Cornelia Yzer
Areas of practice
Cornelia Yzer advises domestic and foreign companies on mergers and acquisitions and on regulatory issues, making them benefit from her many years of experience in industry and in government positions. A particular industry focus of Cornelia Yzer is life science and the digital economy. At Luther, Cornelia Yzer coordinates the industry group Health Care & Life Science and the practice group Digital Health. Furthermore, Cornelia Yzer advises her clients on all aspects of research funding.
Vita
Cornelia Yzer not only has many years of experience as a lawyer but also demonstrable expertise as a manager, chairwoman/member of supervisory boards of companies and major research institutions and also from government positions.
In the past, she inter alia held the following positions:
- Executive employee at Bayer AG
- Chief Managing Director of the German Association of Research-based Pharmaceutical Companies (vfa) (1997-2012)
- Member of the German Parliament (1990-1998)
- Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Education, Science, Research and Technology (1992-1997)
- Senator for Business, Research and Technology of the State of Berlin (2012-2016)
- Chairwoman of the Administrative Board of Investitionsbank Berlin, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of BWB, Member of the Strategic Advisory Board of Medidata Inc., New York (USA), Member of the European Advisory Board of the medical products manufacturer Guidant
- Chairwoman of the Boards of Trustees of major research institutions (German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine (MDC))
- Board Member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA)
Cornelia Yzer studied law and business at the Universities of Bochum and Münster (both Germany). She was admitted to the German Bar in 1990.
Honors and distinctions
- The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Recommendation in "Industry focus - Healthcare" (first recommendation in 2022, first mention in 2020)
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommended in "Health Care Law" (first recommended in 2024)
Clients
- Advising international medicinal product and medical device companies and private equity investors on asset deals in Germany
- Providing regulatory advice to a leading German medical device manufacturer on the implementation of new requirements in Germany and the EU (MDR readiness)
- Advising contract developers and contract manufacturers of active ingredients (APIs) and finished medicinal products on development and manufacturing agreements and on subcontracting issues
- Advising manufacturers of medicinal products and medical devices on contracts with contract research organisations (CROs), cooperation agreements in the field of research and development (R&D) and clinical trials
- Advising manufacturers of medicinal products and medical devices on supply agreements
- Advising international providers of medical cannabis on market access (including wholesale and BtMG permit, import) and acquisitions of assets in Germany
- Advising a German vaccine producer on the conclusion of an agreement with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) regarding the development of a pandemic vaccine
- Advising an international personnel services provider on the conclusion of agreements with companies from the pharmaceuticals industry
Publications
- Medizintechnik im Umbruch, in: SPECTARIS Jahrbuch 2020/2021, S. 16 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B., Dr. Ulrich Philippi & Dr. Christoph von Burgsdorff, LL.M.)
- Medical Technology 2020, Medizintechnik 2020, in: Market Study from Clairfield International and Luther
- Erste „App auf Rezept“ bereits im August? Digitale-Gesundheitsanwendungen-Verordnung (DiGAV) in Kraft getreten und Leitfaden über das beschleunigte Zulas-sungsverfahren im Fast-Track veröffentlicht
- BBC-Statement zu den gestrigen Beschlüssen des EU-Sondergipfels zum Brexit
- Brexit and its impact on the Life Science Industry
- Viva Vivy! Die digitale Gesundheits-App - Digital Healthcare und der Datenschutz, in: Computerwoche vom 19. Juni 2018 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Michael Rath & Silvia C. Bauer)
- Neue Datenschutz-Pflichten für Arbeitgeber
- Das eHealth-Datenschutz-Labyrint, in: Computerwoche vom 20. September 2017
- Mittelstand braucht Digitalisierung
Blog posts
- New classifications of in vitro diagnostic medical devices: Affected companies need legal advice
- Neues Förderprogramm für den Einsatz von Drohnen
- “Medical Technology Market Study” - Luther accompanies digital change in the health care industry
- Over EUR 4 billion for the digitalisation of hospitals German Parliament passes Future of Hospitals Act (Krankenhauszukunftsgesetz–KHZG)
- First "app on prescription" already in August? The Digital Health Applications Ordinance (Digitale- Gesundheitsanwendungen-Verordnung, DiGAV) has entered into force and the BfArM’s guidance to the fast-track procedure has been published
- European Parliament votes for the postponement of the date of validity of the Ordinance on Medical Devices in the European Union
- Federal Government calls for the regional production of urgently needed masks and protective gowns
- EU Commission postpones validity of the new medical devices regulation by one year
- EU Commission recommends simplified conformity assessment and market surveillance procedures for much needed personal protective equipment and other medical devices
- Commencement date of the new medical devices regulation to be suspended for one year
- COVID-19 pandemic requires pragmatic approach regarding the implementation of the EU Medical Devices Regulation
- Gesundheits-Apps auf dem Vormarsch - Welche Hürden müssen digitale Gesundheitsanwendungen nehmen für eine Erstattungsfähigkeit bzw. Aufnahme in das „DiGA-Verzeichnis“?
