Dr. Johannes Schmidt

Teaching/Lecturing Capacities

• Lecturer, “German & International Arbitration”, University of Frankfurt am Main, 2017 and 2018.
• Lecturer, “Introduction to International Commercial and Investment Arbitration”, LLM-Program of the Institute for Law and Finance, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, classes of 2016 and 2017
• Lecturer, Seminar “Legal Issues around the Financial Crisis”, Martin Luther University Halle, Germany, 2014/15
• Guest lecturer, EBS Law Term on Transnational Commercial Law, EBS Law School, Wiesbaden, Germany, 2013

Publications

• Zivilrechtliche Haftung für Lieferketten durch die Hintertür? Article in Börsen-Zeitung dated November 27, 2021
• “In a nutshell: Top Litigation/Arbitration Issues That We Expect to See More of in 2022” in: Business Law Magazine, 4/2021, p. 3-6 (https://www.deutscheranwaltspiegel.de/businesslaw/lawyers-top-5/in-a-nutshell-top-litigation-arbitration-issues-that-we-expect-to-see-more-of-in-2022-26635/)
• “All You Need to Know About Deposing Witnesses in Germany”, Client Alert November 2021 (https://www.willkie.com/-/media/files/publications/2021/11/allyouneedtoknowaboutdeposingwitnessesingermany.pdf)
• “Enforcements of Foreign Judgments 2022” – Germany Chapter (https://www.willkie.com/-/media/files/publications/2021/09/2022_enforcement_of_foreign_judgements_germany.pdf)
• German Federal Ministry of Justice issues draft bill implementing the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive (https://complianceconcourse.willkie.com/articles/news-alerts-2020-12-december-20201216-german-federal-ministry-of-justice-issue)
• “BGH gestattet Schadenspauschalierungen in AGB in Höhe von bis zu 15% bei Kartellrechtsverstößen”, May 2021 (https://www.willkie.com/-/media/files/publications/2021/05/bghgestattetschadenspauschalierungeninagbinhohe.pdf)
• German Federal Ministry of Justice issues draft bill implementing the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive, Willkie Compliance Concourse (https://complianceconcourse.willkie.com/articles/news-alerts-2020-12-december-20201216-german-federal-ministry-of-justice-issue)
• German Government Issues Draft Law Against Exploitation in the Supply Chain, Willkie Compliance Concourse, April 2021 (https://complianceconcourse.willkie.com/articles/insights-2021-20210406-german-government-issues-draft)
• Landgericht versagt coronabedingte Mietanpassung eines Hotelbetreibers bei nicht erfolgter Rücklagenbedingung, Client Alert February 2021
• Gesetzliche Regelungen zur Erleichterung der Anpassung der Gewerberaummiete in Kraft getreten – was bedeutet das für Mieter und Vermieter? Client Alert January 2021“Does Issuing a Dissenting Opinion to an Arbitral Award Constitute a Violation of the German Ordre Public?” on Kluwer Arbitration Blog (http://arbitrationblog.kluwerarbitration.com/2020/11/13/does-issuing-a-dissenting-opinion-to-an-arbitral-award-constitute-a-violation-of-the-german-ordre-public/)
• “Wer das Gutachten gewinnt, gewinnt auch den Prozess” in: Dispute Resolution, 3/2020, p. 13-15 (https://www.deutscheranwaltspiegel.de/disputeresolution/schiedsverfahren/wer-das-gutachten-gewinnt-gewinnt-auch-den-prozess-21587/)
• „Die meisten Schiedsverfahren laufen regulär weiter“, Interview in Börsen-Zeitung dated May 16, 2020
• „Internationale Handelsschiedsverfahren in Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie“, Willkie Frankfurt Corona/COVID-19 Telegramm, April 29 2020
• “’The Carrot and the Stick’ – Germany Modernizes Its Corporate Criminal Law”, July 2020 (https://www.willkie.com/-/media/files/publications/2020/05/thecarrotandthestickgermanymodernizesitscorporatec.pdf)
• Commentary of § 1033 ZPO, in: Kröll/Nacimiento, Arbitration in Germany, 2nd edition, 2015 (co-author: R. Kreindler)
   “Gerichtsstand bei Kartellschadensersatzklagen”, in: Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht (EuZW), 15/2015, p. 584 et seq. (co-authors: R. Harms and J. Sanner)
• “Anwendbares Recht bei kartellrechtlichen Schadensersatzklagen in Altfällen”, in: Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb (WuW), 4/2014, p. 364 et seq. (co-author R. Harms)
• “Die richterliche Überzeugung von der Wahrheit und der Indizienbeweis im Zivilprozess”, Juristische Rundschau 2015, 51 (co-author: T. Kopp)
• “Die Grundsätze im Sinne der EU-Grundrechtecharta”, Mohr Siebeck 2010
• “Spielräume im öffentlichen Recht”, Mohr Siebeck 2010 (co-author: M. Klatt), translated into Portugese „Espaços no direito público” by Luis Afonso Heck, SafE 2015
• “Epistemic discretion in constitutional law”, in: International Journal for Constitutional Law (2012) Vol. 10, pp. 69-105 (co-author: M. Klatt), reprinted in: Klatt/Meister, The Constitutional Structure of Proportionality, Oxford University Press 2012
• “Abwägung unter Unsicherheit”, in: Archiv des öffentlichen Rechts, 2012, pp. 545-591, (co-author: M. Klatt), reprinted in: Klatt, Prinzipientheorie und Theorie der Abwägung, pp. 105-150, Mohr Siebeck 2013
• Client Alert, “German Federal Constitutional Court confirms liberal view on service of process under Hague Convention”, 2016
• Client Alert, “New DIS Arbitration Rules as of March 1, 2018”, 2018

