Lars Harzmeier

Lars specialises in complex commercial disputes, international arbitration, and high-stakes negotiations involving multiple jurisdictions. His practice spans domestic and cross-border litigation, advising on commercial contract disputes, all stages of M&A, shareholder and other corporate disputes, and high-value insurance claims. He is trusted by corporates, investors, and financial sponsors to navigate complex, business-critical disputes with clarity and commercial focus.

He has represented clients in numerous international arbitrations under leading institutional rules and regularly appears before German courts, including at the appellate level. With experience managing matters across Europe, Asia, and the US, Lars is recognised for designing effective procedural strategies in multi-jurisdictional conflicts.

Lars frequently acts for private equity firms and their portfolio companies, advising on contentious transactions including W&I insurance claims, investment agreement disputes, and management liability matters.

Work highlights

His recent experience includes:

• Acting for Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (EAA) in billion-euro litigation concerning tax liabilities from WestLB cum-ex transactions; achieved a successful defence before the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court, confirmed by denial of appeal.
• Representing the insolvency administrator of a German bank in complex litigation, covering D&O liability claims against former management and professional liability actions against advisers. Achieved highly favourable settlements across multiple high-value claims.
• Representing a leading Asian investment fund in complex shareholder disputes following its acquisition of a German technology company, including litigation up to the German Federal Court of Justice.
• Advising key shareholders in a complex governance dispute over an attempted external investor entry, securing binding court rulings and interim relief resulting in the exclusion of adverse shareholders and safeguarding client control.
• Advising and representing board members and companies in D&O liability matters, including the enforcement of insurance claims; with recent work acting for Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG (formerly Sal. Oppenheim) in D&O litigation and out-of-court settlements against former board members.
• Advising corporates and private equity firms in numerous complex post-M&A disputes, including litigation and arbitration over purchase price adjustments, warranty and indemnity claims, disclosure obligations, and expert determinations.
• Advising financial sponsors and strategic investors on W&I and contingent risk insurance policy negotiations and enforcement; including representing LIXIL in arbitration and litigation against 20 W&I insurers in connection with the Grohe acquisition.

Lars has been an Associate at Linklaters since 2018. He previously trained in the firm’s Frankfurt and Beijing offices.

He regularly contributes to legal journals and collective works, including recent publications on liability for and insurability of accounts warranties (Betriebs-Berater 2024, 1027), dispute resolution in the context of W&I insurance (together with Rupert Bellinghausen, in Lüttringhaus / Korch (eds.), Transaktionsversicherungen. W&I and Contingent Specific Risk Insurance in der M&A-Praxis, 2022) and on UK partnerships in a compendium on comparative partnership law (Fleischer (ed), Personengesellschaften im Rechtsvergleich, 2021).

Lars studied law at Bucerius Law School in Hamburg with a semester abroad at Fudan University in Shanghai.

He speaks German, English and Chinese (Mandarin).