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Ulrich Badde, LL.M.

Richter (Judge)

Landgericht Muenster (District Court Muenster)

Ulrich Badde is a judge at the District Court Muenster. Before attending law school, he participated in an international program at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia. From 1998 to 2003, Ulrich Badde studied law at the University of Muenster. He also enrolled in lectures on English as a Legal Language and worked in a law firm in London. While doing his legal traineeship, Ulrich Badde attended a post-graduated program in Media Law at the University of Mainz. He was awarded a Master of Laws in 2006.

Anne Katrin Bartels

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Bird & Bird, Duesseldorf

Anne Katrin Bartels specializes in international and domestic arbitration and litigation. She has experience in complex high-value international arbitrations and has represented a wide variety of clients in the engineering, banking, healthcare, insurance and sport sectors. Anne Katrin Bartels studied law at the Christian-Albrechts-University in Kiel and at the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali in Rome. She has lectured at the University of Miami and at the Nova South Eastern University (USA) and is the co-author of a textbook on International Commercial Arbitration. Anne Katrin Bartels speaks English, Italian, French and German.

Niuscha Bassiri

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Hanotiau & van den Berg, Brussels

Niuscha Bassiri is a lawyer and has been with the Brussels based law firm of Hanotiau & van den Berg since 2006. There, she has been appointed as administrative secretary in more than a dozen international arbitrations (ad hoc, ICC, ICSID, LCIA, UNCITRAL, SCC) relating to BIT, construction, credit cards, distributorship, energy, finance, food & beverage, insurance, investments, joint ventures, licensing, mining, oil & gas, post-M&A, reinsurance, sales, telecom, turnkey projects, and others. Niuscha Bassiri studied law at the Universities of Cologne and Barcelona. After her legal traineeship, she was admitted to the bar in Cologne in 2002 and to the Brussels bar in 2006. From 2002 to 2003, she worked for the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering in London. From 2003 to 2006 she was consultant to the chartered arbitrator Robert Knutson in London. She assisted as counsel and administrative secretary in numerous international arbitrations (ICC, AAA, UNCITRAL and CIMAR rules). Niuscha Bassiri is fluent in German, English, Farsi and Spanish and has a basic knowledge of French.

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Dr. Achim-Ruediger Boerner

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Boerner, Cologne 

Dr. Achim-Ruediger Boerner specializes in international investments, infrastructure and key industries, with a special focus on energy and monetary issues. After studies of law, economics and Oriental studies at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn, and a thesis on U.S. law and military service he was admitted to the bar in 1981. He served as in-house counsel for energy law, foreign exploration and special questions to Ruhrgas AG from 1982 to 1984 and as general counsel of Aachener und Muenchener Insurance group from 1984 to 1987. After joining the M&A boutique law firm Lang & Landwehrmann in Duesseldorf, he started his own firm Boerner & Esser in 1989, 1990-1998 Boerner & Boerner (together with his late father Prof. Dr. Bodo Boerner, dec’d 1994), from 1998 onwards Boerner in Cologne. He is the author of numerous publications. Languages: Englisch, French, some Arabic.

Rouven Franz Bodenheimer

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Lungerich & Lenz, Cologne 

Rouven Franz Bodenheimer specializes in conflict resolution and advises on corporate law and construction law in particular. Besides civil court proceedings, he has been involved in various arbitrations under the DIS-, ICC- and LCIA-rules. He has also participated in ad hoc arbitration proceedings and in the work of dispute adjudication boards. He studied law in Goettingen, Cambridge, Leuven and Bonn and completed his legal training in Duesseldorf, Tel Aviv and London. After being with an international law firm he has been with Lungerich & Lenz since 2007. He speaks German, English, Dutch and French.

Katharina Borgs

Research Assistant

University of Duesseldorf

Katharina Borgs studied law at the Universities of Duesseldorf and Maastricht. In 2005, she participated in the Philipp C. Jessup International Law Moot Competition. She also attended a study program on Anglo-American law at the University of Duesseldorf. During her studies she did several internships and worked as student research assistant to Prof. Dr. Petra Pohlmann at the Chair of Civil Law and Competition Law. Katharina Borgs chaired the Duesseldorf Model United Nations Association for three years. In October 2005, she took part in the deliberations of working group II of UNCITRAL as a member of the delegation of the European Law Students Association. After having graduated in 2007, she joined the Chair of Civil Law and Intellectual Property Rights as research assistant.

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Maike Braem

Law Student/Research Assistant

University of Bonn

Maike Braem is a last year student enrolled at the University of Bonn since 2002. She works as a student assistant at the Institute for Civil Procedure. Maike Braem participated in the 14^th Vis Moot for the University of Bonn and received an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates. She is especially interested in international arbitration and private international law, which she studied not only at the University of Bonn but also at the National University of Singapore in 2005 and 2006.

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Sonja Bresser

Research Assistant

University of Bonn

Sonja Bresser studied law at the Universities of Bonn and Geneva. In 2003/2004 she was a member of the University of Bonn’s team for the Vis Moot. She passed the first state examination in May 2006 and currently works as a research assistant at the Institute for Civil Procedure (Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wagner, LL.M.). She is preparing her doctoral thesis, supported by a scholarship from the German National Academic Foundation. She coaches the University of Bonn’s Vis Moot Court team.

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Maximilian Buelau

Research Assistant

University of Bonn 

Maximilian Buelau studied law at the University of Bonn from 2002 to 2007, with a focus on conflict of laws and international civil procedure. He participated in the 12^th Vis Moot (2004/2005). Since 2005 he worked as a student assistant at the Institute for Civil Procedure (Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wagner, LL.M.), where he is currently employed as a graduate assistant, writing a Ph.D. thesis.

Dr. Markus Burianski, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

White & Case, Frankfurt

Dr. Markus Burianski, LL.M. is a local partner of White & Case. He specializes in international arbitration and commercial litigation in product and securities liability and related insurance disputes. Dr. Burianski has acted as counsel in arbitrations under the ICC- and DIS-rules as well as in ad hoc arbitrations. Prior to joining White & Case, Dr. Burianski practiced for more than two years in Brussels, focusing on litigation before the EC courts. Dr. Burianski studied in Cologne and Kingston-upon-Hull and qualified as Rechtsanwalt in 2004.

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Robert Christoffel, LL.M.

