Public planning and construction law for real estate and urban development projects, sectoral planning law for infrastructure — from project idea to completion. I handle site securing, land-use planning, building permits and plan approval (Planfeststellung), selectively or end-to-end, and defend projects against third-party challenges. Behind this stand twenty years of legal specialization and ten years as a managing director in the real estate industry: legal precision that knows what makes a project work commercially. Distressed projects and portfolios (stranded assets) I put back on a sound legal footing. For developers, portfolio holders, family offices and private owners, for their financing partners — and for municipalities.
FOCUS AREAS
— Steering the project through urban planning law: I align the land-use planning with the city or municipality, review graphic and textual stipulations, draft and negotiate urban development agreements and infrastructure agreements, and advise on redevelopment and development measures, preservation statutes and neighbourhood protection
— Obtaining the building permit: Working with the design consultants, I review the preliminary design and design development before costly redesign becomes necessary in the approval planning stage (Leistungsphase 4); I use the preliminary decision (Vorbescheid) as a value lever or as the basis for the subsequent building permit
— Integration of the fields of law that decide the project outcome: subsidized housing, heritage protection, immission control, water, soil and nature conservation law, energy and climate protection law, accessibility
— Sectoral planning and infrastructure law for project sponsors: I take transport and network infrastructure projects through plan approval (Planfeststellung), including the accompanying environmental and nature conservation law
— Securing the site for all project types: land purchase agreement, agreement granting a heritable building right (Erbbaurecht), security by rights in rem registered in Section II of the land register, or contractual arrangements
— Conflict and dispute management: I negotiate with neighbours, public agencies, landowners and citizens' initiatives, including neighbour agreements — so that disputes end out of court and the project stays on schedule
— ESG and the EU taxonomy: I integrate sustainability requirements into land-use planning, permits and contracts — energy standards, climate adaptation, land and soil protection — and create the planning and building law basis for taxonomy-eligible projects
— Repositioning distressed projects and portfolios: I take stock of the legal situation (planning law, contracts, permits), secure and adapt the permit position, restart proceedings and redraft joint venture agreements and shareholder agreements — for owners, acquirers and financing partners
— Representation at all levels of the administrative judiciary: in interim relief proceedings, main proceedings and judicial review proceedings (Normenkontrolle) — before the Administrative Court, the Higher Administrative Court (Oberverwaltungsgericht/Verwaltungsgerichtshof) and the Federal Administrative Court
SELECTED MANDATES
— Urban quarter development in Munich comprising around 1,100 flats, a hotel, retail, food and beverage and offices with around 200,000 m² of gross floor area; urban design competition, binding land-use plan (Bebauungsplan), urban development agreement, building permitsOn this subjectRevitalisierung von Militärbrachen: „Auch Juristen müssen hier auf Zack sein“ (in German)
— Stachus-Passagen, Munich: conversion and redesign of the shopping centre with around 10,000 m² of retail space; procurement procedure, design competition, building permit and implementationOn this subjectRichter gehen shoppen (in German)
— Large-scale retail projects across Germany: establishment of furniture stores for an international chain, refurbishment and redevelopment of shopping centres and retail parks (including Munich, Dresden, Erfurt, Augsburg, Chemnitz, Nördlingen)On this subjectWeiter Ermessensspielraum gegenüber IKEA & Co. · Klagen der Supermärkte werden erhört (in German)
— Establishment of a major brewery on around 15 ha of previously agricultural land: support and legal management of the procedure for a Vorhaben- und Erschließungsplan (project and infrastructure plan under German planning law); planning rights obtained within two yearsOn this subjectDie Novellierung des Baugesetzbuches 2006 (in German)
— Representation of a real estate company affected by expropriation in the plan approval procedure (Planfeststellung) for Deutsche Bahn's relocation of long-distance and mainline rail services from Lindau island station to the new long-distance station at Lindau-ReutinOn this subjectEntschädigung für Folgewirkungen bei Grundstücksentzug erst im Enteignungsverfahren (in German)
— Legal support for the acquisition of several wind farm projects; due diligence on the public-law framework for the acquirer
— Advising a Landesbank on the financing of several geothermal projects; comprehensive legal project review
— Successful representation of the City of Munich in proceedings on an appeal on points of law (Revision) before the Federal Administrative Court concerning Section 34(3) BauGB (Federal Building Code)From this mandate„Die städtebauliche Struktur wird zerstört“ (Interview) (in German)On this subjectEinzelhandel im Innenbereich — Neues zum § 34 Abs. 3 BauGB · Schädliche Auswirkungen von Bauvorhaben i.S. des § 34 Abs. 3 BauGB · Richter setzen Expansion von Discountern Grenzen · Wann sind Einzelhandelsvorhaben schädlich? (in German)
— Advising several cities and municipalities on binding land-use plans to steer inner-city retail and prevent the establishment of gambling hallsOn this subjectSpielhallen in der kommunalen Planungspraxis (Interview) · Ansiedlung von Spielhallen ist schwer zu steuern (in German)