Berlin Dispute Resolution Days
At the heart of the Bundesrat: The Business Dispute Resolution Days Berlin and the future of the Commercial Courts
As part of the Berlin Dispute Resolution Days, the Bundesrat hosted an event spotlighting Germany’s Commercial Courts and their evolving role in dispute resolution. The programme featured three insightful keynote speeches by leading judges: Judge Prof. Dr. Dominik Skauradszun and Judge Dr. Christine Schmidt from the Commercial Court Frankfurt introduced the new legislative framework establishing commercial courts; Judge Björn Retzlaff of the Commercial Court Berlin explored the various pathways to bring cases before these courts; and Judge Dr. Frank Bodendiek from the Commercial Court Hamburg provided a comprehensive overview of the special proceedings for English language proceedings and of the scope of jurisdiction of the eight Commercial Courts, accompanied by an innovative map showing the emerging landscape of Commercial Courts and Commercial Chambers in Germany.
The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Dagmar Synatschke from the Ministry of Justice of Hamburg, brought together Presiding Judge Dr. Gesa Lutz (Commercial Court Munich), Judge Dr. Fabian Osswald (Commercial Court Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart), Judge Dr. Ole Böger (Hanseatic Commercial Court Bremen), Judge Thomas Lasch (Commercial Court Celle), and Presiding Judge Dr. Robert Papst (Commercial Court Düsseldorf). The panel delved into the special provisions designed to tailor proceedings to parties’ needs, including case management conferences, verbatim transcripts, and introduced the draft guidelines for Commercial Courts currently under development by a working group of all German Commercial Courts.
The engaged audience – primarily composed of lawyers and litigation practitioners – actively participated, enriching the discussion with practical insights and questions. The event concluded on a high note with a guided tour of the Bundesrat, providing attendees a unique setting to connect and reflect on the future of commercial dispute resolution in Germany.
The Commercial Courts and Commercial Chambers thank the organisers of the Berlin Dispute Resolution Days for accommodating this event within their busy schedule and facilitating this important dialogue on the future of commercial courts in Germany.
