Dr Stefan Mager
Areas of practice
Stefan Mager takes a solution-oriented, entrepreneurial and future-oriented approach to consulting. He advises his clients on large-volume construction contracts, complex IT projects, as well as on the EU-wide and national award of contracts for the procurement of goods and services.
Together with his team, he structures procurement procedures and provides full-service support from a single source throughout the procedure (from the announcement of the procurement procedure to the award of the contract, including documentation). He has special expertise advising public utility companies and public safety authorities and organisations. In review proceedings, he helps bidders enforce procedures that are error-free from a legal perspective.
In the area of EU state aid law, Stefan Mager has many years of experience dealing with issues related to "important projects of common European interest" (IPCEI), the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG), "services of general economic interest" (SGEI), and the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). In this context, he regularly heads up Luther's team of advisors in large decarbonisation and urban development projects.
Vita
Stefan Mager became an antitrust lawyer at the age of 26. He completed his doctorate under the supervision of Prof. Dr Martin Burgi (now Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, Germany) on the subject of "Public procurement law and the law regarding fees and charges".
Before joining Luther in 2020, Stefan Mager was the head of the antitrust, public procurement and state aid law department of a German top 50 law firm, where he was also a co-managing partner. At the same time, he was the managing director of a German data protection and consulting company.
At Luther, Stefan Mager is currently the head of the Public Procurement practice group, leading more than 35 lawyers across Germany.
The Bar Association in Hamm (Germany) appointed him as chairman of the expert committee for public procurement law, which is responsible for granting lawyers the title of “certified specialist in public procurement law”. In addition, Stefan Mager is inter alia an author of commentaries on public procurement law in "Großkommentar Vergaberecht" published by Beck and also regularly publishes articles in legal journals, as well as being a sought-after speaker on current topics.
Honors and distinctions
- Chambers Germany 2025: Ranking in "Public Law: Public Procurement/PPP", Band 3 ("Stefan Mager convinces with his deep expertise and ability to confidently score the relevant points in meetings.")
- JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Public Sector - Public Procurement Law" (first listed in 2020/2021, "Practical recommendations always to the point, excellent support and control of the process", client)
- The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Award "Leading Name" in the category "Public Law - Public Procurement Law" (first recommendation in 2021, "Luther's public procurement law team impresses with its excellent expertise and innovative approaches. Stefan Mager and Tobias Osseforth, who are well-known and respected in the market, are outstanding members of the team, known for precise analyses and tailor-made solutions. Their interdisciplinary cooperation and deep industry understanding set new standards. We appreciate the transparent, proactive advice that characterises Luther as a strategic partner.' ’Stefan Mager has excellent knowledge of public procurement law. His ability to incorporate desired individual aspects regarding future contractors into a call for tenders in a targeted and legally compliant manner deserves special mention. He comprehensively incorporates and evaluates strategic considerations and always provides useful advice as a result. Stefan Mager: Is characterised by a very high level of specialist knowledge of procurement law. Thanks to his wealth of experience, his suggestions are always goal-oriented and practical. All challenges that arose were addressed quickly and constructively.") and mention in the category "State Aid Law" (first recommendation in 2021, "Stefan Mager: Very high level of competence and also very high recognition from the public sector.")
- Legal 500 EMEA Green Guide 2024: Mention for Germany
- Lexology Index 2025 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Recommendation "National Leader" in "Germany – Government Contracts" (first recommendation in 2021)
- Lexology Index 2024 (former WWL Who’s Who Legal): Recommendation "Global Leader" in "Government – Government Contracts"
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommendation in "Public Law" (first recommendation)
- WirtschaftsWoche 2024: Recommendation "Top Lawyer" in "Public Procurement Law" (first recommendation in 2020)
Clients
- Stahl-Holding-Saar – advice on a large investment project worth ca. €3.5bn regarding decarbonising the Saarland steel industry using public funding (comprehensive legal project organisation, as well as advice on public procurement, public funding and state aid law)
- International chemicals company – advice on an investment project in the field of water electrolysis worth a three-digit million Euro amount using public funding (IPCEI)
- International glass manufacturer – advice on an investment project in the field of decarbonisation worth a three-digit million Euro amount using public funding (CEEAG project)
- Uniper SE – advice on the positioning of the group in dealing with procurement law obligations and implementation of EU-wide procurement procedures
- RAG Aktiengesellschaft – ongoing advice within the context of large-volume, EU-wide, sector-specific procurement procedures, e.g. shaft reconstruction work (ca. €120m), tunnel project (ca. €200m), treatment plant for mine water management (ca. €45m)
- Federal government – IT services provider, advice within the context of large-scale IT procurement processes (assistance with large-scale procurement procedures and defence)
- Police force of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) – ongoing advice to the central procurement office of the NRW police force on complex procurement processes (e.g. IT procurement, German Telecommunications Surveillance Reform Act (TKÜnG), DAR system, NRW innovation lab, as well as, for example, ships, emergency vehicles, patrol car of the future, etc.)
