Awards

The US publisher Best Lawyers has for the first time ranked Germany's best commercial law firms for Handelsblatt. ARQIS is one of the leading law firms in Germany in the following areas:

• Corporate Law
• Data Security and Privacy Law
• Labor and Employment Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law 
• and Litigation.

ARQIS received further top regional awards (Tier 1) for North Rhine-Westphalia in the following legal practices: 

• Capital Markets Law
• Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
• Corporate Law
• Data Security and Privacy Law
• Labor and Employment Law
• Litigation
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Regulatory Practice
• and for Bavaria in the practice of Mergers and Acquisitions Law.

ARQIS was also honored in further regional rankings in Tier 2 and Tier 3:

• Regional Tier 2
  North Rhine-Westphalia: Arbitration and Mediation, Employee Benefits Law, Private Equity Law
  Bavaria: Corporate Law
• Regional Tier 3
  North Rhine-Westphalia: Insurance Law
  Bavaria: Intellectual Property Law, Litigation

The Best Lawyers Special ranks law firms in 60 legal practice areas according to the number of recommendations, divided into a national and a regional ranking. In addition, the ‘Law Firm of the Year’ award is granted in 23 legal practice areas considered to be particularly important according to Best Lawyers. For the evaluation, Best Lawyers uses a peer review survey in which lawyers vote for those colleagues they consider especially recommendable.

The complete list and a detailed list of all award-winning law firms can be accessed in the Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Special.

The German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalisation (Deutsches Innovationsinstitut für Nachhaltigkeit und Digitalisierung, DIND) hat ARQIS wiederholt als “employer of the future” .

Im Herbst 2023 hat ARQIS erstmals erfolgreich den sogenannten Smart Company Check durchlaufen: Hierbei wurde der Status Quo der Kanzlei mit einem Fragebogen analysiert, von außen die digitalen Berührungspunkte sowie der Markenauftritt von ARQIS ausgewertet und ein umfassendes Social Listening durchgeführt. Mit dem Ergebnis: ARQIS ist ein „Arbeitgeber der Zukunft“.

Ein Jahr später zählt die Kanzlei weiterhin zu den Unternehmen, die das renommierte Siegel tragen. Vom Deutschen Innovationsinstitut heißt es dazu: „Arbeitgeber der Zukunft treten modern digital auf, sind innovativ und bieten zeitgemäße Arbeitsbedingungen.“ Das Arbeitgeber-Siegel unterstreicht dies und zeigt, wo es sich zu bewerben lohnt. Im Recruiting neuer Talente, aber auch zur Identifikation, Motivation und Bindung der Mitarbeitenden, hilft das Siegel, die Stärken von Unternehmen sichtbar zu machen.

In cooperation with the DUP magazine and DUB.de, DIND has launched the “employer of the future” initiative for German SMEs. The patron of the initiative is Brigitte Zypries, former Federal Minister of Economics. DIND supports companies to be fit for the future. To this end, DIND cooperates with experts from business, science and politics, conducts studies on behalf of partners and assesses companies with regard to their future viability.

ARQIS‘ lawyers are once again among the best in Germany this yar. The award „The Best Lawyers in Germany 2025“, which is presented by the US publisher Best Lawyers in cooperation with Handelsblatt, is given to the best lawyers and commercial law firms in Germany. This year, a total of 19 colleagues are among the best minds in the sector. They were determinded in a peer review survey. Many were recommended for their work in several specialist areas.

„The Best Lawyers in Germany 2025” include:

• Dr. Mirjam Boche, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Insurance Law, Litigation
• Dimitrios Christopoulos, Arbitration and Mediation, Litigation
• Andreas Dietl, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Dr. Friedrich Gebert, Regulatory
• Dr. Lars Laeger, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Dr. Philip Merten, Employment Law
• Tobias Neufeld, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Data Security and Privacy Law, Employee Benefits Law, Labor and Employment Law
• Thi Kieu Chin Nguyen, Labor and Employment Law
• Marcus Nothhelfer, Intellectual Property Law, Leisure and Licensing Law, Litigation
• Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Data Security and Privacy Law, Labor and Employment Law
• Carolin Schlütter-Lückel, Capital Markets Law
• Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider, Corporate Governance and Compliance, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, Corporate Law, Private Equity Law
• Martin Weingärtner, Labor and Employment Law
• Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Law

In cooperation with Best Lawyers, Handelsblatt is once again presenting the "Ones to Watch in Germany" category this year. This category recognizes young talents who have generally been in practice for three to eight years and have already earned an exceptional reputation among competitors and clients.