Research Assistant

University of Cologne 

Robert Christoffel is a research assistant at the Institute of Tax Law at the University of Cologne. He studied law at the University of Duesseldorf from 2000 to 2005. During his studies, Robert worked for the Chair of Criminal Law and for the Chair for Business Taxation Law at the University of Duesseldorf. From 2005 to 2006, he successfully participated in the Vis Moot. Afterwards, he continued his studies of law as a Fulbright scholar at the University of Miami School of Law from 2006 to 2007, where he obtained a LL.M. title. There, he attended classes in international arbitration conducted by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s global head of the international arbitration and public international law group, Jan Paulsson. Currently, Robert Christoffel works on a Ph.D. thesis dealing with comparative tax law.

Dirk De Meulemeesters

Advocaat (Lawyer)

De Meulemeesters en partners, Ghent

Dirk De Meulemeester graduated from Ghent University in 1993, obtained a certificate in English Legal Methods at the University of Cambridge in 2001 and a certificate in International Commercial Arbitration at the University of Cologne in 2005. Dirk De Meulemeesters was admitted to the Ghent Bar in 1994 and combines his law practice with academic activities. He is a lecturer at the College of Mechelen, a presiding arbitrator for the arbitral tribunal of the traveling sector, chairman of CEPANI40 and an arbitrator for CEPANI and the ICC. He is a member of the editorial staff of De Tijd, in which he writes a weekly legal column on labor law.

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Alexandra Diehl, LL.M.

Research Assistant / Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

University of Duesseldorf 

Alexandra Diehl has been a research assistant at the University of Duesseldorf since January of 2007. Besides coaching the Vis Moot Team, she also attends the Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Team. Alexandra received her legal education from the University of Muenster and from Suffolk University in Boston (LL.M. 2004). During law school, Alexandra worked as a freelancer for various magazines and German public television. As a trainee lawyer, Alexandra Diehl worked for Hoelters & Elsing in Duesseldorf and the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. Alexandra is currently working on a Ph.D. thesis on investment arbitration.

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Maarten J. Drop

Advocaat (Lawyer)

Cleber Advocaten, Amsterdam 

Maarten Jacobus Drop is a partner of Cleber N.V., Amsterdam. He studied law at the University of Amsterdam and worked in Switzerland, Verona and Milan. He also was a law intern with Herzfeld & Rubin LLP, New York. From 1992 to 2002 he was an advocaat with Trenité Van Doorne, Amsterdam, and worked primarily in international litigation and arbitration as well as corporate law and finance. From 2002 to 2004, Maarten Drop was a partner with Van Oosten Urlus Stuivinga, The Hague, in the field of corporate and insolvency law. In 2004, he co-founded Cleber N.V., a boutique firm specialized in corporate law, M&A and financing transactions and litigation before state courts and arbitration on corporate and finance disputes.

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Katja Ehrich

Richterin (Judge)

Amtsgericht Siegburg (Local Court Siegburg) 

Katja Ehrich is a judge at the Amtsgericht Siegburg (Local Court Siegburg) and was finalist of the 8^th Vis Moot with the team of the University of Cologne in 2001.

Prof. Dr. Siegfried H. Elsing, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Hoelters & Elsing, Duesseldorf

Prof. Dr. Siegfried Elsing is a partner of Hoelters & Elsing. After completion of his studies at the Universities of Freiburg, Lausanne, Muenster (Dr. iur. 1976) and Yale (LL.M. 1979), Prof. Dr. Elsing started his career as a practicing attorney in 1979 in Cologne and continued to practice in 1981 and 1982 with a law firm in New York. In 1983, he was admitted to practice in New York. Since 1983, his practice has focused on the principal areas of international business law with a strong emphasis on dispute resolution, M&A and corporate law. Prof. Dr. Elsing has more than 20 years of experience representing German and international clients in domestic and international disputes both before German State Courts and in national and international commercial arbitrations. He has acted as arbitrator and chairman in more than 60 international arbitral proceedings (ICC, DIS, UNCITRAL, ad hoc etc.). He lectures as Honorary Professor on international commercial arbitration and international civil procedure at the University of Duesseldorf. Prof. Dr. Elsing regularly acts as arbitrator in Vis Moot pleadings in Vienna.

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Sonat Ertuerk

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf 

Sonat Ertuerk studies law at the University of Duesseldorf, focusing on intellectual property law. She was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates in the 14^th Vis Moot after reaching the final rounds with her team members.

Todd Fox, LL.M., J.D.

Attorney-at-law (New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania)

Gleiss Lutz, Stuttgart

Todd J. Fox attended the University of Strasbourg, Andrews University (B.A. 1995), Rutgers University School of Law (J.D. 1999) and the University of Freiburg (LL.M. 2002). He is admitted in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and has worked in the Stuttgart office of Gleiss Lutz since 2007. His practice areas include international arbitration, commercial law and M&A. Languages: English, German, French.

Ulrike Gantenberg

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Duesseldorf

Ulrike Gantenberg is a partner of Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek and works in the Duesseldorf office of this independent German firm. She is specialized in international arbitration, corporate law, M&A and capital markets. Prior to joining Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Ulrike Gantenberg worked in the arbitration department of an international law firm in Paris. She acts as counsel and in arbitral tribunals in international arbitration proceedings of all types, concerning in particular Post-M&A, corporate, construction and commercial matters including disputes under Bilateral Investment Treaties. Ulrike Gantenberg has published extensively on international commercial arbitration and corporate law. She is a coordinator of the DIS40. She traditionally acts as arbitrator in Vienna. Languages: English, French and German.

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Werner Gaus, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Bongen Renauld & Partner, Frankfurt

Werner Gaus is a partner of the Frankfurt office of the law firm Bongen, Renaud & Partner. He attended the Universities of Augsburg, Lausanne and Freiburg. In 1981, Werner Gaus graduated from law school. His studies were followed by the mandatory practical training (traineeship) from 1981 to 1984. In 1984, Werner Gaus took the German bar exam. Hereinafter, he went abroad to attend the post-graduate program at Tulane Law School, New Orleans. He was awarded the Master of Laws title in 1986. Walter Gaus practiced with Walter, Conston, Alexander & Green in New York from 1986 to 1988. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1988. Since 1989, he has worked as an attorney in Frankfurt where he established the Frankfurt office of Bongen Renaud & Partner.

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Dr. Denis Gebhardt, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Hoelters & Elsing, Duesseldorf 

Dr. Denis Gebhardt is a partner at the Duesseldorf office of Hoelters & Elsing with a special focus on international litigation/arbitration. He holds law degrees from the Universities of Giessen (Dr. iur. 2000) and Sacramento/USA (LL.M. 2000). He is admitted in Germany, New York and before the Court of Appeals for the Federal District (Washington D.C.). Dr. Gebhardt lectures at the University of Muenster on M&A and arbitration and at the Bundesfinanzakademie on United States law.