- Bundesministerium für Gesundheit legt Entwurf zum Patientendaten-Schutzgesetz (PDSG) vor und treibt die Entwicklung der elektronischen Patientenakte voran
Lectures
- 07.11.2023: Handelsblatt Live I Health 2023
- 05.07.2023: Webinarreihe „Digital Health“ I Digitale Gesundheitsangebote - Wege in die Erstattung
- 28.06.2023: Biotech Forum for Sino-German Trade and Investment Cooperation
- 08.05.2023: Digital Health – KI im Gesundheitssektor - Neue Chancen für Diagnostik und Therapie
- 01.03.2023: „Digital Health – Legal News“
- 19.09.2022: Innovative Trends in Medical Technology and Biotech in NRW, Germany, 德国北威州医疗技术和生物技术的创新趋势
- 23.03.2021: KHZG als Chance für Medizintechnikunternehmen, Webinar des Branchenverbands Spectaris
- 21.08.2018: Marktstudie Medizintechnik 2018, Sommerakademie der HypoVereinbank/Unicredit
- 17.07.2018: Das Inverkehrbringen von Medizinprodukten, Philips Innovations Port Hamburg
- 21.06.2017: Berlin - Germany - Europe: New oppotunities for clinical reaerch in rapidly changing times, Medidata Next
- 30.05.2017: Aufsicht in Staat und Wirtschaft: Privatissimum für Aufsichtsräte, GLH - Centrum für Strategie und Höhere Führung
Memberships
- Member of the Board of Trustees of RKW
Of Counsel
![[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers](/fileadmin/user_upload/reciprocal_tariffs.jpeg "[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers")
Ahmed Zoughbi
Associate
Dusseldorf
Lara Zölck
Senior Associate
Berlin
Jan Zimmer
Senior Associate
Singapore
Martin Zackor, LL.M. (UCD)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Cornelia Yzer
Of Counsel
Berlin
Hla Yadanar Win
Associate
Yangon
Frances Wolf
Senior Associate
Hamburg, Hanover
Dr Karina Wojtowicz
Senior Associate
Hanover
Pierre Daniel Wittmann
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Artur Winkler
Counsel
Hamburg
Prof. Dr Herbert Willems
Partner
Essen
Dr Thomas Willaschek
Partner
Berlin
Simon Wickel
Associate
Dusseldorf
Guido Wenzel
Partner
Hamburg
Jan-Patrik Welter
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Thomas Weidlich, LL.M. (Hull)
Partner
Cologne
Dr Gregor Wecker
Partner
Cologne
Anja Wechsler
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Vera Wechsler, LL.M. (Tulane)
Associate
Dusseldorf
Julia Walther
Associate
Leipzig
Matthias Wagner
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Clara von Wolffersdorff
Associate
Leipzig
Dr David von Saucken, MJur (Oxon)
Partner
Berlin, London
Dr Eberhard Vetter
Partner
Cologne
Dr Andreas Vath
Partner
Munich
Constance Xue Yao Valsemey, LL.M.
Associate
Singapore
Marc Urlichs
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Knut Unger
Partner
Singapore
Denis Ullrich
Partner
Leipzig
Andreas Tüxen, LL.M. (American University / WCL)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Claus Trenner, LL.M.
Partner
Singapore, Delhi-Gurugram
Volkan Top
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Stefan Hubertus Tolksdorf, LL.M. (King's College London)
Senior Associate
Hanover
Dr Jörgen Tielmann, LL.M.
