Christian Wirth

Partner, Berlin

Biography

“Outstanding litigator with broad experience in handling large contentious matters in diverse industries; versatile leader of a motivated and competent team.”
Client Quote, The Legal 500 2023, Germany

Overview

Christian is a leading litigator, who handles high-profile cases for German and international clients. He leads an experienced and ambitious team, whose skills span industries and geographies. Offering guidance across the board, but primarily in the insurance, banking and financial sectors, Christian regularly represents plaintiffs and defendants before civil courts and arbitral tribunals. To prevent matters from reaching the litigation stage, he is able to support clients by putting effective risk management systems in place. Clients also benefit from his experience as a mediator in the field of consensual dispute resolution. Christian protects his clients' interests by advising on all aspects of private insurance law: industry and liability insurance, issues relating to existing insurance contracts, and the design of new contracts. He has comprehensive experience in the legal assessment and structuring of complex insurance programs (including those with a cross-border dimension), and of individually tailored coverage. His advice in this area focuses on major claims, captive solutions, reinsurance and alternative risk transfer. Banking clients come to Christian for his judgement and representation in matters such as fundamental and liability issues, risk management for major rescue loans, and structuring the risk assessment of credit portfolios, including both performing and non-performing loans. He has successfully represented a range of banks regarding allegedly deficient prospectuses and investment advice, relating to unsuccessful capital investment products. Christian has authored a number of professional publications, including the course unit "Business Interruption Insurance", which is part of the Euroforum management training course "Insurance contracts and management in enterprises". He is a member of the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS), the AIDA Reinsurance and Insurance Arbitration Society (ARIAS), and of the German Bar Association's working groups on bank and capital markets law and insurance law. He currently directs the working group section "International insurance law/insurance supervision law".
Bars and Courts
Certified Lawyer for Bank and Capital Market Law
Certified Insurance Lawyer
Rechtsanwalt
Education
Second State Exam
Higher Regional Court of Berlin
First State Exam
Free University of Berlin
Languages
German
English

Experience

Speaking Engagements

Webinar "Obligations of corporate bodies in the crisis", lecture "D&O, Cyber, FBU/BU (fire/business interruption insurance) - The decision on insurance protection as part of adequate risk management", Christian Wirth, Murad Daghles, Thyl Haßler, 2020

Practice Seminar Cybersecurity: Cyber Attack & Data Breach - Preparedness and Response in cooperation with Deutscher Fachverlag, Module: Cyber Risk Governance, Resilience and Insurability, Christian Wirth, Dr. Alexander Kiefner, Prof. Dr. Igor Podebrad, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Commerzbank AG, 2020

Webinar Series: Cyber Security as a business challenge in cooperation with the British Chamber of Commerce Germany, Module: Cyber Risk Governance, Resilience and Insurability, Christian Wirth, Dr. Alexander Kiefner, Prof. Dr. Igor Podebrad, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Commerzbank AG, 2020

Publications

Mandatory mediation in the EU, Special Report: International Dispute Resolution, Financier Worldwide Magazine, October 2015, (co-author with Daniel Eckstein)

Is a Decision to ignore ADR still compatible with today's Compliance Requirements?, Corporate Disputes Magazine, Issue Apr-Jun, 2015, (co-author with Daniel Eckstein)

Perspectives – A quarrelsome country?, Corporate Disputes, Issue Jan-Mar, pp. 63–66, 2014, (co-author with Daniel Eckstein)

Mediation is Gaining Ground in Germany – Yet Again, Corporate Disputes, Issue Oct-Dec, pp. 111–115, 2013, (co-author with Daniel Eckstein)

The duty of disclosure in the case of an aggravation of risk not caused by the insured under a D&O policy. Commentary on the decision of the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) of September 12, 2012 ‒ IV ZR 171/11, r+s, Issue 1, pp 17–19, 2013, (Anzeigepflicht bei einer nicht veranlassten Gefahrerhöhung in der D&O-Vers.)

The requirements for the broker in the event of the policyholder's insolvency, ZInsO, Issue 23, pp. 1002–1009, 2012, (Die Anforderungen an den Makler bei der Insolvenz des Versicherungsnehmers) (co-author, with Laila Mintas)

Policy holders' pre-contractual duties of disclosure – an international comparison, Spektrum für Versicherungsrecht, Issue 3, pp. 47–54, 2011, (Vorvertragliche Aufklärungspflichten des Versicherungsnehmers – Eine rechtsvergleichende Untersuchung)

Awards and Recognition

Best Lawyer Germany in Arbitration and Mediation, Insurance Law, Litigation, Handelsblatt 2011-2023

Handelsblatt Best Lawyers Germany 2017: Arbitration and Mediation, Insurance Law and Litigation

Handelsblatt Best Lawyers' 2017 Berlin Arbitration and Mediation "Lawyer of the Year"

Recommended Lawyer: Dispute Resolution – Germany, The Legal 500 Germany, 2016

Highly Recommended Lawyer: Insurance Law / Dispute Resolution, JUVE 2020/2021

Recommended lawyer: Insurance Law, WirtschaftsWoche 'Top-Kanzlei' 2015

Highly Recommended Lawyer: Litigation, Arbitration and Mediation, Best Lawyers/Handelsblatt, 2015

Recommended Lawyer: Dispute Resolution – Germany, The Legal 500 EMEA, 2015

Leading Lawyer: Insurance Law – Germany, Chambers Europe 2014

Notable Practitioner: Dispute Resolution – Germany, Chambers Europe 2014