Dr Maximilian Dorndorf
Areas of practice
Dr Maximilian Dorndorf’s practice is focused on logistics law (in particular, outsourcing/purchasing), including intra-logistics and materials handling, IT law (with an emphasis on outsourcing/purchasing, licences and data protection), as well as IP law (especially competition and trademark law), including distribution law.
In IT and logistics law, Maximilian Dorndorf primarily advises on complex outsourcing/purchasing projects. Within his industry focus areas, he further advises comprehensively on contractual matters, for example, on software licence agreements, affiliate agreements and contracts regarding content distribution. He advises both out of court and in judicial disputes.
Maximilian Dorndorf is an experienced and respected advisor in international contract negotiations, in particular in the context of IT and logistics projects. He uses this expertise to comprehensively advise his clients on all matters pertaining to digitalisation (in particular, FinTech) and Industry 4.0. However, he also provides comprehensive litigation advice (e.g. when defending advertising campaigns, or when proceeding against competitors’ campaigns or against trademark or patent infringements).
At Luther, Maximilian Dorndorf additionally coordinates the Mobility & Logistics sector.
Vita
Dr Maximilian Dorndorf started his career at the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Cologne (Germany), where he worked from 2001 to 2005. From 2005 to 2009, he then had his own specialist one-man law firm in Münster (Germany), working at the same time as an in-house lawyer and head of legal department for the international logistics group Fiege.
He joined Luther’s Essen office as a partner in 2009 and is co-head of Luther’s Mobility & Logistics industry group.
Maximilian Dorndorf is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences of Münster (Germany) (Master’s degree course in “Logistics”), a lecturer at Ruhr University in Bochum (Germany), where he teaches company law as part of the “RUBlaw-active” course, as well as an arbitrator at the German Logistics Court of Arbitration.
Honors and distinctions
- Chambers Global 2016: Ranking in "Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Unfair Competition" (first ranking in 2012)
- Chambers Europe 2020: Ranking in "Commercial Contracts" (first ranking in 2015)
- Chambers Europe 2016: Ranking in "Intellectual Property: Trade Mark & Unfair Competition" (first ranking in 2012, "For him it is about finding a practicable way with the other side. He can be assertive, too, but he always explains why and doesn't just rigidly stick to a legal aspect. He conveys a co-operative approach to find a solution.", client)
- JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Trademark and Competition Law" (first listed in 2018/2019) and in " Trade, Distribution and Logistics" (first listed in 2014/2015)
- JUVE Guide 2020/2021: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Technology and Media - Information Technology"
- The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Recommendations in the categories "Transport - advice to the transport sector" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2021) and "Commercial and Distribution Law - Distribution/Trade/Logistics" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2016) and mentions in the categories "IT Transactions and Outsourcing" (first mention in 2023) and "Information Technology and Digitalisation" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2016, "has many years of wide-ranging experience and provides pragmatic solutions even for very complex projects around structures. ")
- kanzleimonitor.de 2015/2016: Recommendation in "Intellectual Property"
- Best Lawyers 2025: Recommendations in "Litigation" (first recommendation in 2020) and "Intellectual Property Law" (first recommendation in 2022)
Clients
- On-going advice to the FIEGE Group on outsourcing projects, including the procurement of IT and materials handling equipment
- Advice to the largest German book wholesaler on the relocation of its logistics facilities (including the development of a new concept, the ordering of equipment, and operations, three-digit million amount)
- REWE digital: Advice on invitation to tender and negotiations with technology providers (materials handling equipment and IT) for nine “food fulfilment centres”
- Advice to a leading European (Austria-based) provider of intra-logistics solutions (in particular, IT and materials handling equipment) in connection with various large projects and framework agreements (in particulr, fashion, trade, e-commerce, and pharmaceuticals)
- Advice to a leading innovator in the field of glass in connection with technology projects
- Advice to a manufacturer of agricultural machinery and semi-trailers on IT and telematics projects
- Advice to a Swiss provider of intra-logistics solutions in the context of various projects (e-commerce and press)
- Advice to an international cosmetics group on matters regarding logistics outsourcing
- Advice to the market leader in the paper industry on matters regarding logistics outsourcing (transport and warehousing)
- Advice to a listed technology group on matters regarding payroll/travel expenses outsourcing (worldwide)
- Advice to a service provider on the takeover of a listed group’s global travel management
- Advice to a leading international hotel reservation system, in particular on advertising issues and contractual matters, as well as on questions regarding the presentation of information on the Internet
- Advice to a telecommunications service provider (telephone, Internet, TV) on competition law issues and related matters
- On-going advice to the market leader in the field of video identification procedures and digital contract formation (service provider to banks and financial service providers)
Publications
- Herausgeber des Werkes Arbeitnehmerdaten richtig schützen - Grundlagen, Einzelfälle, Lösungen für die Transportbranche (gemeinsam mit Wibke Dalhaus, Karin Tausch, Klaus Thönißen & Sebastian Tausch), Verlag Heinrich Vogel, 2020
- Outsourcing Guide 2019, in: Chambers and Partners, Ausgabe 10/2019
- Sie haben Post! - Sternewerbung, was ist erlaubt?, in: check-in - Magazin für Hotel Distribution
- E-Signing von Verträgen mittels qualifizierter elektronischer Signatur nach eIDAS, in: Zeitschrift für Computer und Recht (CR), Ausgabe 1/2017
- Die markenrechtliche Bewertung des Keyword-Advertising nach der Rechtsprechung des EuGH, in: Kölner Zeitschrift zum Wirtschaftsrecht (KSzW), Heft 04/2010, S. 255 ff.
