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)
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Dr Andreas Blunk, MLE
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Axel Braun
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Dr Gregor Wecker
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Prof. Dr Robert von Steinau-Steinrück
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Birgitta von Dresky
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Dr Kuuya Josef Chibanguza, LL.B.
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Andreas Tüxen, LL.M. (American University / WCL)
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Dr Jörgen Tielmann, LL.M.
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Philipp Dietz, LL.M. (Edinburgh)
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Carsten Andreas Senze
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Dr Stefanie Hellmich, LL.M.
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Dr Maresa Hormes
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Dr Thomas Hufnagel
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Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)
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Paul Schreiner
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Dr Andreas Kloyer
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Dr Rolf Kobabe
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Christoph Schauenburg, LL.M. (London)
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Dr Martin Kolmhuber
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Christiane Kühn, LL.M. (Hong Kong)
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Dr Thomas Kuhnle
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Dr Katharina Preuss
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Christian Kuß, LL.M.
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Dr Ulrich Philippi
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Dr Kay Oelschlägel
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Dr Detlef Mäder
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Dr Cédric Müller, LL.M. (Bristol)
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Dr Axel Mühl
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Dr Eckart Petzold
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Johannes Klausch, LL.M. (London)
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Maxim Oertel
Senior Associate
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Counsel
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Anton Spinty
Senior Associate
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Christian Brauns
Counsel
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Hannah Aigner
Senior Associate
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Anja Schwarz, LL.M. (London)
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Sebastian Felix Janka, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
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Dr Maximilian Kressner, M.Jur. (Oxford)
Partner
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Michelle Petruzzelli
Senior Associate
Cologne
Julian Monden
Senior Associate
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Dr Sandra Bausch
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
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Dr Paul Gooren, LL.M. (Chicago)
Partner
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Laura Hoffmann, LL.M. (Dresden/London)
Senior Associate
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Dr Stephan Rippert LL.M.
Partner
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Partner
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Stefanie Kandzia, LL.M.
Senior Associate
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Jens Kaiser
Senior Associate
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Jan-Christian Schmid
Senior Associate
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Counsel
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Anna-Sophia Riebeling
Senior Associate
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Caroline Risse
Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Associate
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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Roberto Pirschel
Senior Associate
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Associate
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Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
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Associate
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Manuel Rueß
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Denis Miller
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Paula Dresler
Associate
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Associate
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Mike Hillers
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Associate
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Dr Delia Jusciak
Associate
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Clara von Wolffersdorff
Associate
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Associate
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Christina Rygula, LL.M. (Dublin)
Senior Associate
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Senior Associate
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