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Your lawyer

Dr. Rolf Leinekugel

+49 (711) 60187-280
leinekugel@oppenlaender.de

„You prefer to have this brilliant mind on your own side rather than on the other, at that experienced, very committed and assertive”

Legal 500 Germany 2021

Rolf Leinekugel comes from the Rhineland and was born 1972 in Bergisch Gladbach. Some of his school years were spent in the USA. He studied in Bonn. He worked there at the Institute for Trade and Commercial Law (with Prof. Dr. Dr. hc. mult. Karsten Schmidt) and above all at the Center for European Commercial Law (with Prof. Dr. Dr. hc. mult. Marcus Lutter). Together with Prof. Lutter, Rolf Leinekugel already in 1998 wrote his first articles in the periodical Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht (ZIP). He received his doctorate shortly thereafter with a corporate law thesis.

Rolf Leinekugel is among the leading German corporate lawyers and is an experienced M&A lawyer who also acts as arbitrator. The Juve Handbook Commercial Law Firms, Legal 500 and the newspaper Handelsblatt recommend him in each case for many years. The specialist lawyer for trade and commercial law advises for finding the optimal solutions. His clients value his great professional expertise combined with clear recommendations and outstanding commitment. His negotiating skill and determination are also repeatedly emphasised. He is known for both a strategic and pragmatic approach.

Rolf Leinekugel is inter alia a member of the Corporate Law Association (VGR) and the German Institution for Arbitration e.V. (DIS). He comments on the law on defective resolution in the Beck’schen Online Commentary on GmbHG (Limited Liability Company Act) and is author of many corporate law articles in periodicals and books.

Languages: English

Expertise

Rolf Leinekugel works in all areas of corporate law, including the nexus to transaction law, insolvency law and litigation/arbitration. He enjoys an excellent nationwide reputation for shareholder disputes (in particular in GmbHs and GmbH / Co. KGs) which have formed an important part of his work for over 20 years. He also has special expertise in company acquisitions and sales, including post-M&A disputes.

Rolf Leinekugel is an arbitrator in corporate law and M&A, nominated both by parties and also as chairman and even individual arbitrator. He has comprehensive experience in representing creditors’ committees.

In the areas of media, engineering and services, Rolf Leinekugel has special industry knowledge. He has in particular advised the 10 largest German regional daily newspaper publishers on the foundation of the common marketing company Score Media Group (JUVE Deal of the Month).

Expertise areas

Others about Dr. Rolf Leinekugel

Client about Dr Rolf Leinekugel in corporate law: “Rolf Leinekugel has been advising our company on all corporate law matters for many years. He is characterised by his high availability and quick response.”

Legal 500 Germany 2024

Client about Dr Rolf Leinekugel: “Very prudent and goal-orientated.”

Legal 500 Germany 2024

Competitors on Dr Rolf Leinekugel in M&A: “Consistent in asserting the client’s interests, very pleasant to work with”

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

Competitors on Dr Rolf Leinekugel in corporate law: “very experienced and assertive”

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

Client about Dr Rolf Leinekugel in corporate law: “professionally excellent, solution-oriented and always well prepared”

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

“Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: Legally absolutely sure-footed and with a very fine sense for situations”.

legal 500 Deutschland 2023

“Dr. Leinekugel is not one for sensationalism and flash in the pan. Focused on long-term success, gets to the heart of the problem very convincingly and quickly and convinces with very good solutions”.

Legal 500 Deutschland 2023

JUVE Handbook 2022/2023 ranks Dr. Rolf Leinekugel among the frequently recommended lawyers in corporate law and M&A and quotes clients: “incredibly fast response time,” “very efficient and highly competent lawyer,” “professional and foresighted advice on start-up formation”, “super”.

JUVE Handbook 2022/2023

Dr. Rolf Leinekugel was named one of “Germany’s Best Lawyers 2022” by Handelsblatt for his work in M&A.

Handelsblatt

“Dr. Rolf Leinekugel convinces with legal expertise, reliability and determination. He has excellent skills in the moderation role, high resilience, conscientiousness and integrity. Takes active responsibility and works in a solution-oriented manner.”

Legal 500 Germany 2021

“I have dealt with Messrs. Leinekugel and Baumann. Both are absolutely outstanding professionals in your field. I felt very well advised.”