Litigation

• Mercedes-Benz Group AG in cartel damages proceedings against Tier 1 suppliers in the brakes cartel
• German tour operator in corona-related mass litigation relating to cancelled package tours
• German tour operator in corona-related litigation relating to unfair business practices
• German private equity fund, providing advice in relation to professional liability claims brought against former tax advisors
• Successful representation of a minority shareholder in a multifaceted shareholder dispute, including in several proceedings before German courts 
• German top-tier real estate investment funds in litigation about corona-related rent reductions
• International real estate investor in several German litigations following failed real estate transactions
• International real estate investor in construction disputes
• German conglomerate in post M&A tax dispute
• Tier 1 automotive supplier in inflation-related price negotiations with several OEMs
• German investment fund in litigation (regular and injunctive proceedings) following termination of joint venture
• Family office in connection with a failed investment in wind parks
• German automotive supplier in a rental dispute following a failed M&A transaction
• Advice to various U.S. companies in relation to the deposition of witnesses in Germany
• Real estate asset manager in connection with eviction proceedings against delinquent tenants
• German jewelry retailer in connection with a long-term supply agreement
• International real estate investor in a rental dispute before German courts
• Ongoing advice to German retail company in rental disputes with several landlords
• Beiersdorf AG in cartel follow on damages litigation brought by several retail companies*
• The Republic of Argentina in the defense against several actions brought by investors of government bonds in Germany, including before Germany’s highest courts*
• The Hellenic Republic in the defense against several actions brought by investors of government bonds, including before Germany’s highest courts*
• German subsidiary of global advertising conglomerate in two company valuation proceedings (Spruchverfahren)*
• Advice to a U.S. hedge fund related to funding mass litigation in Germany*
• Otis, an affiliate of UTC, in cartel follow on damages litigation*
• Italian subsidiary of U.S. technology company in cartel follow on damages litigation*
• A major U.S. financial institution, providing German law advice in U.S. litigation on misrepresentations alleged by the purchaser of certain securities*
• A major U.S. financial institution providing assistance in proceedings under the Hague Evidence Convention*
• International IT company in connection with a litigation concerning a sales/distributor agreement*
• Advice to a leading chemical company in the settlement of guarantee claims in a post M&A context*
• General advice on German unfair competition laws and regulatory requirements for a Belgian household product company*
• German insurer in tax litigation*

Arbitration

• International retailer in ICC post-M&A arbitration relating to claims under a Share Purchase Agreement
• International retailer in two international DIS post-M&A arbitrations relating to claims under an option agreement
• German Chemical Company relating to arbitration based on long-term supply contract
• Austrian energy company in several ICC arbitrations in Vienna in disputes about long-term contracts governed by Austrian law*
• State company in the Middle East in an ICC arbitration in Geneva in the defense against claims regarding an oil & gas construction project, including in subsequent annulment proceedings*
• Global chemical company in an ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules relating to contractual claims under delivery contracts*
• Engie Electrabel in an ICC arbitration in Geneva against E.ON under German and Belgian law relating to nuclear taxes*
• Administrative Secretary to a London-seated ICC arbitral tribunal in a contract dispute under English law*

Enforcement

• Advice to an international investor in connection with compliance issues regarding European and German insider trading and market manipulation regulations
• Multifaceted advice to global bank in relation to “cum/ex trades” in Germany*
• Cross-border investigation of German technological company in support of U.S. civil and regulatory litigation*
• Advice to a leading international technology company in a compliance investigation regarding accounting practices*

*Johannes advised on these matters prior to joining Willkie.