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Silke Glawischnig

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Duesseldorf 

Christian Grochowski

Freelancer

University of Cologne

Christian Grochowski studied law at the University of Cologne and currently works as a freelancer for CMS Hasche Sigle in Cologne in the German and international employment and labor law division. He participated in the 13^th Vis Moot 2005/2006, in the 2^nd Labor Law Moot at the German Federal Labor Court and in the 3^rd Cologne Summer Academy on International Commercial Arbitration.

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Nils Grosche

Research Assistant

University of Bonn

Nils Grosche has been a research assistant since November 2007 at the Institute of Public International Law at the University. He is working on a Ph.D. thesis on the scope of judicial interpretation in European Union Law. Nils Grosche was a participant of the 12^th Vis Moot as a member of the University.

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Dr. Wolfgang Gruber, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Taylor Wessing, Duesseldorf

Dr. Wolfgang Gruber advises primarily on national and international commercial transactions. He is regularly involved in complex litigations in commercial, construction and corporate disputes, both as counsel and as arbitrator. Another focus of his practice includes energy law. An essential part of his litigation practice is devoted to international arbitration. Wolfgang Gruber is regularly appointed as an arbitrator and acts as counsel, e.g. in proceedings under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce or of the German Arbitration Institution. He is a lecturer at the University of Bonn, publishes in legal journals and acts as a speaker in conferences. Dr. Gruber, a native German speaker, is fluent in English and French.

Sven Hasenstab

Law Student/Research Assistant

University of Hanover

Sven Hasenstab is a student assistant at the Chair for Civil Law, German-, European- and International Civil Procedure (Prof. Dr. Christian Wolf) at the University of Hanover, with a focus on private international law, public international law and European law. Since October 2003, he has studied law at the University of Hanover. Since September 2006, he has coached teams for the Vis Moot. He was a participant in the 13^th Vis Moot and in the 1^st Moot Court of the German Federal Labor Court in Erfurt.

Henning Heinrich

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf

Henning Heinrich is a last year student at the University of Duesseldorf and works as student research assistant for a major German law firm. After he had graduated from high-schools in New Zealand and Germany, Henning enrolled at the University of Duesseldorf in 2004. He successfully participated in a study program on Anglo-American law and was a team member of the second Duesseldorf Vis Moot team. Henning was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates in the 4^th Vis (East) Moot in 2007.

Rudolf Hennecke

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Cologne

Rudolf Hennecke is an associate of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and works in the Cologne office. He is a member of the dispute resolution practice group and specializes in international and domestic arbitration, corporate litigation and international trade law. Rudolf Hennecke completed his legal education at the Universities of Muenster, Liverpool and Cologne. Before joining Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, he was a research assistant at the University of Cologne Law Centre for European and International Cooperation and a lecturer at the Cologne Business School. During his legal traineeship he worked inter alia for the American Arbitration Association in New York.

Thorsten Henze

Rechtsreferendar (Trainee Lawyer)

Oberlandesgericht Duesseldorf (Court of Appeal Duesseldorf)

Thorsten Henze studied law and business administration at the Universities of Cologne, Lisbon and Fribourg. During his studies he attended several summer schools, such as the 74^th Summer Session of the Hague Academy of International Law and a Transnational Summer Course on International Arbitration led by ICC Chairman Professor Pierre Tercier and Georgetown's ADR director Carrie Menkel-Meadow. Thorsten Henze also worked as research assistant to Prof. Dr. Johanna Hey at the University of Duesseldorf. He initiated the participation of the first Duesseldorf team in the Vis Moot and is the co-founder of the Duesseldorf Moot Association. Currently, he is a trainee lawyer at the Court of Appeal Duesseldorf preparing for the bar exam.

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Dr. Johann-Friedrich Hochbaum

Head of Legal Services / Compliance Officer

MAN Ferrostaal AG, Essen

Dr. Johann-Friedrich Hochbaum is head of Legal Services and Compliance Officer of MAN Ferrostaal AG, Essen. His expertise lies in advising on all legal aspects of international turnkey construction projects. After taking the bar exam in 1995, he worked as a contract manager for the Treuhandanstalt (Federal Privatization Agency) and joined MAN Ferrostaal AG in 1996. Dr. Hochbaum has published on pathological international arbitration clauses and lectures regularly at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Essen and the Management Circle in Frankfurt/Main. Dr. Hochbaum speaks German, English, Spanish and French.

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Martin Holler

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Giese & Partner, Prague

Martin Holler is a partner of Giese & Partners v.o.s., a Prague-based international law firm. He studied law at the University of Hamburg and was a research assistant from 1994 to 1998. Martin Holler started his career in an international law firm in Frankfurt/Main. Since 1999, when he moved to Prague, Martin has been a member of both the German and the Czech bar. He has published extensively on issues of Czech commercial law and is fluent in English, Czech and German. Martin Holler is Secretary of the Real Estate Section of the International Bar Association and a frequent speaker at various international conferences.

Dr. André Janssen

Assistant Professor

University of Muenster

Dr. André Janssen is Assistant Professor at the Centre for European Private Law, University of Muenster in Germany. He studied and conducted research in Nijmegen, Muenster, Oxford and Turin. His research areas are among others comparative law, European private law and international sales law. He has published more than 25 contributions on the CISG in several languages and is currently co-editing the book “Methodology of CISG”. Besides various other functions, he is an editor of the “European Review of Private Law” and the Italian “Contratto e impresa / Europa”.

Prof. Dr. Christian Kersting, LL.M.

Full time Professor of Law

University of Duesseldorf

Prof. Dr. Christian Kersting is Professor of civil law, German and international business law and antitrust law at the University of Duesseldorf. In 2007, he was offered permanent faculty positions (chairs) by the Universities of Duesseldorf, Kiel and Mannheim as well as the European Business School. He obtained his teaching qualification (“Habilitation”) in the field of civil law, German and European commercial, company, accounting and capital markets law, comparative law and tax law from the University of Munich (2006), a Ph.D. from the University of Bonn (2000) and an LL.M. from Yale (2002). He also pursued part-time studies of economics (“Vordiplom” 1996).

