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 2025: 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
Dr Markus Sengpiel
Managing Partner
Cologne
Elisabeth Lepique
Managing Partner
Cologne
Eric Sublon
Senior Partner
Luxembourg
Hans-Christian Ackermann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Marcus Backes
Partner
Hamburg
Silvia C. Bauer
Partner
Cologne
Dr Arnd Becker
Partner
Essen
Dr Carsten E. Beisheim
Partner
Dusseldorf
Guido Wenzel
Partner
Hamburg
Thomas Weidlich, LL.M. (Hull)
Partner
Cologne
Dr Andreas Blunk, MLE
Partner
Hanover
Dr Gregor Wecker
Partner
Cologne
Dr Jürgen Bremer
Partner
Dusseldorf
Birgitta von Dresky
Partner
Singapore
Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff, LL.M. (Essex)
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Eberhard Vetter
Partner
Cologne
Dr Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B.
Partner
Hanover
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
Dr Jörgen Tielmann, LL.M.
Partner
Hamburg
Philipp Dietz, LL.M. (Edinburgh)
Partner
Cologne
Klaus Thönißen, LL.M. (San Francisco)
Partner
Essen
Dr Philip Dohse
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Maximilian Dorndorf
Partner
Essen
Dr Gernot-Rüdiger Engel
Partner
Hamburg
Carsten Andreas Senze
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Geert Johann Seelig
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Stefan Galla
Partner
Essen
Prof Dr Florian Schulz M.B.A. (Nimbas)
Partner
Hamburg
Stephan Gittermann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Imke Glücks
Partner
Essen
Dr Thomas Gohrke
Partner
Hanover, Leipzig
Frank Gutsche
Partner
Stuttgart
Steffen Häberer
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Thomas Halberkamp
Partner
Hanover
Dr Richard Happ
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Stefanie Hellmich, LL.M.
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Benjamin Hub
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Thomas Hufnagel
Partner
Singapore
Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)
Partner
Brussels, Dusseldorf
Dr Oliver Kairies
Partner
Hanover
Paul Schreiner
Partner
Cologne, Essen
Dr Andreas Kloyer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M., London
Dr Barbara Schmidt
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Wulff-Axel Schmidt
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Stefan Kobes
Partner
Berlin
Dr Klaus Schaffner
Partner
Leipzig
Thomas Köhler
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Karsten Köhler
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Eva Maria K. Rütz, LL.M.
Partner
Dusseldorf, Cologne
Jens Röhrbein
Partner
Hanover
Prof. Dr Jörg Rodewald
Partner
Berlin
Dr Michael Rath
Partner
Cologne
Dr Thomas Kuhnle
Partner
Stuttgart, London
Christian Kuß, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Dr Ulrich Philippi
Partner
Stuttgart
Thi Thuy Trang Phan, LL.M.
Partner
Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City
Dr Kay Oelschlägel
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Detlef Mäder
Partner
Cologne, Dusseldorf
Achim Meier
Partner
Essen
Dr Cédric Müller, LL.M. (Bristol)
Partner
Essen
Dr Axel Mühl
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Eckart Petzold
Partner
Dusseldorf
Johannes Klausch, LL.M. (London)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Sabrina Desens
Partner
Leipzig
Philipp Glock
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Fabian Lorenz, M.A.
Partner
Bangkok
Prof. Dr Tobias Leidinger
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Martin Fleckenstein
Partner
Berlin
Daniel Naumann
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Gerd-Ulrich Kapteina
Partner
Essen
Clemens Leitner, LL.M. (UCL)
Partner
Singapore
Dr Christian Horn, LL.M. (Tulane)
Partner
Berlin
Michael Ströbel, LL.M. (University of Auckland)
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Joachim Heinemann
Partner
Hamburg
Prof. Dr Herbert Willems
Partner
Essen
Dr Michael Bormann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Philipp Kersting
Partner
Jakarta
Dr Sebastian Felix Janka, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
Munich
Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)
Partner
Singapore
Ruth-Maria Thomsen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Jens Bock
Partner
Berlin
Doreen König
Partner
Berlin
Matthias Wagner
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
Berlin
Gerd Stuhlmacher
Partner
Munich
Dr Stephan Rippert LL.M.
Partner
Munich
Dr Björn Simon
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Alexander Bohusch
Partner
Yangon, Singapore
Dr Zacharias-Alexis Schneider, LL.B., LL.M.
Partner
Hanover
Dr Konrad Adenauer
Partner
Cologne
Tobias Osseforth, Mag. rer. publ.
Partner
Munich
Dr Johannes Teichmann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Andreas Vath
Partner
Munich
Prof. Dr Christian Burholt, LL.M.
