Volker Steimle
Areas of practice
Volker Steimle specialises in all matters concerning national and international distribution and sourcing of goods, product liability and product safety. He has special focus on all matters concerning supply or distribution contracts, including all sorts of purchasing contracts and ancillary agreements, such as quality assurance agreements, logistics contracts etc. His clients range from medium-sized to large companies from different industries, including automotive products, industrial or consumer products. A large part of his work is cross-border transactions or disputes. Together with his team his work comprises both contract drafting and negotiation as well as dispute resolution in state courts as well as national or international arbitration proceedings. Volker Steimle is a member of the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS).
Vita
Volker Steimle studied law at the University of Tübingen (Germany). After completing his traineeship in Ulm, Speyer and Hamburg, he was admitted to the Bar at the District Court of Cologne in 1995 and was later admitted to the Court of Appeals of Cologne in 2002. Volker Steimle was seconded to Arthur Andersen & Assoc., Johannesburg, RSA, in 1998. He joined Luther (or its respective predecessor) in 1995.
Honors and distinctions
- JUVE Guide 2024/2025: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Trade, Distribution and Logistics" (first listed in 2018/2019, "Pleasant on the opposite side, I would also mandate", client)
- The Legal 500 Germany 2023: Recommended in "Dispute Resolution - Product Liability" (first recommendation in 2016, "coordinates the coordination processes with the other Luther teams very quickly due to his detailed expertise. Possible risks in the course of the proceedings are identified in good time and counter-positions are built up for the defence.") and "Commercial and Distribution Law - Distribution/Trading/Logistics" (first listed in 2017, "Volker Steimle's team is extremely competent and distinguishes itself through advice that is always extremely well-founded, practice-oriented and effective."; "Volker Steimle is extremely competent and very reliable. This leads to an extremely pleasant cooperation.")
- The Legal 500 Germany 2018: Listed in "Dispute Resolution - Arbitration (incl. International Arbitration)"
- Best Lawyers 2026: Recommended in "Litigation" (first recommended in 2021) and "Product Liability Litigation" (first recommended in 2025)
Clients
- Worldwide manufacturer of tractors and agricultural machinery: legal advice in all legal issues in (cross-border) supply and distribution relations, product liability and product safety
- Major German supplier (Tier 1) of vehicle electronics: assistance in establishing a worldwide contract system for the purchasing of parts in over 40 countries
- Internationally active supplier (Tier 1) of freight vehicle brake systems: handling of cross-border product recall and damage proceedings
- Conglomerate, active worldwide in metal processing: advice on major event of damage in the utility industry, product recalls, defence against damages, insurance claims and damage proceedings.
- Market leader in electronics/electricity transfer: conduct of successful international arbitration proceedings simultaneously in Germany and China against an Asian distribution partner.
- Internationally active manufacturer of synthetic products for the construction industry: establishment of a worldwide distribution and licensing system
Publications
- Bearbeitung des Kommentar §§ 343 – 382 HGB, in: Handelsgesetzbuch: HGB, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Ulrich Haas, Verlag Dr. Otto Schmidt, 6. Auflage 2023
- Coronavirus in Deutschland
- Bearbeitung des Kommentar §§ 343 – 381 HGB, in: HGB-Kommentar, herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Ulrich Haas, Verlag Dr. Otto Schmidt, 5. Auflage 2019
- "Höchste Zeit" - Brexit-Studie zeigt, dass viele Untenehmen bislang eher wenig über den Brexit nachgedacht haben
- Brexit Survey
- Autonomes Fahren: Autohersteller forcieren Diskussion um neues Haftungsrecht
- Garantiebedingungen im Pkw-Vertrieb
- Bearbeitung des Kapitels Praxistipps Produkthaftung, in: Compliance in der Unternehmerpraxis, herausgegeben von Gregor Wecker & Bastian Ohl, Springer Gabler Verlag, 3. Auflage 2013
- Wenn Porsche nicht produzieren kann
- Business Law in Germany, Chapter 24, Product Liability
- Business Law in Germany, Chapter 16, Distribution Law
- Abhängigkeit der Garantiezusage von Wartungsobliegenheiten
- Biosprit – Viel Lärm um nichts?
- Schadensersatzansprüche in Dioxinskandal schwer durchsetzbar
- Der KFZ-Hersteller als privilegierter Garantiegeber?
- Compliance in der Unternehmerpraxis – Grundlagen, Organisation und Umsetzung
- Verbrauchsgüterkauf in Europa - ein Recht für alle?
- Die Rechte der Kunden
- Mitautor desWerkes Frankfurter Handbuch zum neuen Schuldrecht, herausgegeben von Roland Schimmel & Dirk Buhlmann, Hermann Luchterhand Verlag, 2002
Blog posts
Lectures
- 17.11.2022: unyer Commercial I Price Adjustments along the Supply Chain – Seller’s and Buyer’s Perspective
- 21.05.2019: Produkthaftung beim autonomen Fahren, it-symposium.ruhr
- 09.04.2019: BREXIT - Auswirkungen auf Unternehmenskäufe und gesellschaftsrechtliche Beziehungen, Netzwerke Familienunternehmen & Mittelstand und Internationaler Kreis
- 12.03.2019: Autonomes Fahren - ein neues Kapitel der Produkthaftung?, Qualität 2019 - Management Circle Konferenz
- 15.09.2014: Erzwungene Treue durch Fahrzeuggarantien?, ZDK Bundestagung
- 10.07.2014: Handelsvertreterrecht, Industrie- und Handelskammer Trier
- 18.03.2014: Customer satisfaction – chances and obstacles under law, Société Générale de Surveillance (SGS) Warranty Managers Symposium
- 20.06.2012: Vertragsrecht für Nicht-Juristen, F.A.Z.-Institut Seminar
- 26.04.2012: Vertragsrecht für Nicht-Juristen, F.A.Z.-Institut Seminar
- 06.03.2012: Produkthaftung Aktuelle Rechtsgrundlage - Regress - Rückruf - Produktsicherheitsrecht, Creditreform Veranstaltung
- 22.09.2011: Vertragsrecht für Nicht-Juristen – Verträge sicher gestalten – Risiken vermeiden, F.A.Z.-Institut Seminare
- 29.03.2011: Vertragsrecht für Nicht-Juristen – Verträge sicher gestalten – Risiken vermeiden, F.A.Z.-Institut Seminare
- 17.11.2009: Vertragsrecht für Nicht-Juristen, Convent Seminare
Memberships
- Member of the Deutsche Institution für Schiedsgerichtbarkeit (DIS) e.V.
![[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers](/fileadmin/user_upload/reciprocal_tariffs.jpeg "[Translate to English:] Managing trade barriers")
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Counsel
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Of Counsel
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Hamburg
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Cologne
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Cologne
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Hamburg
Ingo Erberich
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Volker Steimle
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Cologne
Nicole Fröhlich
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Frankfurt a.M.
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Stuttgart
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Hamburg
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Cologne, Essen
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Frankfurt a.M.
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Hamburg
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Frankfurt a.M.
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Leipzig
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Munich
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Stuttgart, London
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Stuttgart
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Hamburg
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