These include:

• Dr. Maximilian Backhaus, Corporate Law, Mergers & Acquisitions
• Hanna Caesar, Labor and Employment Law
• Anja Mehrtens, Employee Benefits Law, Labor and Employment Law
• Dennis Reisich, Tax Law

You can find the entire list of award-winning law firms and lawyers in the Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Special.

ARQIS wins the first The Legal 500 Germany Awards 2024 and is honoured as “ESG Firm of the Year.” ARQIS travelled to Frankfurt for the awards ceremony on 16 February 2024 with a total of three nominations: In addition to the “ESG Firm of the Year” category, the law firm was shortlisted in the “Labour & Employment Team of the Year” category. Counsel Anja Mehrtens was also nominated as “Labour & Employment Rising Star of the Year.”

The “ESG Firm of the Year” award was received on stage by the team led by Dr Friedrich Gebert, Head of the Regulatory focus group.

“This award is for the whole team and confirms our commitment and the direction we have taken in supporting our clients with the EU Green Deal and the resulting transformation in a forward-looking manner,” says Friedrich Gebert, overwhelmed by the award.

Dr Friedrich Gebert and his team have already been praised in the Legal 500 Germany Ranking 2024, which was published beforehand. It states: “The ARQIS team is a diverse and professional team that has understood how to centre its clients and put their needs at the focus. Their ability to quickly empathise with proceedings and ensure a sustainable flow of information within the process and team is outstanding.”

In addition to the two focus group leaders Dr. Friedrich Gebert (Regulatory) and Dr. Mirjam Boche (Risk), ARQIS was present with a total of eleven people: Hannah Düwel, Dr. Bernhard Gröhe, Clara Schmidt, Luise Schüling (all Regulatory), Donata Lasson, Anja Mehrtens, Martin Weingärtner (all HR.Law) and Daniel Schlemann celebrated their success until dawn. Dr. Andrea-Panzer Heemeier, Managing Partner at ARQIS, explains: “ARQIS has identified ESG as a cross-focus group consulting field and put together a great team. At the same time, we have initiated some important things internally, for example ARQIS is CO₂₂2-neutral and we have dedicated our Innovation Day to the topic of ESG. We are delighted that we have now been recognised as a law firm in this forward-looking field and this spurs us on further.”

ARQIS recognised early on that it is not enough to only think in one direction when it comes to ESG issues. For this reason, the law firm also works across focus groups and forms the necessary interfaces within relevant areas of law, particularly in the field of transactions. This resulted in the approach of ESG +.
Business as usual becomes a positive contribution - fair and sustainable action for people and the environment, for present and future generations: Simply, Make business positive.
In the area of Environmental, ARQIS focuses on the decarbonisation of the economy and the regulation resulting from the EU Green Deal. In the area of Social, ESG + focuses on the social aspects of the world of work, while the area of Governance is currently characterised by national and European supply chain legislation.

The Legal 500 Germany Awards are an annual competition that has been taking place since this year, focussing on the work of lawyers, law firms and in-house teams. The awards are presented in 70 different categories and recognise special team achievements as well as those of individuals.

ARQIS has once again been listed as a recommended law firm in the recently published guide by The Legal 500 Germany in the specialist areas of labour law, corporate law, M&A and private equity (transactions: medium-sized deals) as well as insurance law (dispute resolution). For the first time, the law firm was also included in the ranking for public law (environmental and planning law). ARQIS was listed as a "Firm to watch" in the area of insurance law (advice to insurance companies). ARQIS thus joins two other areas in the Legal 500 ranking of leading law firms in Germany.

HR.LAW

In the Legal 500 Germany rankings, ARQIS achieved Tier 4 out of 7 in the employment law category, highlighting its support for transformation and restructuring projects, including outsourcing and staff reduction measures, a key area of expertise that is covered by practice group head Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier among others, while she also focuses on works council remuneration. The client evaluation states: “This advisory focus is supplemented by expertise in employment law matters relating to IT, data protection and compliance; Lisa-Marie Niklas and Tobias Neufeld who is also experienced in company pension schemes, are among the key contacts in this area.”