Legal 500 Germany 2021

Dr. Rolf Leinekugel has an eye for the big picture and all the important details in all mandates, corporate law and M&A. He has the gift of ‘thinking his way into’ the structures and processes of his clients. In negotiations, he shines by anticipating his clients’ problems even before the clients do.”

Legal 500 Germany 2021

Legal 500 Germany recommends Dr. Rolf Leinekugel as a core lawyer in transactional and corporate law and quotes clients: “Dr. Rolf Leinekugel has the big picture view and all the important details in all mandates, corporate law and M&A. He has a gift for ‘thinking his way into’ his clients’ structures and processes. In negotiations, he shines by anticipating his clients’ problems even before the clients do.” And “I have dealt with Messrs. Leinekugel and Baumann. Both are absolutely outstanding professionals in your field. I felt very well advised.” And “Rolf Leinekugel: a brilliant mind that you would rather have on your own side than on the other side, experienced at that, very committed and assertive. He also always has the economic component of the mandate in mind.” And “Dr. Rolf Leinekugel convinces with legal expertise, reliability and determination. He has excellent skills in the moderation role, high resilience, conscientiousness and integrity. Takes active responsibility and works in a solution-oriented manner.”

Handelsblatt 2021

JUVE Handbook 2020/2021 lists Dr. Rolf Leinekugel among the frequently recommended lawyers in corporate law and M&A and quotes competitors: “competent and level-headed”, “provides far-reaching and effective strategic advice” and “tough but fair”.

JUVE-Handbook 2020/2021

Legal 500 says: “The client base likes the fact that the teams are rather small so as not to let costs get out of hand, but can be increased if actually needed. Experienced, dedicated and assertive, Rolf Leinekugel is a brilliant mind you’d rather have on your side than the other side. He is recommended for shareholder disputes.”

Legal 500 2019

JUVE Handbook 2019/2020 on Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: “excellent and thoughtful negotiator and designer” (client).

JUVE-Handbook 2019/2020

JUVE Handbook 2018/2019 on Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: “goal-oriented, very pleasant to work with” and “ideal for shareholder disputes” (competitor).

JUVE-Handbook 2018/2019

Legal 500 Germany about Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: “experienced consultant with a strong entrepreneurial mindset”, “extremely efficient, strategic and solution-oriented”.

Legal 500 Germany 2018

Legal 500 about Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: “extremely fast and efficient”.

Legal 500 2017

JUVE-Handbook 2017/2018 again ranks Dr. Rolf Leinekugel among the frequently recommended lawyers in corporate law and M&A. Regarding the evaluation of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel by competitors, it writes: “consistent in asserting the interests of the clients; at the same time very pleasant in the cooperation”.

JUVE-Handbook 2017/2018

JUVE Handbook 2016/2017 on the assessment of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel by clients: “fast, solution-oriented, competent”, “can convincingly solve complex corporate law problems and moderate the process in such a way that everyone always feels involved”.

JUVE-Handbook 2016/2017

JUVE Handbook 2015/2016 on the evaluation of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel by competitors: “biting negotiator”.

JUVE-Handook 2015/2016

JUVE Handbook 2014/2015 on competitors’ assessment of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: “fast, tough and uncompromising – ideal lawyer for shareholder disputes”.

JUVE-Handbook 2014/2015

JUVE Handbook 2013/2014 on the assessment of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel by clients: “excellent, solution-oriented, fast, outstanding industry knowledge”.

JUVE-Handbook 2013/2014

JUVE Handbook 2012/2013 on the assessment of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel by clients: “professionally excellent, swift working method”.

JUVE-Handbook 2012/2013

JUVE Handbook 2011/2012 on the assessment of Dr. Rolf Leinekugel by clients: “very competent, thinks with vision, good negotiating skills”.

JUVE-Handbook 2011/2012

JUVE Handbook 2010/2011 on Dr. Rolf Leinekugel: “frequently recommended, combative”.

JUVE-Handook 2010/2011

Vita

Specialist lawyer since

2009
Admitted as lawyer since

2001
Legal traineeship at the Higher Regional Court Koblenz

1999-2001
Doctorate

1999
Research assistant at the Center for European Commercial Law (Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Marcus Lutter)

1997-2000
Studies in Bonn