Partner
Hamburg
Thiri May Thu
Associate
Yangon
Klaus Thönißen, LL.M. (San Francisco)
Partner
Essen
Ruth-Maria Thomsen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Marc Theiner
Associate
Singapore
Saw Thaw Tu Htoo
Associate
Yangon
Dr Johannes Teichmann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Eric Sublon
Senior Partner
Luxembourg
Arne Stumpe
Associate
Hamburg
Dr Sven C. Stumm MJur (Oxon)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Gerd Stuhlmacher
Partner
Munich
Benedikt Stücker
Senior Associate
Hanover
Michael Ströbel, LL.M. (University of Auckland)
Partner
Stuttgart
Daniel Stracke
Associate
Berlin
Dr Karl-Christian Stopp
Of Counsel
Leipzig
Martina Steude, LL.M. (Cape Town)
Senior Associate
Hanover, Hamburg
Morten Steimann
Associate
Essen
Anton Spinty
Senior Associate
Berlin
Jan Spiering, LL.M. Taxation
Associate
Hanover
Yann Spiegelhalter
Counsel
Luxembourg
Shannon Charlotte Sopper, LL.M.
Junior Consultant
Frankfurt a.M.
Vanessa Laura Skibinski
Associate
Berlin
Dr Björn Simon
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr SHEN Yuan / 沈媛 博士 LL.M. (CUPL/Köln)
Counsel
Cologne
Carsten Andreas Senze
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Markus Sengpiel
Managing Partner
Cologne
Vivien Insa Seifert
Associate
Hanover
Dr Hendrik Bernd Sehy
Counsel
Hanover
Dr Geert Johann Seelig
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Astrid Seehafer, M.Sc.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Thomas Schwieters
Associate
Hanover
Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Denis Schütz
Senior Associate
Essen
Hannah-Laura Schütte
Senior Associate
Stuttgart, Dusseldorf
Dr Clara Schulze Velmede
Associate
Leipzig
Prof Dr Florian Schulz M.B.A. (Nimbas)
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Daniel Schubmann
Counsel
Hanover
Paul Schreiner
Partner
Cologne, Essen
Nadine Schreiber, M.A.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Alisa Schöneberg
Associate
Cologne
Christoph Schnoor
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Zacharias-Alexis Schneider, LL.B., LL.M.
Partner
Hanover
Tobias Schneider
Senior Associate
Cologne
Leif Dustin Schneider
Counsel
Ho Chi Minh City
Leon C. Schmitter, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Dr Barbara Schmidt
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Wulff-Axel Schmidt
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Jan-Christian Schmid
Senior Associate
Leipzig, Hamburg
Jenny Schindler
Senior Associate
Munich
Robert Schindler
Counsel
Essen
Georg Scherpf
Partner
Hamburg
Fabienne Scharfe, LL.M. (Tulane, New Orleans)
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Klaus Schaffner
Partner
Leipzig
Andy Schaal, LL.M.
Counsel
Berlin
Dr Daniela Salm
Counsel
Brussels
Dr Eva Maria K. Rütz, LL.M.
Partner
Dusseldorf, Cologne
Isabel Dorothee Ruhnke, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Manuel Rueß
Associate
Hamburg
Sabrina Rosbroj
Associate
Singapore
Rebecca Romig
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Falco Rohrberg, LL.M. (Uppsala)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Jens Röhrbein
Partner
Hanover
Prof. Dr Jörg Rodewald
Of Counsel
Berlin
Dr Stephan Rippert LL.M.
Partner
Munich
Charlotte Riese
Senior Associate
Berlin
Elena Recklin
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Michael Rath
Partner
Cologne
Dr Pia Rademaker, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Munich
Dr Christian Rabe
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Katharina Preuss
Senior Associate
Cologne
Florian Plambeck
Associate
Hamburg
Johannes Pieper, LL.M.
Counsel
Singapore
Dr Ulrich Philippi
Partner
Stuttgart
Thi Thuy Trang Phan, LL.M.
Partner
Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City
Michael Pfeiffer
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Eckart Petzold
Partner
Dusseldorf
Michelle Petruzzelli
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Marc Peters, LL.M. oec.
