Fachseminare von Fürstenberg GmbH & Co. KG

What Fachseminare von Fürstenberg GmbH & Co. KG does

Fachseminare von Fürstenberg GmbH & Co. KG is a Cologne-based professional education provider specializing in continuing education, specialist certification, and mandatory CPD for German lawyers (Rechtsanwälte), tax consultants (Steuerberater), and family office/wealth management professionals. Founded in 2005 and operating as a 100% subsidiary of the Dr. Otto Schmidt publishing group since 2010, the company delivers a structured portfolio across four pillars: Fachanwaltslehrgänge (specialist lawyer courses in labor, inheritance, commercial/corporate, and tax law), Fachberaterlehrgänge (specialist advisor courses in non-profit, international tax, and business succession), Zertifizierungslehrgänge (certifications co-issued with credentialing bodies WIRE, DAA, and AGT), and Fortbildungen (continuing professional development including AI, crypto tax, and digital estate topics). The portfolio spans 14 subject areas delivered through a network of 185 lecturers and 952 seminar days annually.

The business model is direct-to-professional, with course fees as the primary revenue stream and cohort sizes of approximately 20–25 participants per specialist course. Programs are delivered via three formats: in-person seminars at hotels and conference venues in major German cities (Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin), live online webinars via Zoom, GoToWebinar, and Microsoft Teams, and blended learning combining self-study, LMS-driven exercises, and live sessions. Course participants receive complimentary access to Otto Schmidt Online legal databases during enrollment. Pricing includes installment plans of up to five payments and bundling of materials, refreshments, and lunch for residential programs. The underlying technology stack is conventional — webinar platforms and an LMS — with no proprietary AI infrastructure; AI and LegalTech are taught as curriculum topics, including ChatGPT, BEAMON AI, and Libra, rather than operated as internal capabilities. The company holds ZfU approval under §12 FernUSG and recognition by regional bar associations for §15 FAO CPD hours, positioning it within regulated German professional qualification pathways.

Name

Fachseminare von Fürstenberg GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

Fachseminare von Fürstenberg GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://fachseminare-von-fuerstenberg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fachseminare von Fürstenberg is a Cologne-based professional education provider, wholly owned by Otto Schmidt Verlag, delivering specialist certification, CPD, and family office training for German lawyers, tax consultants, and wealth managers via in-person, online, and blended formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Education and Certification Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Legal & Compliance (CLE, Paralegal CE) (EDAAALAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Taxation (Corporate, Indirect, International) (EDABAJAD)

Keywords

• Professional legal education
• Specialist lawyer training
• Tax advisor certification
• Continuing professional development
• Blended learning seminars

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln (Cologne)

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Fachanwaltslehrgänge (Specialist Lawyer Courses): Multi-day intensive professional certification courses for lawyers seeking specialist titles (Fachanwalt). Combines distance learning with in-person sessions. Course fee covers participation, materials, refreshments. Typical 12–24 day programs.
2. Fachberaterlehrgänge (Specialist Advisor Courses): Professional certification courses for tax consultants and advisors (e.g., Fachberater für Internationales Steuerrecht, Fachberater für Unternehmensnachfolge). Blended learning format combining online and in-person sessions.
3. Zertifizierungslehrgänge (Certification Courses): Shorter certification programs (e.g., Zertifizierter Family Officer FvF, Zertifizierter Berater für Kryptowerte und Steuern WIRE, Zertifizierter Testamentsvollstrecker AGT). Typically 3–13 days.
4. Pflichtfortbildungen / Update-Seminare (Mandatory/CPD Seminars): Single-day or multi-day continuing education seminars for specialist lawyers (§15 FAO) and tax professionals. Recognized by regional bar associations and chambers. Covers topics like AI in legal practice, crypto assets, inheritance tax, corporate law.
5. Inhouse-Seminare (In-house Corporate Seminars): Customized seminars delivered at client premises or tailored to specific organizational needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fachseminare von Fürstenberg delivers professional certification courses and continuing education seminars for German lawyers and tax consultants, including Fachanwaltslehrgänge (specialist lawyer training), Fachberaterlehrgänge (specialist advisor training), Zertifizierungslehrgänge (certification courses), and ongoing Pflichtfortbildungen. Programs are delivered via blended learning combining self-study, live online webinars, and in-person seminars, with 185 lecturers covering 14 specialist subject areas across 952 seminar days per year.