Sebastian Kneisel

Rechtsreferendar (Trainee Lawyer)

Oberlandesgericht Cologne (Court of Appeal Cologne) / Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Cologne

Sebastian Kneisel studied in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. He participated in the Vis Moot in 2002, winning third place in the Werner Melis Award for Best Memorandum for Respondent. He is a member of the Frankfurt Moot Alumni Association and acted as its president from 2004 to 2006. Sebastian Kneisel coached several Vis Moot teams from Frankfurt University and in 2007 the team of the University of Cologne. Since 2006, he also participated in the Vis Moot as an arbitrator. Sebastian is currently serving his legal clerkship and works as a research assistant in the dispute resolution practice group of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Cologne.

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Dr. Angela Koelbl

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Lovells, Duesseldorf

Angela Koelbl joined Lovells in 2005. She works in the firm's corporate practice group in the Duesseldorf office and specializes in (domestic and international) arbitration on M&A disputes and other corporate matters. She was involved as counsel or as secretary of the arbitral tribunal in arbitration proceedings governed by DIS or by ICC Rules, and also in ad hoc proceedings. She is visiting lecturer at the Philipps-Universitaet Marburg and has been actively engaged in the preparation of Vis Moot teams since 2004.

Dr. Thomas Kreifels

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Duesseldorf

Dr. Thomas Kreifels has been a partner of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer since 1987 and works in the Duesseldorf office. He belongs to the practice group “Litigation, Arbitration, Mediation”. Within his national and international legal practice, he has a special focus in plant construction and engineering both regarding contract drafting and acting for clients in disputes in court or arbitration proceedings or in ADR proceedings. Dr. Kreifels studied law at the University of Bonn, from which he also received his doctorate. He has been with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer since 1983 and speaks German and English. Dr. Kreifels regularly gives speeches and chairs seminars and conferences on construction and engineering.

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Dr. Stefan Kroell, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Lecturer and Independent Arbitrator

Dr. Stefan Kroell has been appointed as an arbitrator in various proceedings under the DIS, ICC, WKO and UNCITRAL Rules as well as in other ad-hoc proceedings. He is the national correspondent for Germany to UNCITRAL, visiting reader at the School of Arbitration of the Queen Mary University of London, visiting lecturer at the Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, and lecturer for arbitration and international business law at the University of Cologne as well as the University of California, Davis. Dr. Kroell is a member of the board of editors of the "International Arbitration Law Review" and "Internationales Handelsrecht (IHR)" and author of various books (among them "Comparative International Commercial Arbitration" and "Arbitration in Germany - The Model Law in Practice") as well as articles and case notes on arbitration. 

Dr. Sonja Kruisinga, LL.M. 

Associate Professor

University of Utrecht

Dr. Sonja Kruisinga has been a lecturer at the department of private law of the University of Maastricht between 1996 and 1998, and is since then associate professor at the department of commercial law at the Molengraaff Institute for Private Law at the University of Utrecht. In 2004 she received a doctorate degree from the University of Utrecht with a Ph.D. thesis on the notion of non-conformity in the CISG. Since 2004, she has been the coach of the Utrecht team for the Vis Moot.

Dr. Wolfgang Kuehn

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Duesseldorf

Dr. Wolfgang Kuehn is a senior partner of Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek. Dr. Kuehn received his legal education from the Universities of Munich and Muenster (Dr. iur. 1971). His areas of practice are corporate law, M&A and international arbitration. Dr. Kuehn advised national and foreign clients in a large number of M&A transactions  related to the energy, automotive, media (TV), food production and service industries, and others. He has handled numerous national and international arbitration proceedings as arbitrator or counsel with respect to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, construction project contracts, turnkey plant contracts on behalf of German and mainly international corporate parties or clients. He is member of the board of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS), past chairman of the Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association and past member (1990 to 1996) of the ICC International Court Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.

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Dr. Andrea Kuettler

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Cologne 

Dr. Andrea Kuettler studied law in Cologne and had her first contact to Moot Courts in 2000, when first participating and later organizing the ELSA e.V. Germany Moot Court at the University of Cologne. In 2000/2001 she took part in the Vis Moot as a member of the University of Cologne team, which won second place in the final orals in Vienna. Ms. Kuettler obtained her Ph.D. in the law of international civil procedure in 2005 and has worked as a lawyer in the Cologne office of Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek since 2007.

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Kate Lalor

Barrister and Solicitor (Lawyer)

Nauta Dutilh, Amsterdam

Kate Lalor is an Australian barrister and solicitor. She has been working in the international arbitration team of Nauta Dutilh since July 2007, providing a common law perspective to the team's work in the field of international arbitration. Kate Lalor is currently assisting in a large international investment arbitration and also assists in the provision of advice in relation to other international arbitrations. She graduated from the Australian National University in 2004. Afterwards, she worked for a top-tier Australian law firm in the provision of legal services in the areas of commercial litigation, international trade and competition law.

Dr. Vesna Lazic, LL.M.

Associate Professor

University of Utrecht

Dr. Vesna Lazic has been a senior researcher at the department on international commercial arbitration at the T.M.C. Asser Institute in The Hague since 1991. In 1998, she obtained a doctorate degree from the University of Utrecht with a Ph.D. thesis on insolvency proceedings and commercial arbitration. Since 2003, Dr. Lazic is Associate Professor at the Department of Private International Law, Molengraaff Institute for Private Law, University of Utrecht. Since 2004, Dr. Lazic has been the coach of the Utrecht team for the Vis Moot.

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Dr. Markus Lehner

Inhouse Legal Counsel

Siemens AG, Duisburg

Dr. Markus Lehner is an inhouse legal counsel for the DAX-30-company Siemens AG. He works for the energy division and focuses on international contracts, project execution and product liability. Dr. Lehner attended the University of Frankfurt from 1996 to 2001. He did his traineeship from 2003 to 2005 in Frankfurt and has been admitted to practice law since 2005. Dr. Lehner was a legal assistant at the law firms of Dewey Ballantine LLP and Wilkinson Barker Knaur & Leitermann, both in Frankfurt. Furthermore, he was a summer associate at Smith, Hood & Perkins in Florida. In 2004, he obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Frankfurt.  

Thomas Linssen

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf

Thomas Linssen has been a law student at the University of Duesseldorf since 2004. He is especially interested in corporate law and IP law as well as international arbitration. In 2005, he graduated in the additional studies Anglo-American law. Thomas Linssen participated with the team of the University of Duesseldorf in the last Vis Moots in Hong Kong and Vienna and was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates. In addition to his academic studies, Thomas Linssen works in the corporate law department of the law firm Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek as a student assistant.