Partner
Berlin
Sebastian Fedder
Partner
Hamburg
Elisabeth Kohoutek
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Thomas Willaschek
Partner
Berlin
Marx Dauth, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Robert Goerend
Partner
Luxembourg
Aurélien Latouche
Partner
Luxembourg
Mathieu Laurent
Partner
Luxembourg
Dr Astrid Seehafer, M.Sc.
Partner
Berlin
Dr David von Saucken, MJur (Oxon)
Partner
Berlin, London
Georg Scherpf
Partner
Hamburg
Prof. Dr Hans-Georg Hahn
Of Counsel
Hanover
Dr Arndt Begemann
Of Counsel
Essen
Dr Karl-Christian Stopp
Of Counsel
Leipzig
Dr Bernd Götze
Of Counsel
Singapore
Oliver Krall, LL.M. (Wellington)
Of Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Rolf Corsten
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Cornelia Yzer
Of Counsel
Berlin
Volker von Alvensleben
Of Counsel
Hamburg
Mee Foo Moh
Of Counsel
Singapore
Dr Andreas Meyer-Landrut
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Bernhard Burkert, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Counsel
Berlin
Yann Spiegelhalter
Counsel
Luxembourg
Dr SHEN Yuan / 沈媛 博士 LL.M. (CUPL/Köln)
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Hendrik Bernd Sehy
Counsel
Hanover
Dr Daniel Schubmann
Counsel
Hanover
Dr Henning Holz, LL.M.
Counsel
Hanover
Dr Marc Peters, LL.M. oec.
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Mathias Mailänder
Counsel
Hamburg
Katja Neumüller
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Alexander Mönnig, LL.M. (Manchester), E.M.L.E.
Counsel
Hamburg
Wolfgang Liebau
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Euryale Didillon
Counsel
Luxembourg
Ekkehard Hübel
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Moritz Mentzel
Counsel
Berlin
Dr Daniel Bischof
Counsel
Hamburg
Adrian Freidank
Counsel
Cologne
Elena Recklin
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Martin Zackor, LL.M. (UCD)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Christian Brauns
Counsel
Stuttgart
Marc Urlichs
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Daniela Salm
Counsel
Brussels
Dr Michael Ebert
Counsel
Stuttgart
Dr Amos Münch
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Johannes Becker
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Marilen Hilbert
Counsel
Stuttgart
Anneleen Hofkens
Counsel
Luxembourg
Dr Stephen Lampert
Counsel
Munich
Dr Sven C. Stumm MJur (Oxon)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Caroline Ackermann
Counsel
Munich
Rebecca Romig
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Artur Winkler
Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Thorsten Becker
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Leif Dustin Schneider
Counsel
Ho Chi Minh City
Johannes Pieper, LL.M.
Counsel
Singapore
Andy Schaal, LL.M.
Counsel
Berlin
Ricarda Maria Essel
Counsel
Berlin
Alexander F. Liebing, LL.M.
Counsel
Leipzig
Simone Lersch
Counsel
Cologne
Robert Schindler
Counsel
Essen
Silke Gottschalk, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Fabienne Scharfe, LL.M. (Tulane, New Orleans)
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Katharina Preuss
Senior Associate
Cologne
Robert Pacholski
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Lena-Annika Kauer
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Christian Rabe
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Estelle Bichon Sun, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Singapore
Dominik Menhaj
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Anne Biebler
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Jenny Tsynn
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dr Karina Wojtowicz
Senior Associate
Hanover
Stefan Hubertus Tolksdorf, LL.M. (King's College London)
Senior Associate
Hanover
Anton Spinty
Senior Associate
Berlin
Hannah Aigner
Senior Associate
Munich
Jan-Patrik Welter
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Nils Kramer
Senior Associate
Essen
Alexander Masson, LL.B.
