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)
Achim Meier
Partner
Essen
Ahmed Zoughbi
Associate
Dusseldorf
Alexander F. Liebing, LL.M.
Counsel
Leipzig
Andrea Heim
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Andreas Mally
Counsel
Leipzig
Dr Andreas Vath
Partner
Munich
Ann-Kristin Freiheit
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Anna-Sophia Riebeling
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Annkathrin Egerer-Tratt
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Annkatrin Merzig
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Barbara Schmidt
Partner
Leipzig
Dr Bela Jansen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Benedict Tobias Tiemann
Senior Associate
Hamburg
Bernhard Burkert, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)
Counsel
Berlin
Caroline Ackermann
Counsel
Munich
Charlotte Jodocy
Senior Associate
Essen
Prof. Christian Zanner
Partner
Berlin
Prof. Dr Christian Burholt, LL.M.
Partner
Berlin
Christiane Frye
Counsel
Essen
Christoph Kolb
Associate
Leipzig
Christoph Grünenthal, MLE
Associate
Berlin
Dr Clara Schulze Velmede
Associate
Leipzig
Daniel Naumann
Partner
Leipzig
Daniel Stracke
Associate
Berlin
Dr Daniela Salm
Counsel
Brussels
Darja Amelcenko, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Berlin
Dr David von Saucken, MJur (Oxon)
Partner
Berlin, London
Dianusch Nazari
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Doreen König
Partner
Berlin
Elena Recklin
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Elisa Röhr
Associate
Dusseldorf
Eric Doyé
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Florian Hensel, LL.M.
Associate
Munich
Frank Gutsche
Partner
Stuttgart
Dr Frank Seidel
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Franziska Klaß-Dingeldey, MLE
Senior Associate
Hanover
Dr Frederic Tewes
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Frederike Peters
Senior Consultant
Berlin
Georg Scherpf
Partner
Hamburg
Dr Gerd-Ulrich Kapteina
Partner
Essen
Hannah Aigner
Senior Associate
Munich
Hannah-Laura Schütte
Senior Associate
Stuttgart, Dusseldorf
Dr Helmut Janssen, LL.M. (King's College London)
Partner
Brussels, Dusseldorf
Henner M. Puppel
Partner
Essen
Dr Henning Holz, LL.M.
Counsel
Hanover
Henrik Fischer
Associate
Leipzig
Prof. Dr Herbert Willems
Partner
Essen
Iris Glönkler
Partner
Stuttgart
Jade Timmermann, LL.M. (London)
Associate
Leipzig
Jakob Gauly
Associate
Dusseldorf
Jan Lachhein
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Jana Karras
Associate
Leipzig
Jenny Tsynn
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Jenny Schindler
Senior Associate
Munich
Jens Bock
Partner
Berlin
Jens Kaiser
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dr Joanna Rupa-Sträßer, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Prof. Dr Johannes Beermann
Of Counsel
Berlin
Johannes Kugler
Associate
Munich
Julia Walther
Associate
Leipzig
Julian Plötz
Associate
Leipzig
Julian Günniker
Essen
Julian Pöhler
Counsel
Hamburg
Karsten Köhler
Partner
Leipzig
Katharina Klenk-Wernitzki, Dipl. Reg.-Wiss
Partner
Berlin, Cologne
Katharina Foede
Associate
Berlin
Katharina Stefanie Franke
Senior Associate
Essen
Kati Gütschow
Associate
Dusseldorf
Kevin Oestreich
Senior Consultant
Essen
Lara Zölck
Associate
Berlin
Lars Bollensen
Partner
Hamburg
Lea Franken
Associate
Dusseldorf
Leif Dustin Schneider
Counsel
Ho Chi Minh City
Leonie Herwarth von Bittenfeld, LL.B., M.A.
Senior Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Lisa Niesen
Senior Associate
Essen
Lisa Jennifer Schmölz
Counsel
Munich
Lisa Marie Siewer, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Cologne
Magnus Wessels
Associate
Essen
Małgorzata Albe, LL.M.
Junior Consultant
Leipzig
Marco-Marcel Niebuhr
Senior Associate
Hanover
Maria Marinez
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Marie Hoster, LL.B.
Associate
Essen, Dusseldorf
Marielle Lorraine
Associate
Munich
Marius Merfeld
Associate
Dusseldorf
Martin Steuber, LL.M.
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Martin Fleckenstein
Partner
Berlin
Martin Lawall, LL.M. (University of Glasgow)
Senior Associate
Brussels
Mathar Ahmed Bajwa, LL.M.
Associate
Cologne
Matthias Wagner
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Matthias Mehlwitz, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Max H. Becker
Associate
Essen
Dr Melanie Verstege
Counsel
Essen
Michael Kunkel, LL.M.
Partner
Cologne
Dr Michael Bormann
Partner
Dusseldorf
Morten Steimann
Associate
Essen
Ngoc Nhu Nguyen
Associate
Leipzig
Nicole Bittlingmayer
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Niklas Roth
Associate
Frankfurt a.M.
Nils Kramer
Senior Associate
Essen
Nina Eckardt
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Nina Hahnke
Associate
Essen
Nina Klünker, LL.M. (KCL)
Associate
Berlin
Nurolhaq Rostamzada
Senior Associate
Cologne
Dr Oliver Maaz
Partner, Principal Consultant
Cologne
Oliver Glasen-Nitschke
Associate
Essen
Oliver Köhler
Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Patrick Gocht
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Paul Herter
Senior Associate
Stuttgart
Pauline Müller
Senior Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Piotr Kwiatkowski, LL.M.
Senior Associate
Essen
Dr Richard Happ
Partner
Hamburg
Rolf Corsten
Of Counsel
Dusseldorf
Dr Rut Herten-Koch, M.A.
Partner
Berlin
Ruth-Maria Thomsen
Partner
Frankfurt a.M.
Dr Sabrina Desens
Partner
Leipzig
Sabrina Behbehani
Associate
Munich
Sarah Hossenfelder
Senior Associate
Essen
Sarah Peuser
Associate
Leipzig
Simon Wickel
Associate
Dusseldorf
Sophia Meyer, Maître en Droit
Associate
Berlin
Sophie Schulz
Associate
Leipzig
Dr Stefan Altenschmidt, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Partner
Dusseldorf
Dr Stefan Mager
Partner
Essen
Steffen Häberer
Partner
Leipzig
Stephan Finck
Partner
Leipzig
Dr jur Stephan Götze
Partner
Berlin
Dr Stephen Lampert
Counsel
Munich
Susanne Burkert-Vavilova
Counsel
Essen
Susanne Winkler, LL.M.
Associate
Stuttgart
Theresa Oesch
Senior Associate
Leipzig
Dr Thomas Gohrke
Partner
Hanover, Leipzig
Prof. Dr Tobias Leidinger
Partner
Dusseldorf
Tobias Osseforth, Mag. rer. publ.
Partner
Munich
Tobias Jedermann
Associate
Leipzig
Ulf-Dieter Pape
Partner
Hanover
Ulrich Siegemund
Of Counsel
Frankfurt a.M.
Vera Wechsler, LL.M. (Tulane)
Associate
Dusseldorf
Dr Zacharias-Alexis Schneider, LL.B., LL.M.
Partner
Hanover