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Dr. Torsten Loercher

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

CMS Hasche Sigle, Cologne 

Dr. Torsten Loercher has been a partner of CMS Hasche Sigle in their Cologne office since 2007. After graduating from law school in 1994, Dr. Loercher was a research associate at the Chair for International Business Law at the University of Cologne, which was held by Prof. Dr. Boeckstiegel. Meanwhile, he worked on a Ph.D. thesis. Dr. Loercher served his traineeship from 1997 to 1997 and worked as an intern for the arbitration department of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Paris. He has been admitted to the bar since 1999. His areas of specialisation are national and international arbitration, corporate law, M&A and Private Equity, international trade law and contract law, IT law. Dr. Loercher has been appointed as arbitrator in nearly 20 arbitration cases. He has worked as counsel in numerous proceedings, e.g., DIS, ICC, UNCITRAL, Swiss Rules, ad hoc. Dr. Loercher was a co-chair of the DIS40 in the years 2002 - 2007 and co-chair of  YIAG in the years 2001 - 2005. He has published extensively on arbitration and is fluent in German, English and French.

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Dr. Alexander Loos

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Lovells, Duesseldorf 

Dr. Alexander Loos has been a partner of Lovells LLP since 2002. Dr. Loos studied law in Marburg/Lahn and Muenster. His areas of practice are (international) corporate law, M&A, construction law and dispute resolution, which includes domestic and international arbitration proceedings as well as state court litigation. He specializes in the privatization of municipal services and respective leveraged financing as well as in M&A transaction related to energy. Dr. Loos has more than 20 years of experience in domestic and international dispute resolution. He has handled more than 80 arbitration cases over M&A transactions, joint ventures and construction projects as counsel or arbitrator.

Prof. Dr. R. Alexander Lorz, LL.M.

Staatssekretaer (Deputy Minister)

Ministry of Science and Art, State of Hesse

Prof. Dr. R. Alexander Lorz holds the Chair for German and Foreign Public Law, International Public Law and European Law at the University of Duesseldorf. Being on a sabbatical leave, he is currently Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and the Arts in the German State of Hesse. Prof. Dr. Lorz has received his legal education from the Universities of Mainz (First State Exam 1988), Marburg (Dr. iur. 1992), Harvard (LL.M. 1994, Haniel scholar) and Mannheim (Habilitation 1999). He is member of the Board of the German Society of Comparative Law, of the German-American Lawyers’ Association and of the Duesseldorf Institute for Foreign and Security Policy. He is admitted to practice law in New York. 

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Mark Makowsky

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf 

Mark Makowsky studies law at the University of Duesseldorf with a focus on International Civil Procedure and International Private Law. He works as student research assistant to Prof. Dr. Dirk Looschelders at the Chair of Civil Law, International Private Law and Comparative Law. He enrolled at the University of Duesseldorf in 2004, successfully participated in a study program on Anglo-American law and was team member of the second Duesseldorf Vis Moot team. He was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates in the 14^th Vis Moot 2007.

Dr. Roman Mallmann

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Cologne

Dr. Roman A. Mallmann has been a principal associate of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer since May 2006 and works in the Cologne office. He specializes in dispute resolution and is a member of Freshfields’ International Arbitration Group. He represents clients before domestic and international arbitral tribunals as well as state courts with a focus on commercial and corporate law matters. He received his legal education at the Universities of Giessen, Cologne and Geneva. Dr. Mallmann qualified and joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2002. He speaks German, English and French.

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Julia Markov

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf

Julia Markov studies at the University of Duesseldorf. She focuses her studies on white-collar and corporate crime. In 2005, she graduated in the additional study program on Anglo-American law. In 2007 she participated in the 14^th Vis Moots in Hong Kong and Vienna and was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates. In summer 2007, Julia worked for the law firm CMS in their Kyiv office. Julia is fluent in German, English and Russian.

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Barbara Maucher

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Clifford Chance, Duesseldorf 

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Alicia Martín Blanco, LL.M.

Abogada (Lawyer)

B. Cremades y Asociados, Madrid

Alicia Martín Blanco is a lawyer at the law firm B. Cremades y Asociados in Madrid, where she focuses on international commercial and investment arbitration. She attended the Universidad Pontificia Comillas (LL.B. Translation and Interpreting, 2002), the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (LL.B. Law, 2006) and Queen Mary University of London (LL.M. Comparative and International Dispute Resolution, 2007). She participated in the Vis Moot in 2006 and was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates. Since 2006, she has acted as an arbitrator and co-coaches the Vis Moot team of the University Carlos III of Madrid.

Dr. Dirk Mecklenbrauck

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Peters, Duesseldorf

Dr. Dirk Mecklenbrauck is a partner of the law firm Peters Rechtsanwaelte in Duesseldorf. He studied law at the University of Muenster where he also obtained a doctorate in 1999. Dr. Mecklenbrauck was admitted to the bar in 1998. He was an attorney with the law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in the Duesseldorf and London office from 1998 to 2004. In 2004, he joined Peters Rechtsanwaelte. Dr. Mecklenbrauck focuses on litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution as well as product liability, general commercial law and construction law. He has been presiding judge in a DIS-arbitration and acted as counsel in more than a dozen proceedings (DIS, ICC, ad hoc). These proceedings were mainly concerned with construction law, international energy trading law and M&A disputes. Dr. Mecklenbrauck has published extensively in the above mentioned fields of expertise and is fluent in English, French and German.

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Annick Moiteaux, LL.M.

Research Assistant

University of Heidelberg

Annick Moiteaux is the coach of the Heidelberg Vis Moot Team and works as research assistant at the Institute for Foreign and International Private and Commercial Law of the University of Heidelberg. She is currently writing her Ph.D. thesis in civil law. She received a Maîtrise from the University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne) as well as a joint LL.M. degree from the Universities of Paris I and of Cologne. In 2007, she graduated from the University of Heidelberg. She was a member of the Vis Moot Team of the University of Heidelberg in 2003/2004.

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Ursa Mueller, LL.M.

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal, Duesseldorf 

Ursa Mueller studied German and Anglo-American law at the University of Muenster from 1997 to 2002. She participated in a seminar on “Alternative Dispute Resolution” led by Prof. Dr. Horst Eidenmueller. After having graduated, she attended the LL.M. program at the University of Glasgow with a focus on EU competition law, EU IP law, EU/UK company law as well as international commercial arbitration. Since February 2007, Ursa Mueller has worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal in Duesseldorf as an associate for the service line tax and legal public services, predominantly in energy law. She is currently working on a Ph.D. thesis on competition law.

