction law, M&A, public building law, and public law.
GvW received 177 recommendations in 40 practice areas in Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers 2025