Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW

What Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW does

Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW (VSW NRW) is a public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) established in 1984/1985 under the Gesetz über die Rechtsanwaltsversorgung NRW (RAVG NW). It operates a compulsory occupational pension scheme for the approximately 37,363 lawyers admitted to the three NRW bar associations (Düsseldorf, Hamm, Köln), serving as the third-largest berufsständisches Versorgungswerk in the state. The institution provides lifetime old-age pensions, occupational disability pensions, survivor pensions, and death benefits, with EUR 210.7M in benefits paid to 10,698 recipients in 2024.

The technology stack is conventional and infrastructure-light: Microsoft 365 for document and communication workflows, the ABV-operated RINA portal for EU EESSI cross-border social security data exchange under Article 26 GDPR, SEPA payment rails through three banking partners (Apotheker- und Ärztebank, Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank), and the beA/Mein Justizpostfach secure attorney mailbox. Member-facing products include the digital Mitteilungszentrale for notifications, a comprehensive PDF application library covering all benefit types, and pension simulation tools.

The business model is fully statutory and not-for-profit: mandatory monthly contributions (EUR 1,571.70 regular / EUR 157.17 minimum in 2026) plus voluntary top-ups up to EUR 28,290.60 per year fund a capital reserve of EUR 11,919M invested across real estate, bonds, equities, infrastructure, and alternatives. In 2024 the fund generated a 3.66% net investment return, exceeding the 3.5% actuarial interest rate. Administrative cost ratio is 1.72% of contributions, executed by 11 staff. Revenue mechanics derive exclusively from compulsory member contributions and capital investment returns — there is no commercial pricing, sales motion, or third-party distribution.

Name

Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW

Legal name

Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande Nordrhein-Westfalen

Website

https://vsw-ra-nw.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW is a statutory public-law occupational pension fund that administers compulsory retirement, disability, and survivor benefits for the approximately 37,363 lawyers admitted to the bar associations of Düsseldorf, Hamm, and Köln, managing EUR 11.9 billion in capital assets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Occupational Pension Fund

NAICS

Pension Funds (525110), Health and Welfare Funds (525120)

SIC

Life Insurance (6311), Accident & Health Insurance (6321)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Disability Income Insurance (Employer-Sponsored) (FSAIAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Own-Occupation Specialty Disability Insurance (Professional Occupations) (FSAIAIAI)

Keywords

• Occupational pension fund
• Lawyer retirement benefits
• Professional pension scheme
• Statutory pension alternative
• Disability and survivor pensions

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Mandatory Member Contributions: All compulsory members pay monthly contributions to the Versorgungswerk. The regular mandatory contribution (Regelpflichtbeitrag) for 2026 is 1,571.70 EUR/month (derived from a contribution assessment ceiling of 8,450.00 EUR/month × 18.6% rate). Members with income below the ceiling pay proportional contributions at the same 18.6% rate. A minimum contribution of 157.17 EUR/month (1/10 of regular) applies to all members. In 2024, total contribution income was 475 million EUR.
2. Voluntary Supplementary Contributions: Members under age 57 may pay additional voluntary contributions up to 15/10 of the regular contribution (capped at 28,290.60 EUR per year in 2026), subject to age restrictions after age 57. These are one-time or recurring top-up payments for enhanced retirement benefits.
3. Capital Investment Returns: The Versorgungswerk invests its capital reserves across diverse asset classes (real estate, bonds, equities, infrastructure, alternatives) generating investment returns. In 2024, net investment return was 3.66% on capital assets of 11.6 billion EUR. Investment income supports the funding of pension obligations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW is a public-law corporation (Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts) that operates the compulsory occupational pension scheme for all lawyers admitted to the bar associations of Düsseldorf, Hamm, and Köln in North Rhine-Westphalia. It collects mandatory monthly contributions, invests the accumulated capital across diversified asset classes, and pays out old-age, occupational disability, survivor, and death benefits to approximately 45,000 members and their dependents.