Product overview

Fachseminare von Fürstenberg offers a comprehensive portfolio of professional training and certification programs for lawyers and tax consultants. The offering is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture centered around four main product categories: (1) Fachanwaltslehrgänge – specialist certification courses qualifying lawyers in labor law, inheritance law, commercial/corporate law, and tax law, combining distance learning with in-person sessions; (2) Fachberaterlehrgänge – specialist consultant certifications for non-profit law, international tax, and business succession; (3) Zertifizierungslehrgänge – professional certifications including Family Officer (FvF), Crypto Assets & Taxes (WIRE), Tax Criminal Law (DAA), Economic Criminal Law (DAA), and Testamentary Executor (AGT); and (4) Fortbildungen – continuing education seminars including AI-focused courses (ChatGPT for lawyers/tax consultants, AI in Family Office, BEAMON AI, Libra). Participants receive complimentary access to Otto Schmidt Online legal databases as a supplementary resource. The programs are delivered in various formats: in-person, online webinars, and blended learning combining distance study with live sessions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fachanwaltslehrgang Arbeitsrecht Specialist certification program qualifying lawyers as Fachanwalt für Arbeitsrecht (specialist in labor law), combining distance learning with in-person sessions.
• Fachanwaltslehrgang Erbrecht Specialist certification program qualifying lawyers as Fachanwalt für Erbrecht (specialist in inheritance and succession law).
• Fachanwaltslehrgang Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht Specialist certification program qualifying lawyers as Fachanwalt für Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht (specialist in commercial and corporate law).
• Fachanwaltslehrgang Steuerrecht Specialist certification program qualifying lawyers as Fachanwalt für Steuerrecht (tax law specialist), offered as blended learning with 12 attendance days in Cologne.
• Fachberaterlehrgang Gemeinnützigkeit Specialist consultant certification for non-profit law, combining online and in-person learning formats over 9 days in Frankfurt.
• Fachberaterlehrgang Internationales Steuerrecht Specialist consultant certification for international tax law, combining distance learning, webinars, and in-person seminars with practice exercises via learning management system.
• Fachberaterlehrgang Unternehmensnachfolge Specialist consultant certification for business succession planning over 18 days in Munich.
• Zertifizierter Family Officer (FvF) Certification program for family office professionals covering governance, wealth management, and succession planning, delivered as in-person seminars over 13 days.
• Zertifizierter Berater für Kryptowerte und Steuern (WIRE) Certification program covering blockchain, crypto-assets, and crypto taxation, consisting of a 2-day in-person seminar, self-study phase, and online seminar with exam.
• Zertifizierter Berater für Steuerstrafrecht (DAA) Certification program in tax criminal law for lawyers, comprising five modules combining in-person and online sessions over 11 days in Munich.
• Zertifizierter Berater für Wirtschaftsstrafrecht (DAA) Certification program in economic criminal law, structured in five modules with three in-person and two online sessions.
• Zertifizierter Testamentsvollstrecker (AGT) Certification program for testamentary executors offered both online and in-person, with modules held in Düsseldorf and Frankfurt.
• ChatGPT für Juristen Professional development course teaching lawyers how to use ChatGPT and AI tools for legal research, contract analysis, and law firm applications.
• ChatGPT für Steuerberater Training course covering secure and productive use of ChatGPT in tax advisory practice, including prompt engineering and development of custom GPT agents for tax work.
• KI im Family Office Course on applying artificial intelligence in family office management and wealth advisory services.
• BEAMON AI AI platform for law firms featured in professional development courses for lawyers.
• Libra Legal technology platform covered in professional development courses for automating and structuring legal workflows.
• Pflichtfortbildungen / Update-Seminare (Mandatory CPD Seminars) Single-day or multi-day continuing education seminars for specialist lawyers (§15 FAO) and tax professionals covering topics such as AI in legal practice, crypto assets, inheritance tax, and corporate law. Recognized by regional bar associations and chambers.
• Inhouse-Seminare (In-house Corporate Seminars) Customized seminars delivered at client premises or tailored to specific organizational needs for law firms and tax advisory practices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approved by ZfU (Bundeszentralstelle für Fernunterricht) under § 12 FernUSG for Fachanwaltslehrgänge