Lectures
- 21.05.2019: Wissen, was Banken brauchen, 2. Bankensymposium Digitalisierung & Recht
- 21.05.2019: Video Ident und eSigning im Dschungel von eIDAS und DSGVO - Rechtssicher digitale Verträge abschließen, 2. Bankensymposium Digitalisierung & Recht 2019
- 16.05.2018: Der Klassiker: § 613a BGB im Outsourcing, TIM CONSULT Intralogistiktag 2018
- 14.09.2015: Sharing Economy und Impact auf Geschäftsreise-Business, CTF - Corporate Travel Forum
- 10.07.2013: Vertragsgestaltung beim Joint Venture, Best Graduates
- 06.03.2013: Internetvertrieb Aktuelle Rechtsprechung, Entwicklungen und Problemfelder, Praxisseminar Forum Institut
- 15.03.2012: IT-Outsourcing, Datenschutz und SLA, Mandantenseminar
- 16.03.2010: ©das Recht am eigenen Werk - Ein Überblick über das Urheberrecht, Veranstalter: Industrie- und Handelskammer zu Essen
- 27.05.2009: Das Vergütungsrisiko beim Logistikvertrag, 6. Logistikrechtsforum der Deutschen Logistik Akademie
- 27.01.2005: Schutz vor Herkunftstäuschung und Rufausbeutung, Förderkreis Gewerblicher Rechtschutz (Verein zur Förderung der Wissenschaft und Praxis im Gewerblichen Rechtschutz)
Dr Thomas Schwieters
Associate
Hanover
Franziska Maier, LL.M. (UCLA)
Associate
Stuttgart
Iris López Martínez, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Timo Reckert
Associate
Hanover
Nina Klünker, LL.M. (KCL)
Associate
Berlin
Dr Denis Schütz
Senior Associate
Essen
Robert Schindler
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Essen
Dr Christopher Borho
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Stuttgart
Dr David von Saucken, MJur (Oxon)
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Berlin, London
Dr Anika Wendelstein
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Stuttgart
Alexander F. Liebing, LL.M.
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Leipzig
Severin Uhsler
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Munich
Julian Wantzen, LL.M. (Wellington)
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Daniel Hilmer
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Hamburg
Julian Adams
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Lida Karra
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Frankfurt a.M.
Elisabeth Kohoutek
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Hamburg
Marc Theiner
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Singapore
Leif Dustin Schneider
Counsel
Ho Chi Minh City
Clara von Wolffersdorff
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Delia Jusciak
Associate
Leipzig
Maximilian Issels, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Associate
Munich
Mike Hillers
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Hanover
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Paula Dresler
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Munich
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Cologne
Alexandra Gebauer
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Munich
Manuel Rueß
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Hamburg
Artur Winkler
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Hamburg
Dr Andreas Vath
Partner
Munich
Prof. Dr Johannes Beermann
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Berlin
Dr Clara Schulze Velmede
Associate
Leipzig
Dr.iur. Andreas Knaul, LL.M. diap (ENA)
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Rebecca Romig
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Johannes Teichmann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Fabien Benjamin Wehner, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Associate
Stuttgart
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Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Michael Pfeiffer
Associate
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Caroline Ackermann
Counsel
Munich
Daniel Latta
Partner
Berlin
Roberto Pirschel
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Leipzig
Jette Gustafsson, LL.M. (Boston)
Partner
Hamburg
Lutz Keller
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Cologne
Dr Melanie Verstege
Counsel
Essen
Felix Hielscher
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Stuttgart
Benedikt Stücker
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Hanover
Jenny Schindler
Senior Associate
Munich
Tobias Osseforth, Mag. rer. publ.
