Dr Steffen Gaber, LL.M. (Sydney)
Areas of practice
Dr Steffen Gaber provides national and international contract, commercial and distribution law advice, his industry focus being the automotive supply industry and the textile industry. As the coordinator of Luther’s Mobility & Logistics sector and as a team member of the practice group Complex Disputes, he advises in particular on the judicial assertion and defence of claims arising from the aforementioned types of contracts (especially warranty, liability and damage issues). His work focuses on supplier disputes from the automotive industry, in which he represents his clients both in and out of court if necessary in the event of a legal dispute.
In addition, Dr Steffen Gaber also provides comprehensive advice on all matters relating to distribution law (sales agents, authorised dealers, resellers, franchises). Also within this spectrum, he represents both wholesalers and manufacturers equally in extrajudicial and judicial disputes concerning distribution contracts (commission, termination, compensation claims, damages, etc.).
Furthermore, Dr Steffen Gaber regularly provides advice on the introduction of (new) products in the German and European markets. In addition to drafting national and/or international distribution systems, his advisory services also focus on contracts with consumers (drafting of B2C terms and conditions).
Vita
Dr Steffen Gaber studied law at the University of Constance (Germany). Following his first state exam, he completed a one year Master-of-Laws programme in Sydney (Australia), where he also worked in the commercial law department of a large international law firm. Dr Gaber carried out his legal training at the Higher Regional Court of Stuttgart (Germany). During his legal training he worked for the German-American Chamber of Commerce in New York (USA). After passing the second state exam and being admitted to the German Bar in 2009, he wrote his doctoral thesis until 2012 on an international commercial law topic (The optimal formulation of general terms and conditions according to the UN Sales Convention (CISG)) and, at the same time, worked as a lawyer. He joined Luther in January 2014.
Dr Steffen Gaber is responsible for Luther’s Automotive and Mobility sector and is the head of Luther’s practice group Textile and Clothing Industry.
Honors and distinctions
- Chambers Germany 2025: Ranking in "Commercial Contracts", Band 4 ("Steffen never gives up. He finds solutions and is not focused on formal boundaries. He has a strong opinion on what he wants and what he doesn't, and fights as well as possible for us as a client.", "Steffen Gaber is a great help in managing and controlling the mandate and in keeping the big line.")
- JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Awarded "Leading Name in Trade and Distribution" (first awarded in 2020/2021, "Thorough work", client; "dynamic and entrepreneurial", competitor) and listed under “Frequently Recommended” in "Trade, Distribution and Logistics" (first listed in 2016/2017)
- The Legal 500 Germany 2025: Award "Leading Name" in the category "Distribution/Trade/Logistics" (first mention in 2016, "Steffen Gaber: An excellent point of contact in the automotive sector. He offers proactive, sound, fast and precise advice and is very well attuned to the requirements of legal departments"), recommendations in the categories "Transport - Advice to the transport sector" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2021) and "Dispute Resolution - Product Liability" and mention in "City Focus Stuttgart" (first mention in 2023, "Steffen Gaber is a convincing lead partner for successful control and management. Steffen Gaber is our first point of contact and he delegates some individual cases to colleagues who specialise in the respective subject matter. He is in charge of monitoring the delegated areas and is absolutely on top of the subject in all cases in the event of queries.")
- Thomson Reuters 2024: Award as Stand-out Lawyer
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommendation in "Litigation"
- Best Lawyers 2021: Recommendation in "Corporate Law"
Clients
- Multiple judicial representation of globally active tier 1 suppliers to defend against warranty and product liability claims arising from automotive supply contracts, as well as judicial enforcement of resulting recourse claims against the other tier suppliers.
- Representing a wholesaler at court against a worldwide operating manufacturer of TV sets due to unjustified termination of the distribution contract as well as claims for compensation and damages associated therewith.
- Alpiq AG - advising in connection with an e-car sharing product and market launch of JUICAR in Germany regarding all the relevant B2C agreements and B2B cooperation agreements with the relevant partners.
- Tier 1 supplier - advising on the distribution of a new e-trike in Germany and abroad through resellers and authorised dealers, development and legal implementation of a concept for the after-sales market and preparation of the relevant B2C contracts.
- Globally active company - advising and drafting all the relevant contractual documents in connection with the digitalisation of a plant through autonomously moving loading systems.
- Globally active company - advising and drafting all the purchase and sales agreements in connection with the supply of infrastructure components abroad.
Publications
Lectures
- 01.01.2024: "Commercial-Bites – Die Roadshow Commercial reloaded"
- 04.07.2023: Euroforum Jahrestagung I Recht in der Automobilzulieferindustrie
- 18.07.2018: Rechtssicher großhandeln, grosshandel-bw
- 11.10.2017: Erfolgreiche Vertriebsstrategien – das „richtige“ Modell aus unternehmerischer und rechtlicher Sicht, Südwesttextil Service GmbH
- 29.09.2016: Nationales und internationales Vertrags- und Produkthaftungsmanagement, Südwesttextil - Nationales und internationales Vertrags- und Produkthaftungsmanagement
- 14.10.2014: AGB und Verträge erfolgreich gestalten, Forum Seminar: Crashkurs AGB-Gestaltung
![[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers](/fileadmin/user_upload/reciprocal_tariffs.jpeg "[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers")
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