- Representation of bidder: Swedish defence contractor – successful representation in procurement review proceedings regarding the operation and maintenance of a German Armed Forces combat training centre, three-digit million Euro amount
- Representation of bidder: international chemicals company – advice on participation in EU-wide invitation to tender for the supply of hydrogen derivatives, three-digit million Euro amount
- Representation of bidder: IT services provider – advice on participation in EU-wide invitation to tender for a contract regarding setting up a telemedicine system in the German state of Bavaria, two-digit million Euro amount
- Baden-Württemberg police force – ongoing advice to the State Criminal Police Force (LKA) of the German state of Baden-Württemberg on the procurement of a next generation telecommunications surveillance system
- Dortmunder Stadtwerke AG (DSW21) – ongoing advice to DSW21, DEW21 and DONETZ on various EU-wide invitations to tender (IT systems, work management systems, security services, trams, buses, e-mobility, district heating, energy distribution)
- The Cities of Cologne, Aachen, Bochum, Düren and Herne, amongst others – advice on EU state aid or public procurement law within the framework of major projects
Publications
- Wann ist eine Preisaufklärung zulässig?, in: ibr-online, Werkstatt-Beitrag (Einstelldatum: 20.10.2022), VPR 2022, 3291
- Angebots- und Zuschlagslimitierung im Spannungsfeld des Transparenzgrundsatzes, in: VergabeR 2022, S. 331
- Ausschreibungspflicht bei kostenneutraler Überlassung von Software zwischen Behörden?, in: NZBau 2017, S. 342 (gemeinsam mit Lukas Lettau)
- Kommentierung §§ 6 bis 6d VOB/A-EU, in: Beck'scher Vergaberechtskommentar, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. Burgi & Prof. Dr. Dreher, C.H.BECK, 3. Auflage 2019
- Kommentierung §§ 45 bis 50 SektVO, in: Beck'scher Vergaberechtskommentar, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. Burgi & Prof. Dr. Dreher, C.H.BECK, 3. Auflage 2019
- Kommentierung §§ 42 bis 51 VgV, in: Beck'scher Vergaberechtskommentar, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. Burgi & Prof. Dr. Dreher, C.H.BECK, 3. Auflage 2019
- Kommentierung §§ 118 GWB, 42 bis 51 VgV, in: Beck'scher Vergaberechtskommentar, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. Burgi & Prof. Dr. Dreher, C.H.BECK, 3. Auflage 2019
- Konkretisierte Kriterien für die Inhouse-Vergabe, in: NZBau 2017, S. 342 (gemeinsam mit Katrin Weßler)
- Kommentierung zum Kartellvergaberecht, Vor §§ 97 – 101b GWB, in: Medizinrecht Kommentar, herausgegeben von Prütting, Luchterhand, 4. Auflage 2016 (gemeinsam mit Birgit Lotz, LL.M.)
- Kommentierung zum Kartellrecht, §§ 1 – 3, 18, 19, 35 – 38 GWB, in: Medizinrecht Kommentar, herausgegeben von Prütting, Luchterhand, 4. Auflage 2016
- Das Aus für den vergabespezifischen Mindestlohn?, in: NZBau 2015, S. 79 ff.
- Das Projekt Abfallentsorgung – Teil 2: Hinweise zur Gestaltung des Vergabeverfahrens, in: VergabeNavigator, Ausgabe 2/2015, S. 5 ff.
- Die Vergabe von Gebäudemanagementleistungen am Beispiel der Ausschreibung von Reinigungsleistungen, in: Zeitschrift für deutsches und internationales Bau- und Vergaberecht (ZfBR), Ausgabe 08/2015, S.758 (gemeinsam mit Birgit Lotz, LL.M.)
- Die Haftung von Gemeinderatsmitgliedern, in: der gemeindehaushalt, Ausgabe 1/2015, S. 14-17
- Bearbeitung des Kapitels "Aktuelle beihilferechtliche Judikatur deutscher Gerichte im Jahr 2015", in: Jahrbuch Beihilferecht 2016, herausgegeben von Jaeger & Haslinger, NWV, 2016
- Grundsätzliche Unzulässigkeit von Bietergemeinschaften?, in: NZBau, Ausgabe 6/2014, S. 328-333 (gemeinsam mit Birgit Lotz, LL.M.)
- Richtiger Umgang mit Referenzen bei der Eignungsprüfung, in: NZBau 2013, S. 92 ff.
