Defense & Security
Triggered by ongoing geopolitical tensions, the Defense & Security industry and its public perception is experiencing fundamental change.
Gleiss Lutz has been firmly established in the Defense & Security space for decades. From its very beginning, the firm has advised national and international companies in this sector and is involved in high-profile cases on a regular basis. This means that we not only offer expert know-how on the relevant legal areas, but also have deep industry experience and expertise.
Our clients include major Defense & Security contractors – from Germany, Europe and beyond
“Building on the previous year, the practice again impressed … the defence sector, particularly on the bidding side.”
Corporate/M&A
The past years have seen a significant increase in military spending globally – up by 6.8% in 2023 from 2022 – and a shift in focus on national defense capabilities. This will diversify what has largely been a US-oriented market and lead to corresponding M&A opportunities, incl. interest from financial investors and private equity sponsors.
As a market leader in Germany, we have advised major defense players on their critical M&A transactions and are their trusted board room advisers for corporate reorganizations and transformation for decades.
The lawyers in our Defense & Security practice group therefore combine knowledge of their trade with a deep understanding of the special environment in which defense companies operate, often triggering the need to form joint ventures or consortia.
Compliance & Investigations
We have one of the largest and most experienced teams in the German market, enabling us to offer unparalleled, comprehensive assistance with internal investigations, remediation and compliance programmes as well as targeted preventive advice.
Clients benefit from our extensive experience as well as our tailored and tried-and-tested approach, our skill in dealing with authorities and our achievements in the courtroom.
Our focus is on complex, international cases. We have acted as Lead Counsel for many major, high-profile compliance cases in recent years, drawing on our firm’s full service approach and well-established international network.
Export control, Sanctions/Embargoes
As a full service firm, Gleiss Lutz advises on a wide range of foreign trade, export control and sanctions issues, drawing on its multidisciplinary team to provide seamless, integrated service across various industry sectors. The practice comprises experts who specialize in regulatory work, commercial, antitrust and corporate/tax. Our foreign trade practice not only counsels and represents clients in foreign trade matters before the competent authorities and vis-à-vis their business partners, but also advises in the implementation of export control and sanctions related internal compliance systems. Further, we offer transaction-related assistance on M&A deals on matters of export and foreign investment controls. As a result, our team makes use of its experience and excellent contacts with the competent authorities for the benefit of clients.
Export control
We successfully assist our clients in handling transnational, cross-border and cross-EU export trade transactions, in accordance with the legal framework which is applicable in each case. Additionally, we advise our clients on export projects with regard to the necessary permits and applicable restrictions to ensure that the goods will arrive successfully at their destination.
Sanctions/Embargoes
In markets which are restricted by legal regulations, we provide our clients with practical and legally sound solutions in order to recognize and develop potential business opportunities and assist them in the drafting of contracts.
Foreign Investment Controls
As a full service firm, Gleiss Lutz advises on a wide range of issues relating to foreign trade and foreign investments. In close cooperation with M&A experts and merger control specialists, we counsel clients on all aspects of foreign investment controls, including minimising the risks involved in foreign investments in Germany and coordinating national security assessments and review proceedings worldwide. Furthermore, we negotiate foreign investment control aspects of M&A deals and represent clients before the competent authorities. In this context, our team makes use of its extensive experience and excellent contacts with the competent authorities for the benefit of foreign and domestic clients.
Our foreign investment control expertise is called upon on a regular basis for large volume and highly complex transactions across a variety of industry sectors, including defense and security. Gleiss Lutz has a leading practice and proven track record in advising clients in relation to foreign investment and national security controls including the coordination of governmental review proceedings worldwide.
Global reach
As one of Germany’s largest independent full-service law firms active on the international stage, we have been building a flexible and proven international network for decades, maintaining close personal contacts with law firms and lawyers occupying a dominant position in their respective countries and areas of expertise. Our network delivers the flexibility to work with the best and most suitable partners for each client and mandate. This is particularly important for the field of foreign investment control where national regimes differ considerably and complex transactions require the best available expertise and experience of local experts.
Public Procurement and Public Law
In the area of public procurement and public law, Gleiss Lutz offers innovative solutions tailored to clients’ goals and needs. These solutions are based not solely on legal excellence but also on a solid understanding of the political and economic environment. Our public procurement lawyers combine specialist knowledge with extensive experience in public law and different economic sectors and industries (defense & security, aerospace, maritime, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, etc.).
Our global network of premier law firms enables us to cover all major jurisdictions around the world. Through our office in Brussels, we are in close contact with European public bodies such as the European Commission.
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