Björn Waterkotte, LL.M.

My work includes advising and representing German and international companies in various areas of commercial law. A major part of my work is for suppliers (and their insurers) within the framework of our national and international Automotive Sector Group.

I advise and represent our clients in particular in the drafting, review and negotiation of general terms or individual contracts regarding purchasing and sales, warranty and liability regimes, and distribution (agency and authorized dealer contracts). Further, I represent clients in and out of court in the pursuit of, or defence against, claims related to remuneration, warranty and liability, with a focus on representing suppliers in cases of product recalls and recourse claims.

I began my legal career in 2009 in the field of finance. From 2010 until I joined our firm in 2020, I worked in the commercial and dispute resolution practices of a renowned international law firm in Frankfurt.

• Advising and representing several tier 1 automotive suppliers in assessing and defending against recall cost claims from OEMs, and pursuing their own recourse claims against tier 2 suppliers
• Advising and representing in warranty and liability cases related to production machinery, electrical and mechanical components, services, performance of works, non compliance of executives, vaccines and fungicides/agricultural damage
• Advising and representing in disputes concerning contract terminations, pricing clauses, rights of retention, remuneration (purchase prices; payment for services or for the performance of works; sales agent claims for commissions and compensation) and restitution (e.g. regarding the return of real estate, tools or documents)
• Assessment and drafting of numerous general terms and contracts for supply, commercial agency, authorized dealership, and other typical and atypical purposes for companies in various industries and of all sizes
• Assessment of contractual and procedural relationships of target companies in the context of M&A due diligences

• Automotive
• Commercial
• International Dispute Resolution