The BLOMSTEIN Rechtsanwälte foreign trade team, led by Roland Stein and Pascal Friton, offers deep regulatory expertise with strong litigation experience. The firm advises on sanctions, foreign direct investment, export control, customs, ESG, trade compliance and defence. Known for handling complex FDI filings before the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, the team frequently acts on Phase I and Phase II proceedings. The practice also guides clients through EU sanctions against Russia and Belarus, dual-use export restrictions and cross-border ESG compliance. Stein specialises in investment control, customs, export control, sanctions, excise taxes and WTO trade defence. Friton focuses on EU sanctions, blocking regulations and FDI applications under the German Foreign Trade and Payments Act. Counsel Laura Louca specialises in export control, sanctions and customs law, while Leonard von Rummel brings particular expertise in investment screening, trade defence instruments and excise duties.

The Baker McKenzie foreign trade practice offers deep expertise across sanctions law, export controls, investment screening, trade compliance, supply chain sustainability, as well as AI and ethics. The team regularly advises clients on foreign trade audits and supports them through related administrative and criminal investigations. Practice head Anahita Thoms is highly regarded for her work on human rights issues and frequently counsels executive and supervisory boards on cross-border investigations, complex corporate governance matters and high-stakes crisis scenarios. Associate Kimberley Fischer is also recognised for her strong experience in trade compliance, export control and sustainability.

Established in January 2025, Cattwyk is a boutique firm dedicated to the economically critical regulatory issues of foreign trade, cross-border supply chains and sustainability. The team offers comprehensive expertise across the full spectrum of trade compliance encompassing customs, export control, sanctions, foreign direct investment and excise duties. The practice is spearheaded by Katja Göcke, Lothar Harings, Hartmut Henninger, Franziska Kaiser and Marian Niestedt. Harings is regarded for their experience with sanctions, supply chain and customs law, while Niestedt brings deep expertise on FDI screenings and export control. Henninger is noted for his knowledge of customs, sustainability and contentious trade proceedings. Göcke advises on export controls, sanctions and excise tax matters, while Kaiser complements the team with her knowledge of customs, anti-dumping and excise duties.

The Clifford Chance foreign trade team advises multinational corporations, financial investors and sovereign states on international transactions, complex regulatory review procedures and global trade challenges. Jointly led by Marc Besen, Thomas Voland, Dimitri Slobodenjuk and Moritz Keller, the practice is particularly recognised for their strength at the intersection of investment control, foreign subsidies, sanctions, export control and ESG-driven supply chain compliance. Voland brings extensive expertise in ESG, sustainability and public policy, often shaping debates on the German Supply Chain Act and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Keller is highly regarded for his experience in investment arbitration and treaty disputes, frequently representing states and corporations in complex proceedings. Slobodenjuk brings authority on foreign direct investment control and antitrust law, while Besen contributes comprehensive competition law expertise for high stakes trade-related transactions.

Dentons foreign trade practice provides counsel on investment control, sanctions, trade compliance, customs law and export control matters. The team brings particular expertise in cross-border FDI screenings across sensitive sectors such as defence, quantum computing, hydrogen technologies and critical infrastructure. The practice is led by Julia Pfeil and Maria Brakalova, who bring extensive experience with sanction matters related to Russia, Iran and China. Pfeil is also recognised for their knowledge regarding EU and US export controls, product regulations, compliance frameworks and public law contracts. Brakalova is often engaged in multinational investment projects, embargoes, anti-boycott and anti-coercion measures, as well as WTO and Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

The foreign trade team at DLA Piper advises clients on foreign direct investment control, export compliance, customs law and sanction regimes. The practice, co-led by Ludger Giesberts and Thilo Streit, brings particular expertise in the coordination of FDI filings, including notifications for the acquisition of German companies by investors from third countries. Giesberts offers advice spanning EU regulatory law, environmental, product liability and public affairs. Streit advises on FDI procedures, export control compliance systems, sanctions regimes and cross-border payment regulations.

The Hengeler Mueller foreign trade practice advises clients on internal compliance programmes, sanctions, transactions and exports to sensitive jurisdictions such as Russia, China and Iran. Led by Jan Bonhage and Vera Jungkind, the team represents clients in cases involving alleged foreign trade violations, including compliance breaches and customs investigations. Bonhage brings expertise in investment control, while Jungkind is experienced in sanctions law.

Oppenhoff offers foreign trade law counsel with export control, sanctions, investment control, compliance and criminal law matters. The team is particularly recognised for their experience with complex FDI reviews, EU and US export control regimes and cross-border compliance matters, which includes advising on contract clauses and closing conditions for sanctions compliance. Practice head Stephan Müller frequently assists clients in crisis-driven scenarios, with a particular focus on anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and internal investigations.

Combining expertise in both export-import controls and sanctions matters, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is well placed to assist clients requiring assistance with the navigation of national and international sanctions regimes, the development of compliance plans and investigations into alleged sanctions breaches. Heading up the group are Benno Schwarz, a specialist in white-collar and sanctions-related proceedings, and Sonja Ruttmann, a specialist in investment control challenges.

With a strong practice in investment control, Linklaters advises a host of clients both domestic and global clients on investment review procedures, acting in industries such as energy, automotive, and pharma. The group is also active across sanctions and export control, actively coordinating with the firm’s international offices to handle complex matters. Key contacts in the practice include co-head of the global investment control group Christoph Barth as well as competition expert Daniela Seeliger. Additional investment control expertise is contributed by David-Julien dos Santos Goncalves.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB delivers foreign trade advice at the intersection of international trade and national security. The team brings expertise in compliance, sanctions, export controls, foreign investment screening and state aid. The practice serves a diverse client base across defence, energy, industrial manufacturing and IT, handling both domestic and cross-border mandates. Practice head Andreas Haak is a recognised authority on supply chain resilience and advises on trade regulation including sanctions, export control, FDI screenings and subsidy compliance.