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Robert Burkert
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Falco Rohrberg, LL.M. (Uppsala)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Christoph Schnoor
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Rares Holonec
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Frances Wolf
Senior Associate
Hamburg, Hanover
Michelle Petruzzelli
Senior Associate
Cologne
Lukas Kirchhof, LL.M. (Hong Kong)
Senior Associate
Kuala Lumpur
Shi Yin Khoo, M.A. (Cantab)
Senior Associate
Kuala Lumpur
Dr Sonja Daniela Kellermann
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Volkan Top
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Julian Monden
Senior Associate
Hanover
Dr Pia Rademaker, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Munich
Laura Hoffmann, LL.M. (Dresden/London)
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Stefanie Kandzia, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Jan-Christian Schmid
Senior Associate
Leipzig, Hamburg
István Fancsik, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Essen
Franziska Neugebauer
Senior Associate
Cologne
Pierre Daniel Wittmann
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Jan-David Jäger
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Jan Zimmer
Senior Associate
Singapore
Dr Aline Mück
Senior Associate
Cologne
Pauline Müller
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Daniel Greger
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Nadine Schreiber, M.A.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Lukas Baumgärtner, Mag. Iur, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Bangkok
Tobias Schneider
Senior Associate
Cologne
Jenny Schindler
Senior Associate
Munich
Benedikt Stücker
Senior Associate
Hanover
Felix Hielscher
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Lutz Keller
Senior Associate
Cologne
Martina Steude, LL.M. (Cape Town)
Senior Associate
Hanover, Hamburg
Dominique Kurtz
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Lisa Kraayvanger
Senior Associate
Hanover
Charlotte Riese
Senior Associate
Berlin
Jonny H. Giessel
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Theresa Oesch
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Ann-Kristin Freiheit
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Hannah-Laura Schütte
Senior Associate
Stuttgart, Dusseldorf
Huguette Ashley Ntsangha
Senior Associate
Luxembourg
Sebo-Franz Krubally
Senior Associate
Berlin
Hajar Assebbane
Senior Associate
Luxembourg
Dr Denis Schütz
Senior Associate
Essen
Isabel Dorothee Ruhnke, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Iris López Martínez, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Thi Ha
Associate
Yangon
Maung Maung Min Khaung
Associate
Yangon
Saw Thaw Tu Htoo
Associate
Yangon
Raffaela Hauenstein
Associate
Munich
Anja Wechsler
Associate
Hamburg
Niccolo Langenheim, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Hla Yadanar Win
Associate
Yangon
Lea Franken
Associate
Dusseldorf
Charlotte Buck
Associate
Hanover
Thiri May Thu
Associate
Yangon
Michael Pfeiffer
Associate
Hamburg
Simon Wickel
Associate
Dusseldorf
Luisa Kramer
Associate
Hamburg
Henrik Fischer
Associate
Leipzig
Marius Merfeld
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Clara Schulze Velmede
Associate
Leipzig
Vera Wechsler, LL.M. (Tulane)
Associate
Dusseldorf
Manuel Rueß
Associate
Hamburg
Alina Kühn
Associate
Essen
Alina Moers
Associate
Cologne
Lara Zölck
Associate
Berlin
Anna-Laura Martens
Associate
Berlin
Anne-Sophie Fischer
Associate
Munich
Leon C. Schmitter, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Ahmed Zoughbi
Associate
Dusseldorf
Felix Imelmann
Associate
Leipzig
Mike Hillers
Associate
Hanover
Maximilian Issels, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Associate
Munich
Paul Jakob Kurz
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Valerie Blettenberg
Associate
Munich
Jacqueline Dutz
Associate
Leipzig
Jan Spiering, LL.M. Taxation
Associate
Hanover
Clara von Wolffersdorff
Associate
Leipzig
Marc Theiner
Associate
Singapore
Florian Plambeck
Associate
Hamburg
Julia Walther
Associate
Leipzig
Marco Dauner
Associate
Stuttgart
Lida Karra
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Alisa Schöneberg
Associate
Cologne
Morten Steimann
Associate
Essen
Daniel Hilmer
Associate
Hamburg
Samantha Oehlke
Associate
Singapore
Sophia Meyer, Maître en Droit
Associate
Berlin
Marie Hoster, LL.B.
Associate
Essen, Dusseldorf
Sabrina Rosbroj
Associate
Singapore
Constance Xue Yao Valsemey, LL.M.
Associate
Singapore
Marie Pauline Fay
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Maximilian Bahnsen
Associate
Hamburg
Arne Stumpe
Associate
Hamburg
Tillmann Kamp
Associate
Cologne
Vivien Insa Seifert
Associate
Hanover
Céline S. H. Breitenmoser, M.A. HSG
Associate
Singapore
Dr Benjamin Effler
Associate
Berlin
Tiffany Lessing, LL.M.
Associate
Singapore
Nina Klünker, LL.M. (KCL)
Associate
Berlin
Timo Reckert
Associate
Hanover
Charlotte Elsner
Associate
Dusseldorf
Lukas Erdmann
Associate
Berlin
Franziska Maier, LL.M. (UCLA)
Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Thomas Schwieters
Associate
Hanover
Vanessa Laura Skibinski
Associate
Berlin
Mirjam Marte
Associate
Stuttgart
Daniel Stracke
Associate
Berlin
Dr Ann-Kathrin Jungen
Associate
Cologne
Frederike Peters
Senior Consultant
Berlin
Dennis Gerdes
Senior Consultant
Hamburg
Dr.iur. Andreas Knaul, LL.M. diap (ENA)
Berlin
Shannon Charlotte Sopper, LL.M.
Junior Consultant
Frankfurt a.M.