- Neue Maßgaben zur Inhouse-Vergabe und zu den Anforderungen vergabefreier Vertragsänderungen, in: NZBau 2012, S. 25
- Niedrigere Anforderungen an zulässige Rückforderung von Zuwendungen, in: NZBau 2012, S. 281
- achtung des Geheimwettbewerbs im Vergabeverfahren bei Parallelangeboten konzernverbundener Unternehmen, in: NZBau 2011, S. 541 (gemeinsam mit Barbara Frfr v. d. Recke)
- Entwicklung der kartellrechtlichen Fallpraxis im Entsorgungsmarkt, in: Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb 2007, S. 241 (gemeinsam mit Dr. Andreas Lotze)
- Gastkommentar: Der Referentenentwurf lässt einige Fragen offen, in: Recycling Magazin, Ausgabe 06/2007, S. 20
- Herausgeber der Dissertation "Vergaberecht und Gebührenrecht", Nomos, 2007
- Novelle der Verpackungsordnung – Verpackungsrecycling im Umbruch, in: Recycling Magazin, Ausgabe 06/2007, S. 18 ff.
- Anforderungen an die Antragsbefugnis im vergaberechtlichen Nachprüfungsverfahren - Anmerkung zum Beschluss des BVerfG vom 29.7.2004, in: Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht 2004, S. 1223 f.
- Keine Nichtigkeit der de-facto-Vergabe -Anmerkung zum Beschluss des OLG Düsseldorf vom 3. Dezember 2003, in: Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht 2004, S. 605 f.
- Erneuerbare Energien Gesetz – EEG; unmittelbarer Leistungsanspruch des Stromerzeugers - Anmerkung zum Urteil des BGH vom 11. Juni 2003, in: Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht 2003, S. 965 f.
Lectures
- 29.10.2024: Deutscher Vergaberechtstag 2024
- 17.04.2024: Vergabe Insight | Vergaberecht und Fördermittel: Rechtssicherer Einsatz
- 13.07.2023: Webinar „Follow-up Klimaschutzverträge – Der Schlüssel zur Dekarbonisierung?"
- 15.06.2023: Webinar „Klimaschutzverträge – Der Schlüssel zur Dekarbonisierung?"
- 09.05.2023: IBR-Seminare I Stadtentwicklungsprojekte Vergabe- und grundstücksvertragliche Herausforderungen
- 23.03.2023: IBR-Seminare I Beschaffung von Beratungsleistungen
- 22.09.2022: FORUM · Institut für Management GmbH I NRW-Vergaberecht 2022
- 22.09.2021: Forum Institut I NRW-Vergaberecht 2021
- 20.09.2021: Speyerer Vergaberechtstage 2021
- 11.11.2020: Forum Praxisseminar, Ausschreibung von Reinigungsleistungen
Memberships
- Chairman of the expert committee for public procurement law of the Hamm Bar Association (Rechtsanwaltskammer Hamm)
![[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers](/fileadmin/user_upload/reciprocal_tariffs.jpeg "[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers")
Henrike Sophie Tröger
Associate
Leipzig
Simon Magers
Associate
Hanover
Daniel Stracke
Associate
Berlin
Vivienne Blank
Associate
Stuttgart
Niklas Roth
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Jana Karras
Associate
Leipzig
Johannes Kugler
Associate
Munich
Lars Bollensen
Partner
Hamburg
Elisa Röhr
Associate
Dusseldorf
Georg Scherpf
Partner
Hamburg
Benedict Tobias Tiemann
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Julian Pöhler
Counsel
Hamburg
Nina Klünker, LL.M. (KCL)
Associate
Berlin
Dr David von Saucken, MJur (Oxon)
Partner
Berlin, London
Tobias Jedermann
Associate
Leipzig
Julian Günniker
Essen
Julian Plötz
Associate
Leipzig
Małgorzata Albe, LL.M.
Junior Consultant
Leipzig
Andrea Heim
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Alexander F. Liebing, LL.M.
Partner
Leipzig
Lisa Jennifer Schmölz
Counsel
Munich
Marie Hoster, LL.B.
Associate
Essen, Dusseldorf
Max H. Becker
Associate
Essen
Sophia Meyer, Maître en Droit
Associate
Berlin
Oliver Köhler
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Kati Gütschow
Associate
Dusseldorf
Morten Steimann
Associate
Essen
Ngoc Nhu Nguyen
Associate
Leipzig
Hannah-Laura Schütte
Senior Associate
Stuttgart, Dusseldorf
Julia Walther
Associate
Leipzig
Ann-Kristin Freiheit
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Leif Dustin Schneider
Counsel
Ho Chi Minh City
Sabrina Behbehani
Senior Associate
Munich
Dr Florian Hensel, LL.M.
Associate
Munich
Kevin Oestreich
Senior Consultant
Essen
Susanne Winkler, LL.M.