The core team also includes counsel Anja Mehrtens, who often uses her expertise in company pension schemes and compliance with employment law regulations in the context of transactions. The team is said to provide “very competent and, above all, binding advice in all matters of employment law.” It continues: “This is paired with great personal commitment and a very good knowledge of the specific requirements of our industry”

TRANSACTIONS

In the area of corporate law, the law firm once again maintains tier 4 out of 5 and in M&A (medium-sized deals €100; - €500M) ARQIS is also once again listed in tier 5 out of 6. The team, consisting of Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, Dr. Shigeo Yamaguchi, Dr. Mirjam Boche, Dr. Mauritz von Einem and Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider, is said to work “always very solution-oriented and close to the client”. “Our special requirements and wishes are always taken into account. The implementation always takes the form of practicable ideas.”

Tier 5/5 was achieved in the area of private equity (transactions: medium-sized deals).

RISK

ARQIS is ranked in Tier 5 out of 5 in the area of insurance law (litigation). This area is led by Dr. Mirjam Boche. Dimitrios Christopoulos is named as the central contact for in-court and out-of-court disputes that the law firm handles for insurers and policyholders.

ARQIS is listed as a “Firm to watch” for the first time in the insurance advice category (insurance law), which is a special tribute to the work of the team led by Dr. Mirjam Boche in recent years.

REGULATORY

The category of environmental and planning law (regulatory law) deserves special mention: ARQIS is ranked here for the first time with 5 out of 5. While ARQIS was listed as a “firm to watch” in the environmental and planning law category last year, the regulatory law focus group with Dr. Friedrich Gebert and Dr. Astrid Seehafer achieved a Tier 5 out of 5 ranking this year. The practice group, which was founded in 2021, is particularly highlighted in connection with advice on ESG issues and the energy transition. “These two areas are covered by practice group head Friedrich Gebert, who is also increasingly advising on planning law mandates. Astrid Seehafer joined the team in August 2022 from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and advises on product compliance.”

The Legal 500 Germany analyzes law firms and lawyers in interviews with lawyers and clients in a total of 23 practice areas and 90 rankings every year.

The German Innovation Institute for Sustainability and Digitalisation (Deutsches Innovationsinstitut für Nachhaltigkeit und Digitalisierung, DIND) has named ARQIS “employer of the future” .

In cooperation with the DUP magazine and DUB.de, DIND has launched the “employer of the future” initiative for German SMEs. The patron of the initiative is Brigitte Zypries, former Federal Minister of Economics. DIND supports companies to be fit for the future. To this end, DIND cooperates with experts from business, science and politics, conducts studies on behalf of partners and assesses companies with regard to their future viability.

In a Smart Company Check, the status quo of the law firm was analysed by means of a questionnaire. The digital touchpoints and the brand presence of ARQIS were evaluated and extensive social listening was carried out. The result confirmed it: ARQIS is an “employer of the future”. According to the German Innovation Institute, companies that receive this label are characterised by the following: “Employers of the future have a modern digital presence, are innovative and offer contemporary working conditions”. Being named as an employer of the future shows where it is worth applying. The mention not only shows the strengths of companies, but it also helps with the recruiting of new talents, as well as for the identification, motivation and retention of employees.

In addition to this successful new award, the outstanding working conditions and development prospects for staff at ARQIS were also honored by other platforms. The law firm was named “Employer of the Future 2023” by the talent platform talentrocket.de and since 2022 ARQIS has been a “Fair Company”, according to the initiative for career starters and young professionals by the Handelsblatt. ARQIS has been listed as a “Young Talent Sponsor” by Iurastudent.de since 2021.

Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier has been named one of the 40 Leading HR Minds 2023 by the Haufe Group’s Personalmagazin. The renowned German HR magazine has presented this award every two years since 2013. Leaders from management, science and consulting who provide groundbreaking impulses for shaping a modern working world were honoured.

Recruiting skilled workers, home office regulations, collective bargaining policy or leadership culture have become competitive factors that are at the top of the agenda for many companies. With its list of the 40 leading HR minds, Personalmagazin wants to offer some guidance as to who the masterminds and trendsetters of the new world of work are. The award winners include, for example, HR managers Gunnar Kilian (Volkwagen AG) and Cawa Younosi (SAP Deutschland SE & Co. KG) as well as professors such as Prof. Dr. Fabiola Gerpott (WHU Düsseldorf) and Prof. Dr. Antoinette Weibel (University of St. Gallen).

“Via social media, HR professionals are more visible than ever before. With the list of the 40 leading HR minds, we recognise those who have real influence and can make a difference, both in the company and in the HR community and society. Writing good posts is not enough,” explains Reiner Straub, publisher of Personalmagazin, adding: “The 40 HR minds are the architects of the new world of work.”

