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 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.

He is trusted by corporates, investors, and financial sponsors to navigate complex, business-critical disputes with clarity and commercial focus.

Work highlights

His recent experience includes:

• a Chinese investment fund: advising and representing in shareholder disputes after the acquisition of a leading German technology company, including litigation up to the German Federal Court of Justice.
• a world-leading chemical company: advising in disputes regarding Closing Accounts, warranties, and indemnification claims after the sale of one of its business units, including complex procedural advice with respect to expert determination and arbitration proceedings.
• an insolvency administrator: representing in complex D&O liability disputes against former board members and advisors
• an international investment fund: advising after the acquisition of a leading gas and oil producer in negotiations with the seller regarding purchase price adjustments and indemnities.
• numerous financial sponsors: negotiating W&I and contingent risk insurance policies as well as notifying and enforcing claims thereunder.
• an Asian industrial group: enforcing claims arising from warranty & indemnity insurance against ca. 20 insurers after the discovery of large-scale accounting fraud in China. 
• numerous Asian companies: advising on contentious matters regarding their investments in Germany and Europe.

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).