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Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)

Lawyer │ Partner

Dusseldorf

+49 211 5660 18737

stefan.altenschmidt@luther-lawfirm.com

Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)

Areas of practice

Real Estate

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Environment & Planning Law, Regulatory

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State, Administration, Public Undertakings

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ESG

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Energy

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Real Estate & Infrastructure

Dr Stefan Altenschmidt’s specialist areas are environmental, planning and regulatory law. He advises companies and trade associations, in particular, on environmental law, climate protection and emissions trading law as well as planning law. He represents his clients at national administrative and constitutional courts and at the European Court of Justice. Dr Stefan Altenschmidt regularly holds seminars and publishes articles relating to environmental and energy law, including as co-author of the commentaries on the German Renewable Energy Act, the Water Resources Act and the Federal Immission Control Act from the Berlin Commentaries series and the Emissions Trading Practice Manual and as co-editor of the Green Building Practice Manual.

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Vita

Dr Stefan Altenschmidt studied law and social science at the Ruhr Universität in Bochum, Germany, where in 2001 he was awarded a doctorate for his thesis on issues concerning the Regional Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia. In 2002, he completed a four month traineeship in the legal department of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. In 2006, he received his LL.M. in environmental, planning and regulatory law from Nottingham Law School, England. From 2003 to 2011, he worked for Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, most recently as “Counsel” for environmental and planning law. In 2008, he was seconded for four months to the London office of Freshfields. Dr Stefan Altenschmidt has been a partner in Luther’s Düsseldorf office since May 2011 and is responsible for the practice area Environment, Planning, Regulatory (EPR).

Honors and distinctions

Chambers Germany 2026: Ranking in "Public Law: Planning and Environment", Band 2 (first ranking in 2014, "Stefan Altenschmidt's ability to navigate complex regulatory frameworks and provide practical, business-oriented solutions is particularly noteworthy." "Stefan Altenschmidt is an exceptionally skilled and reliable adviser in environmental and planning law and his strategic understanding of public law matters is outstanding." "Stefan Altenschmidt combines deep legal expertise with excellent client service. He is always well prepared, responsive and highly professional." "I have a very high opinion of Stefan Altenschmidt. He's a highly competent and very to the point lawyer whose communication skills are excellent.")
JUVE Guide 2025/2026: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Regulated Industries - Energy Law" (first listed in 2012/2013) and JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Public Law – Planning and Environment" (first listed in 2013/2014) and "Public Law - Administrative and Constitutional Law" (first listed in 2022/2023)
The Legal 500 Germany 2026: Awarded "Leading Partner" in the category "Public Law - Environmental and Planning Law" (first Award in 2015, first Mention in 2014, "We are supported by Stefan Altenschmidt and André Große Vorholt and their respective teams. Both partners and teams possess excellent knowledge and experience in their fields."), Recommended in the category "Public Law - Economic Administrative Law" (first Recommendation in 2024, first Mention in 2021, "The partner responsible for us in the field of economic and administrative law, Stefan Altenschmidt, is a recognised expert with excellent specialist knowledge and an impressive track record."), Mentioned in the category "Industry Focus - Energy" (first Mention in 2018).
The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Mentioned in the category "City Focus - Düsseldorf" (first Recommendation in 2023, first Mention in 2024).
Lexology Index 2026: Recommendation "National Leader" in "Germany - Environment"
Lexology Index 2025: Recommendation "Global Leader" in "Environment - Climate Change" (first recommended in 2019)
kanzleimonitor.de 2025/2026: Award "Top 100 Lawyer" as well as recommendation in "Public Building Law” and “Environmental Law”
kanzleimonitor.de 2019/2020: Recommendation in "Energy Industry Law" (Rank 5) (first recommendation in 2015/2016)
Best Lawyers 2026: Recommendation in "Environmental Law" (first recommendation in 2014), "Public Law" (first recommendation in 2017) and "Energy Law" (first recommendation in 2021)
WirtschaftsWoche 2023: Recommendation as „Top Lawyer“ in „Environmental and Building Planning Law“ (first recommendation in 2021)

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Clients

E.ON Kraftwerke: advising on planning law regarding a new build power station in Datteln, Germany
RWE Power: successfully appealing to the Federal Constitutional Court regarding the unconstitutionality of a judgment issued in an emissions trading matter
ArcelorMittal, Dillinger Hüttenwerke, Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann, Saarstahl and ThyssenKrupp Steel - advice and legal representation in emissions trading matters
Opencast lignite mine operators - consultation on the coal phase-out
Uniper Kraftwerke - water law advice on the operation of a hydropower plant including the conduct of administrative court proceedings
Air China - advising on emissions trading and international law contexts
German defence company - administrative law and state liability law advice in connection with the economic sanctions against Russia and the revocation of export licences for a combat training centre
Various industrial companies - advice and representation in standard control proceedings against conflicting development plans with the designation of new residential areas in the vicinity of existing production plants.
Leading company in the food industry - successful representation in opposition proceedings before the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control to limit the EEG levy for an independent part of the company

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