Dr. Eike Najork, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

CBH Cornelius Bartenbach Haesemann, Cologne

Dr. Eike Najork is an attorney in the Cologne office of Cornelius Bartenbach Haesemann & Partner. He advises on commercial real estate, construction, and arbitration matters. He was admitted to the German bar in 2002. Dr. Najork graduated from University College London in 1999 (LL.M.) and from the University of Bonn in 2000 (Dr. iur.).

Soo-Hyun Oh

Rechtsreferendarin (Trainee Lawyer) / Research Assistant

Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt/Main (Court of Appeal Frankfurt/Main) / University of Frankfurt

Soo-Hyun Oh studied law at the University of Frankfurt and began working as research assistant to Prof. Dr. Gunther Teubner in 2003. She participated in the 12th Vis Moot and co-authored reports about the Vis Moot experience. Besides holding office as Vice-President of the Frankfurt Moot Alumni Association she also co-coaches the teams of Frankfurt University since 2006. Currently, Soo-Hyun Oh is serving her judicial clerkship and preparing for the bar exam. 

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Sascha Peters

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf 

Sascha Peters studies law in his third year at the University of Duesseldorf. In 2007 he successfully participated in the 48^th session of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. He has already served as an arbitrator in the Duesseldorf Pre-Moot Rounds for the Vis Moot in 2007 and acts as a coach for the team of the University of Duesseldorf for the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition 2008. He has chaired the Model United Nations Society Duesseldorf e.V. since January 2007 and is an active participant in numerous Model United Nations conferences.

Christina Pfaff

Research Assistant

University of Frankfurt/Main

Christina Pfaff is a research assistant at the University of Frankfurt/Main. She studied law from 1996 to 2004 at the Universities of Passau, Boston and Frankfurt. After having graduated in 2004, Christina Pfaff attended a master program in international economic law and European law at the University of Frankfurt. Since 2004, she has worked as a research assistant at the Chair of International Law, European Law and Public Law of Prof. Dr. Dr. Rainer Hofmann, University of Frankfurt and at the Wilhelm Merton Centre for European Integration and International Economic Order. Further, she is a lecturer for European law at the Faculty of Law and Economy, University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt, and is working on a Ph.D. thesis. She is co-organizer of the first Frankfurt Investment Arbitration Moot Court 2007/2008 and team coach of the Frankfurt University Team. She has extensively published on investment arbitration.

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Dr. Katja Plueckelmann

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Duesseldorf 

Dr. Katja Plueckelmann is a partner of Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek where she works in the Duesseldorf office. She is specialized in corporate law, M&A, private equity, IPOs and supervision of securities trading. Dr. Plueckelmann studied law at the University of Osnabrueck, where she also received her doctor’s degree. She has extensively published on corporate law and capital markets law. She is lecturer for international contract law at the European University of Applied Sciences Fresenius in Cologne.

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Jan Rudolph

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf

Jan Rudolph has studied law at the University of Duesseldorf since 2004. In 2005, he graduated in the additional studies Anglo-American law. Jan Rudolph participated in the Vis Moots in Hong Kong and Vienna in 2007 and was awarded an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates. This year, he is the coach of Duesseldorf’s Vis Moot Team. 

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Dr. David Quinke, LL.M. 

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Baker & McKenzie, Duesseldorf

Dr. David Quinke practices in the litigation & arbitration department of Baker & McKenzie in Duesseldorf. He received his legal education at the Universities of Trier, Aix-en-Provence and Bonn, earned a doctorate degree from the University of Bonn as a scholar of the German National Academic Foundation with a Ph.D. thesis on securities arbitration agreements, and obtained a Master of Laws degree from Boston University as a Fulbright scholar. He worked as a research assistant at the University of Bonn’s Institute for Civil Procedure (Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wagner, LL.M.) in the years 2002 to 2005 and was admitted to the German bar in 2006. Dr. Quinke coordinates the DIS 40 Rhein/Ruhr and also publishes lectures regularly on the law and practice of arbitration.

Jakob Saettler

Law Student

University of Frankfurt

Jakob Saettler is a last year law student at the University of Frankfurt. From 2005 to 2007, he worked as student research assistant for Prof. Dr. Baums at the Institute for Law and Finance. Since October 2007, Jakob Saettler is employed part-time at Prof. Dr. Langenbucher’s chair for civil law, business law and banking law. After being an exchange student at the University of Florida, he participated in the 12^th Vis Moot. He has co-authored two essays about participating in moot courts, coaches the University of Frankfurt’s Vis Moot team and is the chairman of Frankfurt Moot Alumni Association e.V.

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Erik Schaefer

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Cohausz & Florack Rechtsanwaelte / Patentanwaelte, Duesseldorf 

Erik Schaefer is partner of Cohausz & Florack. He graduated from the University of Freiburg. Since joining Cohausz & Florack in 1997, his main areas of practice have been commercial arbitration and all aspects of intellectual property including transactional work for exploiting innovations or copyrights. His court litigation practice mainly focuses on contractual, trademark, unfair competition, copy right, employee inventor disputes, R & D contracts, and licensing matters. Erik Schaefer is fluent in English, Spanish, French and German.

Jan K. Schaefer, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Allen & Overy, Frankfurt

Jan K. Schaefer is a member of the international arbitration group of Allen & Overy LLP, resident in the Frankfurt office. He studied in Passau, London, Freiburg, Utrecht and Singapore. Admitted to the Frankfurt bar since 2001, he acts as counsel in German and international arbitration proceedings, notably DIS, ICC and ad hoc. He regularly sits as arbitrator and expert. He is co-chair of the DIS 40, member of the Global Advisory Committee of ICDR Young & International and of the ADR Committee of the German Federal Bar Association. He regularly writes and speaks about arbitration issues.

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Dr. Hans-Claudius Scheef

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Kappellmann & Partner, Duesseldorf

Dr. Hans-Claudius Scheef is a partner of Kappellmann & Partner. Dr. Scheef´s main areas of practice are construction, engineering and competition law. His work focuses on the advice to clients constructing industrial plants, especially power plants. Such work includes conducting arbitration proceedings. He received his legal education at the Universities of Cologne, Lausanne and Seville. Dr. Scheef received his Ph.D. based on a thesis concerning the Arbitration Act of England. He speaks English, Spanish and French.

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Sebastian Schlichting

Rechtsreferendar (Trainee Lawyer)

Landgericht Moenchengladbach (District Court Moenchengladbach)

Sebastian Schlichting studied law at the University of Hanover from 2001 to 2006. He participated in the 13^th Vis Moot as a team member and assisted in coaching the 14^th Vis Moot team. He is currently a trainee lawyer at the District Court Moenchengladbach.

