Hoffmann Liebs

What Hoffmann Liebs does

Hoffmann Liebs is an independent full-service German commercial law firm (Wirtschaftskanzlei) headquartered in Düsseldorf, structured as a Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB. Founded in 1974, the firm employs approximately 60 lawyers and legal professionals serving mid-sized German companies (Mittelstand), international corporations, and public sector entities across the full range of commercial law practice areas, including corporate/M&A, employment, antitrust, capital markets, banking and financial regulation, IT/data protection, energy and climate law, insolvency/restructuring, real estate, and international trade and export control. The firm operates specialized China Desk and India Desk units to handle cross-border transactions involving Asian clients, and has advised on notable capital markets and M&A mandates including the PFISTERER IPO at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, a EUR 55 million corporate bond placement for PNE AG, and EUR 30 million in capital increases for FRIWO AG.

The firm's business model is classic professional services, with revenue generated from hourly fees, fixed retainers, and project-based engagements billed directly to clients, predominantly enterprise counterparties. Go-to-market is driven by direct client engagement, professional referrals (accountants, banks, financial advisors), and brand reinforcement through third-party rankings (Legal 500, JUVE, Best Lawyers, WirtschaftsWoche) and thought leadership content including published blogs, proprietary podcasts (StrafArbeit, LeXplained), and client events such as Compliance Day and China Day. The firm is privately held by its partners, has no parent company or external investor, and operates from a single Düsseldorf location following a 2024 relocation to the Hofgarten Palais. The client mix spans Manufacturing, Automotive, Energy, Financial Services, Logistics, Capital Markets, and Consumer Goods, with recognizable logos including Renault, Herrenknecht, PNE AG, ALTANA, Dometic, and FRIWO AG.

Name

Hoffmann Liebs

Legal name

Hoffmann Liebs Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB

Website

https://hoffmannliebs.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Hoffmann Liebs is a Düsseldorf-based, independent full-service German commercial law firm with 60 lawyers serving mid-sized companies, international corporations, and public sector clients across all areas of commercial law, including M&A, employment, capital markets, and specialized China and India desks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Professional legal services billed through hourly fees, fixed retainers, and project-based arrangements across all areas of commercial and economic law for corporate clients, including M&A transactions, litigation, employment law, and regulatory compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hoffmann Liebs is a full-service commercial law firm (Wirtschaftskanzlei) providing comprehensive legal advisory across all areas of business law. Its team of approximately 60 lawyers advises mid-sized companies (Mittelstand), international corporations, and public sector entities on matters including corporate/M&A, employment law, antitrust, IT/data protection, capital markets, real estate, energy law, insolvency/restructuring, and cross-border transactions with specialized China and India desks.

