Lars Harzmeier | Lawyers

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Germany

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Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations

Overview

Lars represents businesses, investors, and financial institutions in complex arbitrations, commercial litigation, and negotiations across multiple jurisdictions. His work centres on contentious issues arising from commercial contracts, M&A, shareholder conflicts, and insurance coverage.

He has acted in multibillion‑euro matters, spanning international arbitrations under major institutional rules and high-stakes litigation before German courts, including appellate and set-aside proceedings. He routinely directs parallel proceedings, jurisdictional challenges, and enforcement strategies.

Lars brings deep transactional experience to his contentious practice. Having advised on more than 100 live M&A deals, he understands the underlying mechanics of a transaction. With this dual perspective, he is able to identify pressure points early and present issues in commercial terms.

Private capital is a significant part of his practice. Lars advises sponsors and portfolio companies across the hold period on matters including W&I insurance claims, investment and shareholder agreement disputes, and D&O liability.

Experience

His recent experience includes:

Advising financial sponsors and strategic investors on negotiating and enforcing W&I and contingent risk insurance policies; including representing LIXIL in arbitration and litigation against 20 W&I insurers in connection with the Grohe acquisition.
Acting for Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (EAA) in billion-euro litigation concerning tax liabilities from WestLB cum-ex transactions; securing a successful defence before the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court, confirmed by denial of appeal.
Representing a global financial institution in a post M&A dispute brought by the acquirer of a business unit, involving a contested data migration, complex reconciliation evidence, and quantum issues; coordinating forensic workstreams and experts, with related arbitration and set-aside proceedings running in parallel.
Advising corporates and private equity firms on numerous complex post-M&A disputes, including litigation and arbitration over purchase price adjustments, warranty and indemnity claims, disclosure obligations, and expert determinations.
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, including the exclusion of adverse shareholders and safeguarding client control.
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; achieving settlements across multiple high-value claims.

Recognition

Legal 500 recognises Lars Harzmeier as one of the leading younger lawyers for corporate, M&A and commercial disputes. JUVE has also recognised him in its renowned “40 under 40”, highlighting him as one of the leading German litigation and arbitration lawyers under 40.

Education, Qualifications and Languages

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).

Thought Leadership

Lars Harzmeier regularly publishes articles in German- and English-language journals and handbooks. His most recent publications include, among others:

Bellinghausen / Harzmeier, „Transaction Insurance in (Arbitration) Proceedings” in Lüttringhaus / Korch (Hrsg.), Transaction Insurance. W&I and Contingent Specific Risk Insurance in M&A practice, C.H. Beck, 2022 (in German)
Ratz / Harzmeier / Klamar / Mösinger / Wegener, „Insurance cover for balance sheet warranties“ in W&I policies in Betriebs-Berater, 2024, p. 1027 (in German)
United Kingdom, chapter, in Fleischer (ed.), Personengesellschaften im Rechtsvergleich, 2021 (in German)

Overview

Experience

His recent experience includes:

Advising financial sponsors and strategic investors on negotiating and enforcing W&I and contingent risk insurance policies; including representing LIXIL in arbitration and litigation against 20 W&I insurers in connection with the Grohe acquisition.

Acting for Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (EAA) in billion-euro litigation concerning tax liabilities from WestLB cum-ex transactions; securing a successful defence before the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court, confirmed by denial of appeal.

Representing a global financial institution in a post M&A dispute brought by the acquirer of a business unit, involving a contested data migration, complex reconciliation evidence, and quantum issues; coordinating forensic workstreams and experts, with related arbitration and set-aside proceedings running in parallel.

Advising corporates and private equity firms on numerous complex post-M&A disputes, including litigation and arbitration over purchase price adjustments, warranty and indemnity claims, disclosure obligations, and expert determinations.

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, including the exclusion of adverse shareholders and safeguarding client control.

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; achieving settlements across multiple high-value claims.

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Education, Qualifications and Languages

Thought Leadership

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Overview

Experience

Recognition

Thought Leadership