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Nadja Schmidt

Rechtsreferendarin (Trainee Lawyer)

Landgericht Wuppertal (District Court Wuppertal) 

Nadja Schmidt did an apprenticeship in banking (Deutsche Bank AG, Cologne) from 2000 to 2002 before studying law at the University of Cologne. She graduated in 2007. Currently, Nadja Schmidt is a trainee lawyer at the District Court Wuppertal and is working on a Ph.D. thesis dealing with arbitration.

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Burkhard Schneider, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Clifford Chance LLP, Frankfurt 

Burkhard Schneider joined Puender Volhard Weber & Axster in 1996 and has been a partner of the Frankfurt office of Clifford Chance since 2000. He has significant experience in the areas of national and international commercial and corporate law, with focuses on M&A and post-M&A litigation and arbitration, securities litigation, banking litigation as well as the drafting and managing of contracts. Burkhard Schneider studied law at the University of Frankfurt and worked as a junior research fellow at Max Planck Institute for European Legal History. He obtained the LL.M. title from the University of Virginia.

Dr. Silke Schoepper, LL.M.

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Shearman & Sterling, Duesseldorf

Dr. Silke Schoepper studied law at the University of Muenster and received her LL.M. from the University of Virginia School of Law. Dr. Schoepper earned her doctorate from the University of Cologne. She published a doctoral thesis on squeeze-out transactions in Germany and the United States. Dr. Schoepper is currently an associate of Shearman & Sterling LLP in Duesseldorf. She focuses her practice on corporate law and international M&A transactions. Dr. Schoepper is also admitted to practice law in New York.

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Dr. Philipp H. Schulte

Management Consultant / Lawyer

Droege & Comp., Frankfurt

Dr. Philipp H. Schulte was admitted as lawyer in 2007 and works for the international management consultancy Droege & Comp. From 1997 to 2003, he studied law in Muenster. From 2003 to 2007, he wrote a Ph.D. thesis on terrorism and anti-terrorism laws, and served as a post-graduate judicial trainee in Frankfurt. In 2000, he participated in the Vis Moot and received an Honorable Mention for being among the best oral advocates. He was a member of the International Board of the Moot Alumni Association, initiated the “Generations in Arbitration” (GIA) and was co-founder of the Frankfurt “Moot Academy.”

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Dr. Claudia Seibel

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

IUR REALIS Rechtsanwaelte, Frankfurt

Dr. Claudia Seibel is a partner of IUR REALIS Rechtsanwaelte in Frankfurt. She studied law, political sciences and history at the Universities of Wuerzburg, Geneva and Munich. She was admitted to the bar in 1982 and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Munich in 1987. She was an international partner of Baker & McKenzie from 1999 to 2003 and head of the commercial property and construction group. In 2003, Dr. Seibel founded the law firm IUR*REALIS Rechtsanwaelte which specializes in real property law and facility design and construction. She chaired the international section of the German Bar Association from 1996 to 2001 and is a member of supervisory boards of several international and national companies. Her publications include various articles on real property and zoning law, financial leases and real property funds. She is also the editor and co-author of various books, including Transactions in Real Property in Germany and the CCH German Tax and Business Law Guide. Dr. Seibel speaks German, English, French and Latvian.

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Oliver Talhoff

Law Student

University of Duesseldorf 

Oliver Talhoff has been a law student at the University of Duesseldorf since 2004. During the last two semesters, intellectual property law has been the main focus of his studies. He was a member of last years’ Duesseldorf Vis Moot team. Together with his team mates he reached the final round of the oral arguments in Vienna. From 2005 to 2006 he successfully participated in Duesseldorf’s additional study program on Anglo-American law. He has been a scholar of the German National Academic Foundation since 2006.

Dr. Cristina Tinkl

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Duesseldorf 

Dr. Cristina Tinkl is an associate of Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek in Duesseldorf. She focuses on public procurement law, privatization and public private partnership. Until 2007, she worked as a research assistant at the Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Proceeding and Economic Criminal Law of Prof. Dr. Ursula Nelles and as personal assistant to the rector of the University of Muenster. She received her Ph.D. based on a thesis dealing with the European arrest warrant.

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Vicki Treibmann, LL.M.

Rechtsanwaeltin (Lawyer)

Hengeler Mueller, Duesseldorf

Vicki Treibmann studied law in Kiel, Paris and Indiana (LL.M.). During her studies, she participated in the Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition. Her team won fourth place in the international competition and she won the Best Oralist Award. She has coached a Jessup-team and organized the German finals of the competition. Vicki Treibmann has been practicing corporate law and M&A with Hengeler Mueller in Duesseldorf since 1999. Due to her three children, she works part-time.

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Olga Troshchenovych
Law Student
University of Frankfurt/Main

Olga Troshchenovych studies law at the University of Frankfurt/Main with a focus on finance law. Additionally, she works as a student research assistant for the law firm Heymann & Partner. Last year, she participated in the 14th Vis Moot for the University of Frankfurt. The team was rewarded with an Honourable Mention both for the memorandum for claimant and the memorandum for respondent.  

Hannah Tuempel

Assistant Counsel

ICC International Court of Arbitration, Paris

Hannah Tuempel holds a law degree from the Humboldt University in Berlin, but also spent part of her studies at the Universities of Passau, Lisbon and Siena. Additionally, she obtained a M.A. in mediation at the University of Frankfurt/Oder. During the bar exam, she worked for the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Berlin and Brussels, specializing in the field of international conflict prevention. Since 2007, she has been an assistant counsel at the International Court of Arbitration in Paris. She has taught at several alternative dispute resolution summer schools and is an author for the M.A. mediation program at the University of Frankfurt/Oder. Hannah Tuempel speaks German, English, French and Italian.

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Khristina Vayda, LL.M., J.D.

Attorney-at-law (Maryland and District of Columbia)

Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwaelte, Vienna

Khristina Vayda has been an associate of Wolf Theiss Rechtsanwaelte in Vienna since January 2008 where she focuses on international arbitration as well as M&A. She graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, with a B.A. in government and international relations in May 2002. In May 2005, she obtained a J.D. degree from the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia. She received an award for the Best Oral Argument in the Appellate Writing Moot Court Competition (2003) and won a writing award in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. From 2006 to 2007, she worked for the office of the Attorney General of Maryland in the securities division. Simultaneously, she participated in a LL.M. program on securities & financial regulations at the Georgetown Law Centre, Washington D.C. She was awarded the Excellence for the Future Award in Global Securities Offerings. She is fluent in English, Russian, Ukrainian and has a basic knowledge of the German language. She is admitted to the bar in Maryland and the District of Columbia (USA).         