Product overview

Hoffmann Liebs is a full-service commercial law firm (Wirtschaftskanzlei) based in Düsseldorf, Germany, providing comprehensive legal advisory services to mid-sized companies, international corporations, and public entities through a team of approximately 60 lawyers. The firm offers a unified legal advisory service rather than a modular software product, covering diverse practice areas including Corporate/M&A, Employment Law, Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Insolvency & Restructuring, IT & Data Protection, Energy Law, Compliance, Product Compliance, Capital Markets, Real Estate, Construction, International Trade, and specialized China and India desks for cross-border transactions. The firm also produces educational podcasts (StrafArbeit and LeXplained) and hosts seminars and events for professional development and client education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Legal Advisory Services Full-service commercial legal advisory covering all aspects of business law including corporate, M&A, employment, antitrust, and regulatory matters. Targeted at mid-sized German companies, international corporations, and public sector entities.
• M&A Advisory Mergers and acquisitions advisory, transaction support, and post-merger integration for corporate clients across industries.
• Employment Law Advisory (Arbeitsrecht) Individual and collective employment law advisory including restructuring, dismissal protection, and labor disputes for companies and managers.
• Antitrust Law Advisory (Kartellrecht) Competition and antitrust law advisory, merger control, and cartel defense for corporate clients.
• Corporate Law Advisory (Gesellschaftsrecht) Corporate law advisory including company formation, governance, shareholder matters, and restructuring.
• Insolvency and Restructuring Law Insolvency proceedings, self-administration, protective shield proceedings, and creditor representation.
• IT Law and Data Protection Information technology law, software contracts, data protection compliance, and GDPR advisory.
• Banking and Financial Regulation Banking law, financial regulatory compliance, and advisory for financial technology companies.
• Energy Law and Climate Law Energy sector regulatory advisory, renewable energy projects, and climate compliance.
• Compliance Advisory Corporate compliance programs, internal investigations, and regulatory compliance advisory.
• Capital Markets Law Securities offerings, IPO advisory, shareholder meetings, and capital market regulatory compliance.
• China Desk Specialized advisory for Chinese companies entering European markets and European companies investing in China, including joint ventures and M&A transactions.
• India Desk Specialized advisory for Indian companies on European market entry and cross-border transactions.
• Public Sector Advisory Public procurement and government contracting advisory for public sector entities.
• Litigation (Prozessführung) Commercial litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution proceedings for corporate clients.
• Commercial and Distribution Law Commercial contracts, distribution agreements, and sales law advisory.
• Real Estate Law Commercial real estate transactions, property development, and real estate financing.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• NRW-ForumminorOthersCultural partnership and cooperation with NRW-Forum Düsseldorf, a leading cultural forum. The partnership has been continued for 5 years and includes sponsorship of cultural events and exhibitions.
• DEG CLUB 2020minorOthersAssociation membership with DEG CLUB 2020, a network organization for business development and professional exchange.
• Bundesverband der Wirtschaftskanzleien in Deutschland (BWD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHoffmann Liebs became the 50th member of the Federal Association of Economic Law Firms in Germany (BWD) on its founding anniversary, demonstrating commitment to the professional network of German commercial law practices.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Noerr Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB: German full-service commercial law firm with comparable Mittelstand focus and practice areas including M&A, employment, antitrust, real estate, and regulatory advisory. Directly competes for the same mid-sized German corporate clients and offers similar partnership-based service model.
• GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB: Mid-sized German commercial law firm with comparable insolvency/restructuring and employment practices. Felix Pott worked at GÖRG from 2010-2015, indicating direct overlap in employment law and insolvency advisory to mid-sized German companies.
• Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft: Major German full-service commercial law firm with comparable practice breadth across M&A, employment, antitrust, IT, energy, and public procurement. Operates as a similarly structured partnership and serves the same Mittelstand and large-cap client base in Germany.
• Rödl & Partner: German-origin international professional services firm combining legal, tax, and audit advisory for mid-sized companies. Closely comparable Mittelstand target client base and overlapping cross-border transaction capabilities, including Asian market entry work.
• Taylor Wessing Germany: International law firm with significant German Mittelstand practice. Dr. Sophia Fälschle completed a Referendariat station at Taylor Wessing, evidencing the direct professional overlap and competition for corporate and M&A work targeting German mid-market clients.
• Kapellmann und Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB: German commercial law firm with strong employment, construction, and public procurement practices — overlapping directly with several of Hoffmann Liebs' signature practice areas. Felix Pott, now Partner at Hoffmann Liebs, previously worked at Kapellmann, evidencing direct competition for talent and clients.
• CMS Hasche Sigle: International full-service law firm with strong German Mittelstand practice covering M&A, employment, antitrust, energy, and capital markets — overlapping substantially with Hoffmann Liebs' service offering but at a larger scale with multiple German offices.
• Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek: One of Germany's largest independent commercial law firms with comparable full-service coverage of corporate, M&A, employment, antitrust, and capital markets work for mid-sized and large German companies. Most directly comparable mid-sized-to-large independent Wirtschaftskanzlei serving the Mittelstand.

Broad incumbents

• Hengeler Mueller: One of Germany's leading elite law firms with deep M&A, capital markets, and antitrust practices serving the largest German corporates. Serves as a broader incumbent competitor for premium mandates where clients may trade up from a mid-sized firm like Hoffmann Liebs.
• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer: Top-tier global law firm with a major German practice covering corporate, M&A, employment, antitrust, and capital markets. Listed in management team prior employment (Felix Pott as research assistant), representing a global incumbent that competes for the same high-end mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbcX1FPKRkPKVU0WN2T7grw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hoffmannliebs
• Instagraminstagram.com/hoffmannliebs
• Xx.com/hoffmannliebs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hoffmann Liebs