Partner
Munich
Tobias Schneider
Senior Associate
Cologne
Niccolo Langenheim, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Volker von Alvensleben
Of Counsel
Hamburg
Dr Aline Mück
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Astrid Schnabel, LL.M. (Emory)
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Isabel Schäfer
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Katharina Müller-Ehrlichmann, LL.M. oec.
Partner
Cologne
Jan Zimmer
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Singapore
Pierre Daniel Wittmann
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Caroline Risse
Senior Associate
Berlin
Anna-Sophia Riebeling
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Franziska Neugebauer
Senior Associate
Cologne
István Fancsik, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Johannes Becker
Counsel
Cologne
Jan-Christian Schmid
Senior Associate
Leipzig, Hamburg
Jens Kaiser
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Stefanie Kandzia, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Björn Simon
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Stephan Rippert LL.M.
Partner
Munich
Laura Hoffmann, LL.M. (Dresden/London)
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Paul Gooren, LL.M. (Chicago)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Sandra Bausch
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Julian Monden
Senior Associate
Hanover
Michelle Petruzzelli
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)
Partner
Singapore
Dr Sebastian Felix Janka, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
Munich
Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Hannah Aigner
Senior Associate
Munich
Christian Brauns
Counsel
Stuttgart
Anton Spinty
Senior Associate
Berlin
Martin Zackor, LL.M. (UCD)
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Elena Recklin
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dominik Menhaj
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Adrian Freidank
Counsel
Cologne
Maxim Oertel
Senior Associate
Berlin
Stephanie Quaß
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Christian Horn, LL.M. (Tulane)
Partner
Berlin
Katharina Klenk-Wernitzki, Dipl. Reg.-Wiss
Partner
Berlin, Cologne
Cornelia Yzer
Of Counsel
Berlin
Dr Christian Rabe
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Dr Daniel Bischof
Counsel
Hamburg
Johannes Klausch, LL.M. (London)
Partner
Berlin
Wolfgang Liebau
Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Eckart Petzold
Partner
Dusseldorf
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Partner
Stuttgart
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Partner
Essen
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Partner
Essen
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Partner
Cologne, Dusseldorf
Dr Kay Oelschlägel
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Ulrich Philippi
Partner
Stuttgart
Christian Kuß, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Dr Katharina Preuss
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Thomas Kuhnle
Partner
Stuttgart, London
Christiane Kühn, LL.M. (Hong Kong)
Partner
Munich
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Partner
Cologne
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Counsel
Cologne
Karsten Köhler
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Klaus Schaffner
Partner
Leipzig
Christoph Schauenburg, LL.M. (London)
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Rolf Kobabe
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Wulff-Axel Schmidt
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Andreas Kloyer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M., London
Paul Schreiner
Partner
Cologne, Essen
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Partner
Brussels, Dusseldorf
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Partner
Singapore
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Partner
Hamburg
Dr Maresa Hormes
Counsel
Essen
Jens-Uwe Heuer-James
Partner
Hanover
Dr Stefanie Hellmich, LL.M.
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Thomas Halberkamp
Partner
Hanover
Steffen Häberer
Partner
Leipzig
Stephan Gittermann
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Prof Dr Florian Schulz M.B.A. (Nimbas)
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Geert Johann Seelig
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Steffen Gaber, LL.M. (Sydney)
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Markus Sengpiel
Managing Partner
Cologne
Carsten Andreas Senze
Partner
Stuttgart
Nicole Fröhlich
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Volker Steimle
Partner
Cologne
Ingo Erberich
Partner
Cologne
Dr Gernot-Rüdiger Engel
Partner
Hamburg
Guido Dornieden
Counsel
Cologne
Dr Maximilian Dorndorf
Partner
Essen
Klaus Thönißen, LL.M. (San Francisco)
Partner
Essen
Philipp Dietz, LL.M. (Edinburgh)
Partner
Cologne
Dr Jörgen Tielmann, LL.M.
Partner
Hamburg
Andreas Tüxen, LL.M. (American University / WCL)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B.
Partner
Hanover
Birgitta von Dresky
Partner
Singapore
Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück
Partner
Berlin
Dr Gregor Wecker
Partner
Cologne
Axel Braun
Partner
Cologne
Achim Braner
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Andreas Blunk, MLE
Partner
Hanover
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Partner
Dusseldorf
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Partner
Cologne
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Partner
Hamburg
Reinhard Willemsen
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Munich, Cologne
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Counsel
Stuttgart
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Partner
Leipzig
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Partner
Cologne
Silvia C. Bauer
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Cologne
Dr Marcus Backes
Partner
Hamburg
Prof. Dr Hans-Georg Hahn
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Hans-Christian Ackermann
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