Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff, LL.M. (Essex)
Areas of practice
Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff specialises in negotiating and drafting commercial and distribution agreements, commercial leases, sales contracts, general terms and conditions and service agreements. Furthermore, he represents the interests of large and medium-sized companies in national and international litigation and arbitration proceedings, especially in accordance with the DIS, ICC and LCIA Rules, as well as in ad-hoc proceedings. Christoph von Burgsdorff has more than 20 years’ experience providing strategic conflict advice and conflict management services. His main industry focus is Health Care & Life Science, the textile industry, logistics and plant construction, and Maritime & Shipping. His clients include medium-sized and large companies, as well as the public sector.
Christoph von Burgsdorff regularly publishes papers and articles on current international trade topics and gives lectures on current contract and liability law issues at events organised by industry associations.
Christoph von Burgsdorff is an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) certified trainer of the Incoterms® 2020 rules, having passed the ICC examination.
Vita
Dr Christoph von Burgsdorff studied law in Kiel (Germany) and Surrey (England) from 1994 to 1999. In 2000, he received a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from the University of Essex (England). In 2001, he obtained his doctorate for a thesis on European Union law from the University of Kiel (Germany). Christoph von Burgsdorff carried out his legal training at the Higher Regional Court of Schleswig-Holstein (Germany), which also included training periods at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Allen & Overy. He was admitted to the German Bar in 2003 and has been working for Luther ever since – since 2012 as a partner. In 2006, Christoph von Burgsdorff spent time on secondment at the international business law firm Pinsent Masons in London (England). Since 2007, he has additionally been a certified specialist in commercial and corporate law.
For many years already, Christoph von Burgsdorff has been specialising in advising clients from the Nordic countries, i. e. Scandinavia and the Baltic states, and has been involved in a variety of projects in the region. He is also a member of the industry group Health Care & Life Science, where he is one of the responsible partners for the area of medical technology.
Honors and distinctions
- The Legal 500 Germany 2026: Mention in "City Focus - Hamburg" ("Christoph von Burgsdorff's organisational skills and client care deserve special mention.")
- The Legal 500 Germany 2023: Mention in "Industry Focus Healthcare" (first mention in 2022)
- The Legal 500 Germany 2020: Mentions in the categories "Dispute Resolution - Arbitration (including International Arbitration)" (first recommendation in 2019) and "Commercial and Distribution Law - Distribution/Trade/Logistics" (first recommendation in 2020)
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommendation in "Arbitration in Mediation" (first recommendation in 2021), "Litigation" (first recommendation in 2022) and “Trade Law”
Clients
- Resilinc – Advised on a framework agreement regarding a cloud-based supply chain management software solution (Software as a Service)
- Cathay Pacific – Advised on conducting a compliance review in selected areas of law
- German subsidiary of an international technology group in the fields of defense, aviation, aerospace, telecommunications security, and cybersecurity – Advised on commercial and contract law, data protection, employment law, and IP
- Autodoc – Advised on contract management
- Likewize – Drafting of service and work contracts
- LACROIX GROUP – Advised on commercial and distribution law
- THK – Comprehensive advice on commercial and contract law
- LABORATOIRES DELBERT – Comprehensive advice on regulatory and contractual matters regarding the import, storage, and distribution of pharmaceutical products
- Radio Holland – Review and drafting of a framework agreement for the provision of communication services and infrastructure for offshore wind farms in the North Sea
- Gothaer Allgemeine Versicherung – Support of an insurance case as monitoring counsel
- L A P GMBH LASER APPLIKATIONEN – Advised on contractual and commercial law matters, including export control and foreign trade law
- Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (VBG) – Comprehensive legal advice on the establishment of the regional office in Bergisch Gladbach
- Knüppel Verpackung – Advised on contract law and corporate law matters
- French pharmaceutical company – Advised on the termination of a license and supply agreement by a German pharmaceutical manufacturer
- Municipal utility company of a northern German city – Out-of-court enforcement of warranty claims relating to the delivery of defective heat pumps
- Numerous member companies of the Association of the Northwest German Textile and Clothing Industry – Comprehensive legal advice on distribution and commercial law, compliance, ESG, and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG)
- Airline based in the Baltics – Advised on the enforcement of claims in Germany