Andrea Panzer-Heemeier was named “Entrepreneur” in the Consultant category. Her expertise in the area of data protection as well as in the topic of works council remuneration was particularly highlighted. It says in the justification for the award: “With HR.Law, Andrea Panzer-Heemeier implements holistic advice on all HR issues at ARQIS and develops innovative solutions for practice beyond the well-trodden paths of labour law. (…) She is regarded as a doer who has built up a powerful law firm from modest beginnings that is now at the top of every law firm ranking.” Commenting on the award, the Managing Partner of ARQIS said, “As an employment lawyer, to be elected to this circle of top HR colleagues is a great honour for me. I am very pleased, together with the entire ARQIS team, to have taken the firm on this successful path.”

“The award-winning leaders have not only excelled in their work environment, but they have also actively participated in the debates and further development of the HR community,” Reiner Straub explains the selection criteria of Personalmagazin. The selection of the candidates took place in two stages. 150 people were nominated from the readership, experts, multipliers, and the editorial team. In the second step, the editorial team researched the nominees, created profiles, and made the final selection for the 40 leading HR minds now honoured.

The US publisher Best Lawyers has once again determined Germany´s Best Lawyer and law firms of the year in cooperation with Handelsblatt. A total of 18 colleagues from ARQIS were awarded among the best based on a peer review survey. Many were recommended for their work in several fields at once.

Among the „The Best Lawyers in Germany 2024“ are:

• Dr. Mirjam Boche, Corporate Law, Conflict Resolution
• Dimitrios Christopoulos, Conflict Resolution, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution/Mediation
• Andreas Dietl, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Dr. Lars Laeger, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Dr. Ulrich Lienhard, Project Finance and Development Practice
• Dr. Philip Merten, Employment Law
• Tobias Neufeld, Employment Law, Company Pension Plans, Data Protection Law
• Thi Kieu Chinh Nguyen, Labor and Employment Law
• Marcus Nothhelfer, Intellectual Property Law, Conflict Resolution, Licensing Law
• Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Data Security and Privacy Law, Labor and Employment Law
• Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider, Corporate Law
• Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, Corporate Law, Private Equity Law
• Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law

In cooperation with Best Lawyers Handelsblatt also presents the category “ „Ones to Watch““. This category includes young talents who have generally been in practice for three to eight years and have already acquired an exceptional reputation among competitors and clients. They include:

• Dr. Maximilian Backhaus, Corporate law, Mergers and Acquisitions
• Anja Mehrtens (ehem. Markworth), Employee Benefits Law, Labor and Employment Law
• Dennis Reisich, Tax Law
• Franziska Weinzierl, Real Estate Law

The complete list of award-winning law firms and individuals can be found in the Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Special.

The current edition of Chambers and Partners’ annual law firm ranking (Chambers Europe Guide 2023 as well as Chambers Global Guide 2023) counts ARQIS among the recommended law firms and ranks a total of four of its partners.

In the Europe Guide 2023 ARQIS achieves Band 5/6 in the category “Corporate/M&A: Mid-Market” as a law firm and ranks Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze as head of the Transactions focus group in Band 4/5.

Within the Europe Guide 2023 ARQIS ranks for the first time with the department of employment law. ARQIS achieves Band 5/5, while Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier and Tobias Neufeld are recognised as ranked lawyers in Band 4/5. Both were also represented as individuals in the ranking in previous years.

In the worldwide ranking, the Global Guide 2023 lists ARQIS with the areas “Corporate M&A: Mid-Market” and “Corporate M&A (Japan)”. The firm achieves Band 6/6 in the Chambers Global 2023 Ranking and Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze achieves Band 4/5 on a global level.

Chambers Global additionally identifies leading Foreign Experts and Foreign Desks. Highly regarded individuals or teams, with expertise in a jurisdiction other than the one in which they are based, are given special mention here for their international and cross-border work. ARQIS therefore received a Spotlight Ranking for its Japan Desk and a “Foreign Expert” ranking for Dr. Shigeo Yamaguchi.

The ranking cites the following strengths: “They offer very high responsiveness, optimal solutions and documentation with deep business insights. They are M&A lawyers but they are not only interested in their area but also want to understand the other side of things.”

Chambers and Partners is an independent professional legal research company based in London. For more than 30 years, they have been providing insights into the world’s best lawyers, legal departments, and law firms by producing detailed rankings.