Product overview

The Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW operates a digital member services platform serving approximately 45,000 lawyer members in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's third-largest occupational pension fund. The core offering is the member portal (Versorgungswerk Portal) which provides access to pension services including retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Supporting modules include the Mitteilungszentrale for secure digital document submission, a comprehensive application download center with PDF forms, and an English-language retirement submission service via electronic legal channels. The platform organizes services by member group (new members, active members, retirees, dependents, employers, authorities) and by topic (membership, contributions, benefits, certificates, etc.).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Versorgungswerk Portal (Member Services Portal) Digital member services portal providing information, application downloads, pension simulation, and secure document submission for the compulsory occupational pension scheme for lawyers in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• Mitteilungszentrale (Message Center) Digital platform for members to securely transmit information, documents, and inquiries to the Versorgungswerk via subject selection and file upload, covering address changes, employer changes, income changes, maternity, unemployment, and other membership notifications.
• Old-Age Pension (Altersrente) Lifetime retirement pension paid to members upon reaching retirement age, with optional early or deferred retirement and actuarial adjustments; pension amount is contribution-based with personalized benefit statements and a pension simulation tool available.
• Occupational Disability Pension (Berufsunfähigkeitsrente) Pension paid to members who are no longer able to practice as lawyers due to occupational disability, providing income protection during incapacity.
• Survivor Pension (Hinterbliebenenrente) Pension paid to widows, widowers, and orphans of deceased members to provide family income protection.
• Death Allowance (Sterbegeld) Lump-sum payment to cover funeral and immediate costs upon a member's death.
• Rehabilitation Cost Subsidy (Rehakosten) Subsidy toward rehabilitation costs to support members' recovery and continued ability to work.
• Capital Refund (Kapitalabfindung) Lump-sum capital refund option for members exiting the scheme under defined statutory conditions, providing an alternative to ongoing pension entitlement.
• Pension Simulation (Rentensimulation) Online pension projection tool that lets members estimate their future retirement benefit based on individual contribution records and scenarios.
• Voluntary Supplementary Contributions (Freiwillige Zusatzbeträge) Optional additional contributions members may pay up to 15/10 of the regular mandatory contribution (capped at EUR 28,290.60/year in 2026), subject to age restrictions after age 57, to enhance their retirement pension.
• English-Language Information and Retirement Application Service for EU Residents Dedicated English-language information and retirement application submission service for EU-residing members, enabling electronic administrative decisions via Mein Justizpostfach (eBO) or email under the SDG-VO framework.
• Statutory Pension Exemption Service (Befreiung von der DRV) Administrative service enabling members (especially employed and Syndikus lawyers) to obtain exemption from mandatory statutory pension insurance (DRV) by virtue of their Versorgungswerk membership and employer contributions.
• Inter-Pension-Fund Transfer and Reimbursement (Überleitung / Erstattung) Service enabling members relocating to another federal state to transfer their contributions and acquired rights to the corresponding local Versorgungswerk, plus reimbursement scenarios for exiting members.

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,136 old-age pensions, 292 disability pensions, 1,492 widow/widower pensions, 278 orphan pensions currently being paid
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft berufsständischer Versorgungseinrichtungen e.V. (ABV)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe Versorgungswerk participates in the EU Electronic Exchange of Social Security Information (EESSI) system via a jointly operated portal with ABV. Under Article 26 GDPR, ABV and the Versorgungswerk are joint controllers for member data processed through the RINA software platform for cross-border social security data exchange. ABV operates and maintains the portal infrastructure; the Versorgungswerk handles data upload and download within its control.
• Microsoft Ireland Operations LimitedcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Versorgungswerk uses Microsoft 365 as its primary digital workplace software, including cloud-based document management, communication, and collaboration tools. Microsoft processes personal data of members as a data processor under Article 28 GDPR. Data is primarily processed within the EU Data Boundary, with limited potential transfers to the USA under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework.
• Apotheker- und Ärztebank (Apotheker- und Ärztebank eG)minorOthersOne of three banking partners used for receiving member contributions and disbursing benefits. Account details: BLZ 300 606 01, Account 0 002 531 917, IBAN DE56 3006 0601 0002 5319 17, BIC DAAEDEDDXXX.
• Deutsche BankminorOthersOne of three banking partners used for receiving member contributions and disbursing benefits. Account details: BLZ 300 700 10, Account 2 106 060, IBAN DE31 3007 0010 0210 6060 00, BIC DEUTDEDDXXX.
• Commerzbank (formerly Dresdner Bank AG)minorOthersOne of three banking partners used for receiving member contributions and disbursing benefits. Account details: BLZ 300 800 00, Account 212 315 000, IBAN DE90 3008 0000 0212 3150 00, BIC DRESDEFF300.
• Rechtsanwaltskammern Düsseldorf, Hamm, und Köln (Bar Associations)coreOthersThe three bar associations of NRW are responsible for informing the Versorgungswerk of new admissions and membership changes. The Versorgungswerk's representative assembly and election districts are organized by these three bar association regions (Wahlbezirke). Each region elects 10 representatives.
• Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte Sachsen-AnhaltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Versorgungswerk NRW provides administrative support for the Sachsen-Anhalt attorneys' pension fund in member and contribution administration and benefit services, as mentioned in job posting for rent administration staff.
• Notarversorgungswerk Köln (Notary Pension Fund Cologne)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Versorgungswerk NRW provides administrative support for the Cologne notary pension fund in membership, contribution, and benefit matters, as mentioned in job posting for rent administration staff.
• Other German Versorgungswerke (Überleitungsabkommen / Transfer Agreements)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Satzung provides for transfer agreements (Überleitungsabkommen) with other Versorgungswerke throughout Germany, enabling members who relocate to other federal states to transfer their contributions and acquired rights to the corresponding local fund.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/versorgungswerk-der-rechtsanw%C3%A4lte-im-lande-nrw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Versorgungswerk der Rechtsanwälte im Lande NRW