- European healthcare group – Out-of-court advice and support in negotiations in a complex contractual dispute with a German public authority
- Verwaltungs-Berufsgenossenschaft (VBG) – Advice on all contractual and liability matters
- Städtisches Klinikum Braunschweig gGmbH – Contractual advice on a technology partnership with Siemens in the fields of ultrasound and radiology for equipment procurement and management
- Automotive supplier – Ongoing advice on commercial and distribution law, general terms and conditions, and joint ventures
- Medium-sized company in the packaging industry – Ongoing advice on commercial and distribution law, general terms and conditions, and joint ventures
- Several automotive suppliers – Advised on commercial and distribution law and drafting of procurement and supply agreements
- Manufacturer of machine tools – Ongoing advice on cross-border litigation and arbitration, commercial and distribution law, and joint ventures
- Steel manufacturing company – Representation in litigation concerning alleged claims for injunctive relief under environmental law by a neighboring business
- US toy manufacturer – Court representation in a product liability case
- German project developer – Enforcement of claims related to the rescission of a real estate purchase agreement concerning a former military site in northern Germany
- Chinese trading company – Representation in an ad hoc arbitration against a German contractual partner for non-performance of an annual supply agreement
- Austrian stock corporation – Comprehensive out-of-court advice in connection with the termination of a joint venture for wind energy project development in Eastern Europe
- German subsidiary of one of the world’s largest shipping companies – Advised on commercial and corporate law matters
- Alloheim – Commercial and contractual legal review and advice
- Big Dutchman – Contract law advice and dispute resolution
- Northern German transport association – Advice on commercial tenancy law
- Pan-European manufacturer of paper, cardboard, and packaging materials – Climate protection agreement
- coach@school e.V. – Drafting of a cooperation agreement (“Bücherkoffer Program”) with more than 30 school authorities across several German federal states (pro bono)
Publications
- KI kann die Aufbereitung umfangreicher Beweismittel im Prozess erleichtern, ersetzt jedoch nicht die anwaltliche Pflicht zur eigenverantwortlichen Prüfung der Ergebnisse, in: AI as a tool to facilitate the presentation of evidence in proceedings, 14. April 2026
- Rethinking production capacity: Your path into the security and defence industry – with solid legal support every step of the way
- ESG litigation and greenwashing in Germany – be green and act clean, in: International Bar Association (Global Insight), 29.10.2025 (together with Christina Göbel)
- Strategies to secure supply chains: effective contractual approaches to overcome scarcity challenges in the supply of drugs, medical devices and other essential goods, in: International Bar Association (IBA) from 2 June 2025 (together with Luisa Kramer)
- International jurisdiction – what is possible and what is favourable?, in: International Bar Association (IBA) from 4th April 2025
- Increased liability due to the new EU Product Liability Directive: what does this mean for the medical and pharmaceutical industry?, in: International Bar Association vom 10. Februar 2025 (gemeinsam mit Luisa Kramer)
- Zwei Jahre Incoterms® 2020 Digital Guide: Erfahrungen & Trends - Interview mit Luther & ICC Germany, in: ICC Germany-Magazin, Ausgabe 17, Herbst/Winter 2023 (gemeinsam mit Oliver Wieck & Dr. Robert Burkert)
- How the Metaverse addresses supply chain challenges for the healthcare and life science sector, in: International Bar Association vom 02.11.2023 (gemeinsam mit Luisa Kramer)
- How the Metaverse addresses supply chain challenges for the healthcare and life science sector, in: International Bar Association vom 02.11.2023 (gemeinsam mit Luisa Kramer)
- Endlich die passende Incoterms® -2020-Klausel finden: Der Incoterms® 2020 Digital Guide, in: Außenhandelspraxis Aktuell, Ausgabe 02/2022 S. 6 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Robert Burkert)
- Das Management von Krisenfällen beginnt bei der Produkt-Compliance, in: Die deutsche Medizintechnik-Industrie, SPECTARIS Jahrbuch 2021/2022, S. 72 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B. & Jens-Uwe Heuer-James)
- Rechtssichere Vollstreckung Von Gerichtsurteilen Nach Dem Brexit, in: British Chamber of Commerce in Germany vom 06. Oktober 2021 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Robert Burkert)
- Ever Given: an Example of How Complex International Liability for Damages Can Be, in: International Bar Association vom 20. August 2021
- Partnerships in the healthcare and life science market in times of a pandemic - dos and don’ts, in: International Bar Association vom 26. Mai 2021 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Robert Burkert)
- Medizintechnik im Umbruch, in: SPECTARIS Jahrbuch 2020/2021, S. 16 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B., Dr. Ulrich Philippi & Cornelia Yzer)
- Changing the product range – opportunity or necessity in times of Covid-19?, in: International Bar Association vom 09. September 2020 (gemeinsam mit Franz Kauer, LL.M.)