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Dr. Otto Schmidt Verlag (Otto Schmidt Publishing Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Otto Schmidt publishing group is the parent company of Fachseminare von Fürstenberg (acquired in 2010). Provides exclusive access to Otto Schmidt online legal databases (juristische Datenbanken) for course participants, including specialist journals, commentaries, handbooks, forms, and case law for the full course duration. Participants receive free access to the relevant module for their specific course.
• WIRE – Wirtschaftsrechtliches Institut für angewandtes Wirtschaftsrecht e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWIRE provides certification for the 'Zertifizierter Berater für Kryptowerte & Steuern (WIRE)', 'Zertifizierter Berater für Gemeinnützigkeitsrecht (WIRE)', and 'Zertifizierter Experte für Steuerstrafrecht' programs. WIRE sets certification standards and examination requirements.
• DAA – DeutscheAnwaltAkademiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDAA provides certification for the 'Zertifizierter Berater für Steuerstrafrecht (DAA)' and 'Zertifizierter Berater für Wirtschaftsstrafrecht (DAA)' programs. DAA sets certification standards, examination requirements, and awards the certified titles.
• AGT – Arbeitsgemeinschaft Testamentsvollstreckung und Vermögenssorge e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAGT provides certification for the 'Zertifizierter Testamentsvollstrecker (AGT)' program. AGT sets the certification standards, including requirement of at least two years of relevant professional experience or successful completion of three testamentary executions.
• Zoom / GoToWebinar / Microsoft TeamssupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platforms used to deliver online seminars. Zoom and GoToWebinar are the primary webinar platforms; Microsoft Teams is also used. Participants receive a personal link to the virtual seminar room and must have a PC, tablet, or smartphone with microphone/headphones or headset.
• Tagungshotels (Conference Hotels)supportingOthersHotels in German cities (Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin) serve as venue partners for in-person seminars. Sandra Heuermann is responsible for hotel selection and booking, ensuring venues meet participant needs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Apollon Hochschule der Gesundheitswirtschaft: Distance learning university offering accredited professional bachelor's and master's programs for working professionals in Germany. Comparable in the broader German professional education market, with similar distance-learning delivery model.
• ADG Business School: German business school providing management and professional development training for cooperative banking and SME sectors. Comparable in delivering structured professional certification and CPD programs to German professionals.

Direct peers

• juracademy: Online legal education platform offering distance learning courses for law students and professionals, including preparation for German legal examinations. Directly comparable in delivering structured legal education to German-speaking professionals.
• DeutscheAnwaltAkademie (DAA): Germany's largest provider of Fachanwaltslehrgänge and Fachanwalt CPD seminars, directly competing with FvF in the same specialist lawyer certification market. Notably both a DAA partner (certifying Zertifizierter Berater programs) and a competitor.
• NWB Verlag (NWB Akademie): Major German tax publisher and educator providing Fachberaterlehrgänge, CPD seminars, and tax professional training. Direct competitor in the German tax consultant education market, with similar blended learning formats.
• IWW Institut: Specialized provider of tax, accounting, and business law continuing education in Germany, with CPD programs for tax consultants and similar professional audiences. Direct overlap with FvF's Fachberater and CPD offerings.

Broad incumbents

• SRH Hochschulen: Network of private German universities offering professional and continuing education programs for working adults. Comparable in targeting busy professionals seeking accredited credentials, with overlap in legal/business curricula.
• Haufe Akademie: Large-scale German corporate training and professional development provider offering a broad portfolio across business, legal, and tax topics. Overlaps with FvF in CPD and certification programs but serves a much wider customer base.
• Management Circle AG: German provider of professional seminars and conferences for business managers, lawyers, and tax professionals. Comparable in delivering high-end CPD seminars with practitioner lecturers, though broader in topic coverage.
• C.H.BECK (Verlag C.H.BECK): Major German legal publisher with an educational arm (Beck Akademie) offering legal CPD and training. Comparable as a publisher-led educator in the German legal profession, similar to FvF's Otto Schmidt parent model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fachseminarevonfurstenberg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fachseminare-von-fuerstenberg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Fachseminare von Fürstenberg GmbH & Co. KG