Associate
Stuttgart
Eric Doyé
Associate
Leipzig
Leonie Herwarth von Bittenfeld, LL.B., M.A.
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Joanna Rupa-Sträßer, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Ahmed Zoughbi
Associate
Dusseldorf
Katharina Foede
Associate
Berlin
Jakob Gauly
Associate
Dusseldorf
Christoph Grünenthal, MLE
Associate
Berlin
Oliver Glasen-Nitschke
Associate
Essen
Christoph Kolb
Associate
Leipzig
Mathar Ahmed Bajwa, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Prof. Dr Christian Burholt, LL.M.
Partner
Berlin
Lara Zölck
Senior Associate
Berlin
Dr Andreas Vath
Partner
Munich
Vera Wechsler, LL.M. (Tulane)
Associate
Dusseldorf
Prof. Dr Johannes Beermann
Of Counsel
Berlin
Dr Clara Schulze Velmede
Associate
Leipzig
Marius Merfeld
Associate
Dusseldorf
Henrik Fischer
Associate
Leipzig
Simon Wickel
Associate
Dusseldorf
Theresa Oesch
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Sarah Peuser
Associate
Leipzig
Frederike Peters
Senior Consultant
Berlin
Caroline Ackermann
Partner
Munich
Nina Hahnke
Senior Associate
Essen
Nurolhaq Rostamzada
Senior Associate
Cologne
Maria Marinez
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Charlotte Jodocy
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Melanie Verstege
Counsel
Essen
Magnus Wessels
Senior Associate
Essen
Annkathrin Egerer-Tratt
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Iris Glönkler
Partner
Stuttgart
Lea Franken
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Sophie Schulz
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Jenny Schindler
Senior Associate
Munich
Dr Stephen Lampert
Counsel
Munich
Tobias Osseforth, Mag. rer. publ.
Partner
Munich
Susanne Burkert-Vavilova
Counsel
Essen
Martin Lawall, LL.M. (University of Glasgow)
Senior Associate
Brussels
Nina Eckardt
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Darja Amelcenko, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Sarah Hossenfelder
Senior Associate
Essen
Annkatrin Merzig
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Oliver Maaz
Partner, Principal Consultant
Cologne
Marco-Marcel Niebuhr
Senior Associate
Hanover
Dr Zacharias-Alexis Schneider, LL.B., LL.M.
Partner
Hanover
Pauline Müller
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Lisa Marie Siewer, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr jur Stephan Götze
Partner
Berlin
Dr Bela Jansen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Anna-Sophia Riebeling
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Jens Kaiser
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dianusch Nazari
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Nicole Bittlingmayer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Paul Herter
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
Berlin
Dr Stefan Mager
Partner
Essen
Katharina Stefanie Franke
Senior Associate
Essen
Matthias Mehlwitz, LL.M.
Counsel
Essen
Jan Lachhein
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Matthias Wagner
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Lisa Niesen
Senior Associate
Essen
Doreen König
Partner
Berlin
Jens Bock
Partner
Berlin
Ruth-Maria Thomsen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Piotr Kwiatkowski, LL.M.
Counsel
Essen
Dr Frank Seidel
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Daniela Salm
Counsel
Brussels
Nils Kramer
Senior Associate
Essen
Hannah Aigner
Senior Associate
Munich
Dr Michael Bormann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Elena Recklin
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Prof. Dr Herbert Willems
Partner
Essen
Dr Frederic Tewes
Partner
Dusseldorf
Katharina Klenk-Wernitzki, Dipl. Reg.-Wiss
Partner
Berlin, Cologne
Prof. Christian Zanner
Partner
Berlin
Dr Gerd-Ulrich Kapteina
Partner
Essen
Patrick Gocht
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Daniel Naumann
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Franziska Klaß-Dingeldey, MLE
Senior Associate
Hanover
Dr Martin Fleckenstein
Partner
Berlin
Prof. Dr Tobias Leidinger
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Sabrina Desens
Partner
Leipzig
Rolf Corsten
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Michael Kunkel, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Achim Meier
Partner
Essen
Andreas Mally
Counsel
Leipzig
Ulf-Dieter Pape
Partner
Hanover
Henner M. Puppel
Partner
Essen
Karsten Köhler
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Barbara Schmidt
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)
Partner
Brussels, Dusseldorf
Dr Henning Holz, LL.M.
Counsel
Hanover
Dr Richard Happ
Partner
Hamburg
Steffen Häberer
Partner
Leipzig
Frank Gutsche
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Thomas Gohrke
Partner
Hanover, Leipzig
Ulrich Siegemund
Of Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Stephan Finck
Partner
Leipzig
Martin Steuber, LL.M.
Partner
Dusseldorf
Christiane Frye
Counsel
Essen
Bernhard Burkert, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Partner
Berlin
Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Partner
Dusseldorf