- Bearbeitung des Kapitels "Germany (Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2020)", in: Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2020
- Umgang mit der REACH-VO im Medizinproduktesektor, in: Medizin Produktw Recht (MPR), Heft 3/2020, S. 99 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Robert Burkert)
- Bearbeitung des Kapitels "Germany (Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2019)", in: Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2019 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Gernot-Rüdiger Engel & Dr. Benjamin Hub)
- Bearbeitung des Kapitels "Germany (Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2018)", in: Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2018 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Gernot-Rüdiger Engel & Dr. Benjamin Hub)
- A new centralised electronic register for protective briefs, in: IBA International Litigation News vom 20.09.2017
- The function of oral hearings in German civil procedure: does a principle lose its ground?, in: Young Lawyers vom 01.09.2017
- Einheitliche Rechtsgrundlage für Warenkaufverträge, in: Südwestticker , Ausgabe 05/17
- Protection of trade secrets in German civil proceedings: an EU directive as saviour?, in: International Litigation News vom 02.05.2017
- Bearbeitung des Kapitel "Germany (Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2017)", in: Getting the Deal Through: Ports & Terminals 2017 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Gernot-Rüdiger Engel & Dr. Benjamin Hub)
- Collective redress in Germany: long overdue or superfluous?, in: International Litigation News vom 09.09.2016
- TTIP und Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, in: Magazin des Wirtschaftsrats Deutschland (Landesverbände Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein)
- The effects of the crisis in Ukraine an international trade in Europe from the perspective of German law, in: International Bar Association vom 07.07.2015
- Gastbeitrag "Persönlichkeitsverletzungen im Internet: Sind Personen verschiedener Nationalität beteiligt, kann die Wahl des Gerichtsstands zur Kardinalfrage werden", in: Deutscher AnwaltSpiegel vom 10. September 2014
- Gastbeitrag "Beim Freihandelsabkommen geht es auch um Investitionsschutz", in: Frankfurter-Allgemeine-Zeitung vom 11. Dezember 2013
- Dispute Resolution within M&A Transactions, in: LAWYER MONTHLY, Ausgabe April 2013
Blog posts
- NATO significantly increases defence spending – Legal challenges for a security and defence industry 5.0
- Managing trade barriers - What the new US tariffs mean for international supply contracts
- Managing trade barriers – What the new U.S. tariffs mean for international business models
- Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive: Sustainability obligation resulting from EU Directive 2024/1760 poses new challenges to companies
- Accessibility – how companies can implement the German Accessibility Enhancement Act and benefit from inclusive design
- Update on the German Federal Supreme Court’s leading decision procedure – Relief of consumers and judiciary?
- Digital Assets: Managing Non-Fungible Tokens in B2C-Contracts
- New classifications of in vitro diagnostic medical devices: Affected companies need legal advice
- Aus der Not eine Tugend machen: Seid kreativ!
- The Hague Convention on the Enforcement and Recognition of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters: game changer or non-starter?
- Arbitration more attractive than ever – Sweden is modernising its arbitration law
Lectures
- 20.06.2023: unyer Commercial Hot topics for international supply chains – compliance and contractual challenges
- 07.12.2022: Quo vadis, China? – Ein Ausblick auf kommende politische, wirtschaftliche und rechtliche Entwicklungen
- 17.11.2022: unyer Commercial I Price Adjustments along the Supply Chain – Seller’s and Buyer’s Perspective
- 22.06.2022: Incoterms® 2020: „Wie Sie die größten Fehler vermeiden können“ Online-Seminar I ICC Germany
Memberships
- American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.
- International Bar Association
- Economic Council of the CDU (Wirtschaftsrat der CDU e.V.)
- State Expert Commission on the Healthcare Industry at the Economic Council Hamburg
- International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Member of the Commercial Law and Practice Commission (CLP Commission)
![[Translate to English:] NATO erhöht Verteitigungsausgaben](/fileadmin/user_upload/Bild_Blog_NATO_erh%C3%B6ht_Verteidigungsausgaben_1.jpg)
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