06. October 2025

Federal CDU wins with OPPENLÄNDER Rechtsanwälte: No sanctions for large donations – Administrative Court confirms legality

The Berlin Administrative Court has dismissed a lawsuit brought by another party against the Bundestag administration: The federal CDU, represented by Prof. Dr. Christofer Lenz, Dr. Henrike Schulte, and Dr. Maximilian Stützel, does not have to pay a penalty of €2.4 million for large donations from a real estate entrepreneur. The court confirmed that there was no violation of the Political Parties Act.

The decision: Neither could any inadmissible expectations or quid pro quo be established as a result of the donation, nor was there any connection with specific demands made on the CDU prior to the 2021 Berlin House of Representatives election. The court concurred with the Bundestag administration’s assessment that the donations were lawful and their use permissible.

This outcome also highlights the importance of precise and independent scrutiny in party financing law. Our team’s extensive experience in proceedings relating to party donations was once again a decisive factor in this case.

Press release of the Administrative Court of Berlin (in German only)

Report by Tagesschau (in German only)

Prof. Dr. Christofer Lenz

+49 (0)711 60187-270
lenz@oppenlaender.de

Dr. Henrike Schulte

+49 (0)711 60187-242
henrike.schulte@oppenlaender.de

Dr. Maximilian Stützel

+49 (0)711 60187-178
maximilian.stuetzel@oppenlaender.de

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31. October 2025

OPPENLÄNDER again receives JUVE TOP 50 Commercial Law Firm (Wirtschaftskanzlei) Award

"To the point: The strengths of this Stuttgart-based firm are not only in competition law and litigation – Oppenländer also enjoys an excellent reputation for advising in regulated industries." (JUVE quote)

13. October 2025

No compensation for isolation without possible vaccination – OPPENLÄNDER Rechtsanwälte wins for the state of Baden-Württemberg

On October 9, 2025, the Federal Administrative Court ruled that an employed person who was in quarantine in October 2021 due to infection with the coronavirus and thus suffered a loss of earnings cannot claim compensation from the state under the Infection Protection Act if they did not take advantage of the vaccination publicly recommended at the time despite having sufficient opportunity to do so. Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

09. October 2025

OPPENLÄNDER Rechtsanwälte advises the shareholder of GDT Gründach Technik GmbH on the sale of his shares to the GarLa Group and on the re-investment

OPPENLÄNDER Rechtsanwälte provided comprehensive legal advice to the shareholder of GDT Gründach Technik GmbH and other affiliated companies on the sale of his shares to the GarLa Group. As part of the transaction, the seller also acquired a re-investment in the GarLa Group, which OPPENLÄNDER Rechtsanwälte also supported.

02. September 2025

OPPENLÄNDER successfully advises the Hermann Hesse Railway Association in the planning approval process for the reactivation of the railway line from Weil der Stadt to Calw

On behalf of the special-purpose association, Prof. Dr Christofer Lenz, Dr Thorsten Gerhard, Dr Maximilian Stützel, Dr Vera Dörrfuß and Dr Maximilian Gerhold have been providing support over the past few months with environmental and construction law issues relating to the reactivation of the remaining tunnel facilities in Forst and Hirsau.