Dr. Rainer Velten, LL.M.

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

PICOT Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, Duesseldorf 

Dr. Rainer Velten has been a partner of PICOT Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH in Duesseldorf since 2007. Previously, he was partner of Velten Franz Jakoby as well as Hoelters & Elsing in Duesseldorf. He studied law at the Universities of Erlangen, Bonn, Lausanne and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (LL.M. 1988). He was admitted to the Duesseldorf bar in 1988 and speaks German, English and French. Dr. Velten has acted as co-arbitrator and counsel in numerous domestic and international disputes, among them international arbitrations (ICC, DIS, ad hoc) involving, M&A, telecommunication, media and IT issues, and others.

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Prof. Dr. Michael Veltins

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

LSV Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH, Frankfurt 

Prof. Dr. Michael Veltins has been admitted to the bar in Frankfurt/Main since 1981. He was an attorney with Coudert Brothers, New York from 1981 to 1982, a partner of Wessing & Berenberg-Gossler, Frankfurt/Main from 1986 to 1998, a managing partner of the Leipzig office of Wessing & Berenberg-Gossler from 1990 to 1997, founding and managing partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers Veltins Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH and an international partner there from 1998 to 2003, a member of the executive board of Landwell, member of the country leadership team and the tax executive board of PricewaterhouseCoopers Germany and a partner at LSV Rechtsanwalts GmbH in 2005. Prof. Dr. Veltins is Honorary Professor of the Economic School of the University of Dresden and a member of supervisory boards of internationally active companies. His areas of expertise are corporate law, M&A, unfair competition and anti-trust law, arbitration and mediation, in particular in the field of M&A and private equity contracts.

Dr. Udo von Fragstein

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Franz Rechtsanwaelte, Duesseldorf 

Dr. Udo von Fragstein primarily advises in national and international sales law, competition law, and antitrust law. Another main focus of his activity lies in trade and contract law. Dr. von Fragstein gives regular lectures on these subjects and is the author of diverse legal publications. Since January 2007, Dr. von Fragstein has been a partner of Franz Rechtsanwaelte. From 1997 to 2006 he was with Velten Franz Jakoby (a partner since 2000). In 1999, Dr. von Fragstein was Visiting Attorney at O’Melveny & Myers, London. He studied law at the Universities of Muenster and Hagen (LL.D., Muenster, 1997) and was admitted to the bar in 1997. From 1993 to 1995, Dr. von Fragstein was an associate lecturer at the Institute for German and European Legal History at the University of Muenster. From 1995 to 1997, he was assistant lecturer at the Institute for Information, Telecommunications, and Media Law of the University of Duesseldorf

Dr. Karl von Hase

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

GSK Gassner Stockmann & Kollegen, Duesseldorf

Dr. Karl von Hase studied law at the University of Heidelberg and at the School for Administrative Sciences in Speyer. He attended a summer academy at the University of Urbino, Italy, and was a legal trainee at the German Embassy in Rome, the Administrative Court of Schwerin (Restitution Division), the law firm Rittershaus, Wissmann & v. Rosenstiel, Mannheim and the law firm Michael Pappe, Haifa, Israel. Between 1996 and 1998, he was a teaching assistant at the University of Heidelberg (Chair for Labour Law, Prof. Dr. von Hoyningen-Huene), and between 1999 and 2005 worked for Lovells LLP, Duesseldorf. Since July 2005, he has been a partner at GSK Stockmann & Kollegen, Duesseldorf.

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Claus Wecker

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

White & Case, Duesseldorf

Claus Wecker is a partner of White & Case LLP. His principal areas of practice include general corporate and commercial law, M&A, including private equity as well as international construction contracts and project financings. Claus Wecker has extensive experience both in Germany and internationally, mainly in the USA, Asia and Middle East, as well as in various industries, especially in infrastructure projects. Claus Wecker worked as a foreign associate in New York with another international law firm. From 1979 to 1998, he was counsel to Thyssen Handelsunion AG, the holding company of all trading and service activities including international project management and project finance of the Thyssen Group. As general counsel of Thyssen Telecom AG, he helped to initiate and expand Thyssen’s then broad telecommunications activities. In autumn of 1998, Claus Wecker joined White & Case as a partner and helped to set up the new Duesseldorf office.

Thomas Weimann

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Clifford Chance, Duesseldorf

Thomas Weimann has been a partner of Clifford Chance since 1999 and heads the litigation & dispute resolution department in Duesseldorf. He advises clients in all areas of litigation, mediation, contract drafting and contract negotiation. He represents clients as counsel/co-arbitrator in international und national arbitration proceedings. He focuses on post-M&A litigation, civil engineering/plant engineering and construction litigation, on distribution and product liability law and the field of health care. Thomas Weimann lectures at client seminars and events of industry associations.

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Lars Wildhagen

Director of the Association of Friends of the Duesseldorf Faculty of Law

Lars Wildhagen has studied law at the University of Duesseldorf since 2003. In 2004, he graduated in the additional studies on Anglo-American law and in 2007 in Public Economic and Environmental law. After having worked as a student research assistant to Prof. Dr. Lothar Michael (Professor of Public Law), he became Director of the Association of Friends of the Duesseldorf Faculty of Law in August 2007. He has been a scholar of the German National Academic Foundation since 2004.

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Dr. Ulrich H. Wittkopp

Rechtsanwalt (Lawyer)

Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek, Hamburg 

Dr. Ulrich H. Wittkopp is partner of Heuking Kuehn Lueer Wojtek and works in the Hamburg office. He studied law at the Universities of Hamburg and Geneva. His main areas are corporate law, M&A, arbitration, litigation and mediation. He was a member of the Host Committee of the IBA Arbitration in Maritime and Transport Disputes Conference in Hamburg (April 2007).

Dr. Reinmar Wolff

Assistant Professor 

University of Marburg

Dr. Reinmar Wolff is a lawyer and Assistant Professor at the University of Marburg. He is specialized in the areas of arbitration, contract, commercial, corporate and construction law. Dr. Wolff has been engaged in arbitration proceedings under various rules as counsel, party-appointed arbitrator and secretary to the tribunal. Before joining the University of Marburg, he was with Shearman & Sterling LLP in their Frankfurt-based international arbitration practice group. Dr. Wolff also lectures on arbitration law at the University of Heidelberg.