Construction

Office buildings, commercial properties, residential complexes, industrial facilities, wind and solar farms, utility lines and railway tracks, as well as structures for every facet of infrastructure are built to last—but they also take time to construct. Building is therefore a time-intensive and costly endeavor. Projects are typically characterized by an extraordinary number of stakeholders, numerous risks, countless interfaces—and inevitably, many conflicts that must be resolved, ideally amicably, or through legal dispute if necessary.

The renowned team at Leinemann Partner brings extensive expertise in all areas of construction law and ensures legal certainty for our clients. Our highly specialized attorneys assist not only with permits, procurement procedures and contracts in all phases of a project—they also develop strategies for legal and commercial success, offering personal, prompt and comprehensive support across Germany and abroad.

With Leinemann Partner  by their side, our clients can focus on their core business. We take care of the legal framework.

In addition to traditional hourly billing, we offer custom flat-rate and budget-based models. Because: legal advice should benefit our clients—both economically and legally.

As a market leader in construction law, our legal services include, among others, the following areas:

Construction-Phase and Preventive Legal Advice

In construction law, legal expertise alone is not enough—technical understanding and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential. Our attorneys speak the language of architects, engineers, public authorities, and project stakeholders. With many years of experience, we understand the legal challenges in construction and offer practical solutions—from advice to litigation.

We provide comprehensive legal support for construction projects—from contract drafting to change order negotiations. This includes construction contracts (VOB/B, BGB), architect and engineering contracts, joint venture and project agreements, land and development contracts. Related areas such as planning law, building regulations, environmental law, or neighbor law are also part of our services.

Litigation and Arbitration

Our goal is amicable dispute resolution. Wherever possible, we pursue out-of-court solutions—with clear action-oriented recommendations, not just risk analyses. If litigation is unavoidable, we provide our clients with well-prepared litigation strategies.

We represent clients nationwide before all courts and internationally before arbitration tribunals, adjudication and dispute boards. Currently, we are handling over 1,000 construction disputes—an indicator of our deep expertise. Our experience is especially critical in complex cases with large volumes of documents and high disputed amounts.

With the introduction of Commercial Courts in April 2025, a new and attractive forum is now available for litigating major construction disputes. For matters exceeding Euro 500,000  where arbitration is not an option, proceedings before a Commercial Court may be advisable. We offer comprehensive advice tailored to your individual interests.

Planning & Project Management

Construction projects are complex—each one is unique, and each stakeholder brings their own requirements. From initial concept to execution, we support planners, developers, and owners with sound legal guidance throughout every phase.

Whether in architecture, engineering, or project management—our legal advice takes into account the many interfaces between clients, contractors, specialist planners, authorities, and insurers. We ensure that creative ideas remain legally feasible—even under time and cost pressure.

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) represents a new approach to construction: collaborative, efficient, and solution-focused. All major stakeholders—from owners to designers and contractors—are involved from the outset via a multi-party contract. This fosters true project partnerships instead of isolated individual performances.

Leinemann Partner is among the pioneers of IPD legal consulting in the German-speaking region. We draft and negotiate legally secure multi-party agreements, integrate lean management and BIM methods, and provide full project support—from tendering to commissioning.

Fire Protection: Operator Duties and Risk Management

Fire protection is more than just technology—it is a core aspect of corporate legal responsibility. We advise companies comprehensively on fire protection law and operator obligations, particularly in industrial settings.

Our focus lies on legal support regarding structural, technical, operational, and event-related fire safety. Whether new construction, existing properties, or special-use buildings—we help you meet compliance requirements, reduce liability risks, and establish effective risk management.

Our services include:

• Legal advice on operator liability and duty of care
• Review and drafting of fire safety concepts
• Support in regulatory approvals and inspections
• Legal guidance for events and special buildings
• Advice on compliance programs and internal audits

With solid expertise in industrial fire protection law and decades of experience, we provide legal certainty in complex situations—practical, strategic, and tailored to your business.

Construction with Deutsche Bahn

Complex contracts, strict standards, high pressure to perform—anyone working on Deutsche Bahn projects needs legal specialists at their side. We help you implement your projects legally sound, efficiently, and assertively—from tendering to contract negotiations to final acceptance. For over 25 years, we have been advising external contractors on rail projects—nationwide and across all levels.

Our services include:

• Procurement law support for DB AG tenders
• Drafting and review of contract and change order strategies
• Support during construction and invoicing
• Representation in disputes and claims

Our extensive experience is also the foundation of our specialist book “Bauen mit der Bahn” (Building with the Railway)—and the accompanying nationwide seminar series, where we share our practical knowledge directly with contractors.

Public Private Partnerships (PPP) in Construction

Concession and operator models are sometimes politically controversial, but they remain highly relevant—especially in infrastructure. We’ve been continuously active in this area for many years and have advised both public authorities and bidders. We know these projects from all angles, including procurement review and subsequent dispute resolution.

We regularly advise clients on traditional PPP projects, such as fire stations, school buildings and renovations, town halls, and administrative buildings. We draft procurement and contract documents, conduct procedures on behalf of contracting authorities, and advise bidders at every stage of the project.

FIDIC

Many of our clients execute construction and plant engineering projects abroad or work with international partners. English is typically the contract language, and FIDIC contract conditions are often used. Especially in plant construction and large-scale projects, FIDIC standards are globally recognized.

Our experienced English-speaking legal team provides comprehensive advice on FIDIC contracts—from drafting to dispute resolution. Our partners contribute to the body of FIDIC legal literature through commentaries and publications. Numerous reference projects highlight our expertise.

Energy Transition

Leinemann Partner has long supported construction projects in the energy sector—one of Germany’s largest and most investment-intensive infrastructure segments. With project volumes in the double-digit billions, we are experts in onshore and offshore wind farms, photovoltaic, biogas and biomass plants, and power grid expansion.

Our focus lies in the comprehensive legal support of companies, investors, and general contractors—from tendering and procurement to contract execution. Arbitration proceedings, especially in cases of project delays, are also part of our portfolio.

We support numerous stakeholders across the value chain, including steel construction companies, shipyards, electrical corporations, hydraulic engineering firms, and cable and equipment suppliers. We also advise grid operators and utilities on offshore wind park connections and the construction of high-voltage transmission lines.