BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS · DISTRIBUTION · SUPPLY CHAINS
Shaping relationships.
Moving business forward.
From a first supply contract to a long-standing distribution partnership, we support the legal aspects of your business. We consider contractual terms, operational processes and commercial objectives together, from the perspective of your business and its role in the market.
Discuss your matterContracts. Markets. Business decisions.
YOUR MATTER
Suppliers and customers, distribution businesses and distribution partners bear different risks. Before starting, we clarify which party we act for and align our advice with its tasks, obligations and negotiating position.
We support manufacturers, traders and service providers with supply relationships, sales channels and cooperation arrangements. Procurement involves issues such as availability and quality; distribution involves remuneration and predictable obligations. We take account of institutional clients' respective decision-making processes.
We advise commercial agents, authorised dealers and franchise businesses on entering, maintaining and ending relationships. We examine the specific contractual model, remuneration, commitments and personal obligations. The legal positions arising from different distribution models are assessed separately.
We support management teams and responsible individuals in businesses or institutions with powers of attorney, approvals and contractual processes. An instruction from an organisation is distinguished from a personal engagement by one of its corporate officers. Responsibility and the scope of the engagement are clarified in advance.
OUR SERVICES
We structure business relationships and support their practical implementation. If a dispute arises, we assess the enforcement or defence of claims as well as a commercially viable continuation of the relationship.
Aligning performance, price and risk.
We support suppliers with the scope of performance, payment terms and limiting contractual risks. We advise customers on quality, delivery dates, inspection rights and security of supply. We draft and negotiate framework agreements, purchasing terms and supply conditions for the instructing party. We also examine differing contract versions, retention of title and the incorporation of standard terms. The provisions should fit the company's ordering, acceptance and documentation processes.
Developing sales channels. Agreeing responsibilities.
We support businesses in establishing and changing their distribution arrangements. We advise distribution partners on territorial protection, purchasing commitments, marketing obligations and the use of customer data. We assess remuneration, exclusivity and the consequences of termination from the respective contractual position. For joint product development or cooperation, we structure responsibilities, information exchange and ownership of results. Competition-law limits are taken into account when drafting contracts.
Clarifying agency services, commission and termination.
We support commercial agents with commission statements, information rights and potential claims after termination. For the businesses they represent, we assess remuneration systems, accounting obligations and claims made. We draft and review commercial agency agreements, assist with termination notices and negotiate an orderly end to the relationship. Whether an indemnity may be available, and in what amount, is assessed against the actual relationship and statutory requirements.
A shared concept. Clear individual obligations.
We advise franchisors on the contractual structure of their system, quality requirements and the use of brands and know-how. We support franchisees in reviewing investments, fees, purchasing commitments and economic dependencies. Pre-contractual information, duration, location issues and exit provisions are assessed from the respective client's perspective. Where changes or disputes arise, we assess adjustment options and the consequences of separation.
Assessing disruption. Preserving options.
In cases of failed deliveries, quality problems or significant price changes, we examine the agreed performance and cooperation obligations. We support customers with replacement sourcing, defect claims and losses; we support suppliers in assessing impediments and defending or settling claims. We assist with complaints, preservation of evidence and renegotiations. Due diligence and information requirements within the supply chain are assessed separately for the business concerned.
Preparing cross-border transactions carefully.
We advise exporters on contractual delivery terms and the legal requirements of their plans. We support importers and international contractual partners with the scope of performance, responsibilities and coordination of cross-border processes. We also draft and review English-language contracts and assess choice of law and dispute resolution. Export controls, sanctions, necessary approvals and the involvement of foreign counsel are clarified separately for the specific transaction.
Turning requirements into workable processes.
We support businesses and institutions with civil-law and public-law requirements affecting their operations. These include clear responsibilities, contract approvals and transparent review and information processes. We advise suppliers and distribution partners on which of their clients' requirements apply contractually and how they can be implemented. For senior managers, we clarify their own responsibilities and the need for additional specialist assessment within the agreed engagement.
Clarity on who can act with binding effect.
We support businesses with their registered name, commercial organisation, Prokura and other powers of attorney. We help business partners establish who can validly enter into or amend a contract. We align changes to register entries and internal powers. Necessary filings and notarial involvement are prepared and coordinated separately. In disputes over declarations or authority to act, we assess the consequences for the party represented.
WORKING TOGETHER
An ongoing business relationship calls for a different approach from a new cooperation or an already escalated dispute. The scope of review, timetable and negotiating flexibility are tailored accordingly.
We clarify your role, the businesses involved, the commercial purpose and known dates. We check potential conflicts of interest before accepting the engagement.
We review the relevant agreements and course of events. You receive an assessment of the main risks, possible steps and the agreed cost framework.
We prepare contract drafts, conduct the agreed negotiations or represent your position in a dispute. We coordinate implementation with the responsible people in your organisation.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Common questions about business relationships and commercial processes. The contract type, actual working relationship and role determine the legal assessment.
Legal information: 31 October 2026
Yes. An engagement may concern the business, a commercial agent, an authorised dealer or another distribution partner. We clarify in advance who we act for. The different distribution models and their resulting rights and obligations are examined separately.
If the purchase is a commercial transaction for both parties, section 377 of the German Commercial Code (HGB) generally requires prompt inspection and notification of defects. Failure to notify, or late notification, may affect the buyer's rights. For buyers, we assess the necessary steps; for sellers, the validity and timeliness of a complaint. Particular circumstances and exceptions must be considered in each case.
No. An indemnity depends on the statutory requirements and the circumstances of termination. Relevant factors include continuing customer benefits for the business and equitable considerations. We help commercial agents assess and assert claims, and businesses assess claims made against them. The statutory deadline for asserting the claim must be observed separately.
We also draft and review English-language contracts. We clarify which law should apply, how disputes should be handled and what specialist input the transaction requires. The language of a contract does not replace an assessment of the applicable law; any necessary foreign-law advice is coordinated separately.
At the preparation stage. Alongside the goods, the recipient, destination country and intended use may be decisive. We identify the legal review required and agree the necessary information and responsibilities. A general contractual clause does not replace an assessment of the specific transaction.
Yes. We can review a particular agreement, specific clauses or a defined matter. The scope of the engagement records which documents and commercial assumptions will be considered and whether negotiation or implementation will follow. We discuss scope and remuneration before instruction.
We can coordinate by telephone or online meeting. We agree contacts, approvals and document exchange. Whether one-off advice or ongoing support is appropriate depends on your needs and is agreed separately, including the cost framework.