Counsel
Cologne
Frederike Peters
Senior Consultant
Berlin
Robert Pacholski
Partner
Leipzig
Tobias Osseforth, Mag. rer. publ.
Partner
Munich
Theresa Oesch
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dr Kay Oelschlägel
Partner
Hamburg
Samantha Oehlke
Associate
Singapore
Katja Neumüller
Counsel
Cologne
Franziska Neugebauer
Senior Associate
Cologne
Daniel Naumann
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Amos Münch
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Cédric Müller, LL.M. (Bristol)
Partner
Essen
Pauline Müller
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Axel Mühl
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Aline Mück
Senior Associate
Cologne
Julian Monden
Senior Associate
Hanover
Mee Foo Moh
Of Counsel
Singapore
Alina Moers
Associate
Cologne
Maung Maung Min Khaung
Associate
Yangon
Dr Andreas Meyer-Landrut
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Sophia Meyer, Maître en Droit
Associate
Berlin
Marius Merfeld
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Moritz Mentzel
Counsel
Berlin
Dominik Menhaj
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dragana Mendes-Bozic
Luxembourg
Achim Meier
Partner
Essen
Alexander Masson, LL.B.
Counsel
Essen
Anna-Laura Martens
Associate
Berlin
Mirjam Marte
Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Mathias Mailänder
Counsel
Hamburg
Franziska Maier, LL.M. (UCLA)
Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Detlef Mäder
Partner
Cologne, Dusseldorf
Fabian Lorenz, M.A.
Partner
Bangkok
Iris López Martínez, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Alexander F. Liebing, LL.M.
Partner
Leipzig
Wolfgang Liebau
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Tiffany Lessing, LL.M.
Associate
Singapore
Simone Lersch
Counsel
Cologne
Elisabeth Lepique
Managing Partner
Cologne
Clemens Leitner, LL.M. (UCL)
Partner
Singapore
Prof. Dr Tobias Leidinger
Partner
Dusseldorf
Mathieu Laurent
Partner
Luxembourg
Aurélien Latouche
Partner
Luxembourg
Niccolo Langenheim, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Stephen Lampert
Counsel
Munich
Christian Kuß, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Paul Jakob Kurz
Associate
Leipzig
Dominique Kurtz
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Thomas Kuhnle
Partner
Stuttgart, London
Alina Kühn
Associate
Essen
Sebo-Franz Krubally
Senior Associate
Berlin
Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)
Partner
Singapore
Nils Kramer
Senior Associate
Essen
Luisa Kramer
Associate
Hamburg
Oliver Krall, LL.M. (Wellington)
Of Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Lisa Kraayvanger
Senior Associate
Hanover
Doreen König
Partner
Berlin
Elisabeth Kohoutek
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Thomas Köhler
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Karsten Köhler
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Stefan Kobes
Partner
Berlin
Dr.iur. Andreas Knaul, LL.M. diap (ENA)
Berlin
Nina Klünker, LL.M. (KCL)
Associate
Berlin
Dr Andreas Kloyer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M., London
Johannes Klausch, LL.M. (London)
Partner
Berlin
Lukas Kirchhof, LL.M. (Hong Kong)
Senior Associate
Kuala Lumpur
Shi Yin Khoo, M.A. (Cantab)
Senior Associate
Kuala Lumpur
Philipp Kersting
Partner
Jakarta
Dr Sonja Daniela Kellermann
Counsel
Hamburg
Lutz Keller
Senior Associate
Cologne
Lena-Annika Kauer
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Lida Karra
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Gerd-Ulrich Kapteina
Partner
Essen
Stefanie Kandzia, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Tillmann Kamp
Associate
Cologne
Dr Oliver Kairies
Partner
Hanover
Dr Ann-Kathrin Jungen
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)
Partner
Brussels, Dusseldorf
Dr Sebastian Felix Janka, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
Munich
Dr Jan-David Jäger
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Maximilian Issels, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Senior Associate
Munich
Felix Imelmann
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Thomas Hufnagel
Partner
Singapore
Ekkehard Hübel
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Benjamin Hub
Partner
Hamburg
Marie Hoster, LL.B.