ARQIS has once again been listed as a top ranked law firm in the The Legal 500 Germany guide in the practice areas of Employment Law, Corporate Law and M&A as well as Insurance Law. In the Private Equity category, ARQIS is ranked for the first time and in Public Law, ARQIS is ranked as on the of the “Firms to watch”.

In the Legal 500 Germany rankings, ARQIS achieved Tier 4 out of 7 in the Employment Law category, thus moving up one level in the ranking compared to the previous year. Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Tobias Neufeld and Anja Markworth are praised as lawyers for their ”very good practice-related experience, also at the intersection of digitalisation and labour law” and for their ”excellent combination of legal expertise and practical advisory skills”.

In Corporate and M&A, Corporate category, the firm claims Tier 4 out of 5 as in previous years and in Corporate and M&A, M&A category (Medium-sized deals €100M – €500M) ARQIS is listed in Tier 5 out of 6. Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, Dr. Shigeo Yamaguchi, Dr. Mirjam Boche, Dr. Mauritz von Einem and Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider are recognised for “providing excellent quality legal services” and ARQIS is described as a “great firm covering the full spectrum of services for M&A issues.” Additionally, there was a new Tier 4/5 rating in Private Equity, Transactions category (Medium-sized deals €100M – €500M).

In Insurance Law, Dispute Resolution category, ARQIS ranked in Tier 5. With Dr. Mirjam Boche as head of the Risk focus group and Dimitrios Christopoulos ARQIS was recognised in particular for its “broad practical knowledge and specific expertise in transactional insurance”.

In Public Law, Environmental and Planning Law category, Legal 500 Germany names ARQIS in the “Firms to watch” section, thereby recognising the development of ARQIS’ Public & Regulatory Law practice.

The Legal 500 Germany analyzes law firms and lawyers in interviews with lawyers and clients in a total of 23 practice areas and 90 rankings every year.

We have set out on the path to becoming CO2 neutral.

We obtained a very detailed picture of our CO₂footprint for the years 2020 and 2021. In this several-month process we learned a great deal about our carbon emissions, especially the indirect emissions and value chain emissions (also called scope 3 emissions).₂consumption was important to us. We therefore assessed 2020 and 2021 in detail. Including all Scope 3 emissions, we as a law firm have generated 2649 tons of CO₂ since then.

This analysis and transparency is just the starting point for ARQIS.

But this is only the first step. In the direction of NetZero, we want to steadily consume less CO₂until we no longer need to compensate at all. Reduction before compensation. To this end, we have founded the ARQIS GreenTeam , which will permanently drive forward small and large improvement measures. As a service provider, we still have it comparatively easy here, but even for us, complete reduction is an immense challenge. Decarbonization will be a huge project, as we can already tell.

The US publisher Best Lawyers has once again determined Germany’s best lawyers and law firms in extensive peer review surveys. A total of 15 colleagues from ARQIS can once again be pleased about the award and thus the appreciation of their work. Quite a few of them are named for several areas of law.

Among the „Best Lawyers in Germany 2023“ are:

• Dr. Mirjam Boche, Corporate Law, Conflict Resolution
• Dimitrios Christopoulos, Conflict Resolution, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution/Mediation
• Andreas Dietl, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Saskia Kirschbaum, Labor and Employment Law
• Dr. Lars Laeger, Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Dr. Ulrich Lienhard, Project Finance and Development Practice
• Dr. Philip Merten, Employment Law
• Tobias Neufeld, Employment Law, Company Pension Plans, Data Protection Law
• Thi Kieu Chinh Nguyen, Labor and Employment Law
• Marcus Nothhelfer, Intellectual Property Law, Leisure and Licensing Law, Litigation
• Dr. Andrea Panzer-Heemeier, Data Security and Privacy Law, Labor and Employment Law
• Jennifer Catherine Sauder, Arbitration/Dispute Resolution/Mediation
• Dr. Christof Alexander Schneider, Corporate Law
• Dr. Jörn-Christian Schulze, Corporate Law, Private Equity Law
• Prof. Dr. Christoph von Einem, Mergers and Acquisitions Law

In cooperation with Best Lawyers, Handelsblatt presents the best lawyers and law firms here in Germany. For the first time, the category „Ones to Watch“ Franziska Resch for real estate business law and Dr. Maximilian Backhaus for corporate law were honored as rising stars in the new category.

The complete list of award-winning law firms and individuals can be found in the Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Special.