Associate
Essen, Dusseldorf
Dr Christian Horn, LL.M. (Tulane)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Henning Holz, LL.M.
Counsel
Hanover
Rares Holonec
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Anneleen Hofkens
Counsel
Luxembourg
Laura Hoffmann, LL.M. (Dresden/London)
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Daniel Hilmer
Associate
Hamburg
Mike Hillers
Associate
Hanover
Dr Marilen Hilbert
Counsel
Stuttgart
Felix Hielscher
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Stefanie Hellmich, LL.M.
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Joachim Heinemann
Partner
Hamburg
Raffaela Hauenstein
Associate
Munich
Dr Richard Happ
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Thomas Halberkamp
Partner
Hanover
Prof. Dr Hans-Georg Hahn
Of Counsel
Hanover
Steffen Häberer
Partner
Leipzig
Thi Ha
Associate
Yangon
Frank Gutsche
Partner
Stuttgart
Daniel Greger
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Silke Gottschalk, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Thomas Gohrke
Partner
Hanover, Leipzig
Robert Goerend
Partner
Luxembourg
Imke Glücks
Partner
Essen
Philipp Glock
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Stephan Gittermann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Jonny H. Giessel
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dennis Gerdes
Senior Consultant
Hamburg
Dr Stefan Galla
Partner
Essen
Ann-Kristin Freiheit
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Adrian Freidank
Counsel
Cologne
Lea Franken
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Martin Fleckenstein
Partner
Berlin
Henrik Fischer
Associate
Leipzig
Anne-Sophie Fischer
Associate
Munich
Sebastian Fedder
Partner
Hamburg
Marie Pauline Fay
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
István Fancsik, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Essen
Ricarda Maria Essel
Counsel
Berlin
Lukas Erdmann
Associate
Berlin
Dr Gernot-Rüdiger Engel
Partner
Hamburg
Charlotte Elsner
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Benjamin Effler
Associate
Berlin
Dr Michael Ebert
Counsel
Stuttgart
Jacqueline Dutz
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Birgitta von Dresky
Partner
Singapore
Dr Maximilian Dorndorf
Partner
Essen
Dr Philip Dohse
Partner
Hamburg
Philipp Dietz, LL.M. (Edinburgh)
Partner
Cologne
Euryale Didillon
Counsel
Luxembourg
Dr Sabrina Desens
Partner
Leipzig
Marx Dauth, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Marco Dauner
Associate
Stuttgart
Rolf Corsten
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dylan Corcoran
Associate
Luxembourg
Dr Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B.
Partner
Hanover
Bernhard Burkert, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Robert Burkert
Counsel
Hamburg
Prof. Dr Christian Burholt, LL.M.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff, LL.M. (Essex)
Partner
Hamburg
Charlotte Buck
Senior Associate
Hanover
Dr Jürgen Bremer
Partner
Dusseldorf
Céline S. H. Breitenmoser, M.A. HSG
Associate
Singapore
Christian Brauns
Counsel
Stuttgart
Dr Michael Bormann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Alexander Bohusch
Partner
Yangon, Singapore
Jens Bock
Partner
Berlin
Dr Andreas Blunk, MLE
Partner
Hanover
Dr Valerie Blettenberg
Associate
Munich
Dr Daniel Bischof
Counsel
Hamburg
Anne Biebler
Partner
Leipzig
Estelle Bichon Sun, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Singapore
Dr Carsten E. Beisheim
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Arndt Begemann
Of Counsel
Essen
Dr Arnd Becker
Partner
Essen
Dr Johannes Becker
Partner
Cologne
Dr Thorsten Becker
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Lukas Baumgärtner, Mag. Iur, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Bangkok
Silvia C. Bauer
Partner
Cologne
Dr Maximilian Bahnsen
Associate
Hamburg
Dr Marcus Backes
Partner
Hamburg
Hajar Assebbane
Senior Associate
Luxembourg
Huguette Ashley Ntsangha
Senior Associate
Luxembourg
Volker von Alvensleben
Of Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Partner
Dusseldorf
Hannah Aigner
Senior Associate
Munich
Dr Konrad Adenauer
Partner
Cologne
Hans-Christian Ackermann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Caroline Ackermann
Partner
Munich