bartsch Expert Forum on Business and Asset Succession

Last week, we welcomed over 50 participants to the 1st bartsch Expert Forum on Business and Asset Succession at the Hotel Der Blaue Reiter in Karlsruhe-Durlach.

It was a successful start to a new series of events in which we will be examining the many facets of succession planning together with experts from tax and management consulting firms as well as banks and insurance companies.

🔹 Andrea Winkler and Hendrik van Ryk from the Karlsruhe Chamber of Crafts provided practical insights into business transfers in the skilled trades and the latest developments.

🔹 Dr. Simon Bahlinger and Daniel Scharpf highlighted the target groups for which family companies in the form of a family GbR or family KG are best suited.

🔹 Hendrik Stroborn and Rüdiger Strubel explained how foundations can be structured in a legally and fiscally sensible way as a succession tool.

Many thanks to all guests for participating and for the enriching discussions. We look forward to continuing in the next year.

Real Estate Day 2025 of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Karlsruhe

with our partner Dr. Alexander Hoff as speaker.

The common thread running through all the presentations: How can we create affordable housing?

Stimulating ideas, inspiring presentations, diverse perspectives, and constructive discussions in a high-caliber panel discussion.

We look back with enthusiasm and are already looking forward to the next Real Estate Day in 2026.

New publication: AI Regulation in practice!

The AI Regulation, also known as the “AI Act,” creates the first uniform legal framework for artificial intelligence in Europe. Companies are now faced with the task of understanding and implementing the legally compliant use of AI systems.

In their newly published handbook “Die KI-Verordnung in der Praxis” (The AI Regulation in Practice), our colleagues Dr. habil. Christian Förster and Julia Straburzynski provide guidance and practical insights into the provisions of the AI Regulation.

The handbook clearly explains the AI Regulation for anyone who regularly deals with AI applications in their company and monitors their use or decides on their use, whether in a specialist department, IT, or management.

The first part covers the basics of the AI Regulation, describes the different AI systems, and introduces the players and their roles. The second part systematically explains, with practical examples, the obligations that providers, operators, or other players must fulfill depending on the AI system.

More than 20 diagrams make it easier to get started with particularly complex regulations.

The book answers practical questions such as:

🔹When is an AI system “high-risk”?

🔹Are there also obligations for “harmless” applications?

🔹How do powerful AI systems and data protection go together?

🔹How do I make my AI system “cyber secure”?

🔹What should I do if my AI system may have caused damage?

Congratulations to our colleagues on the new publication!

Advoselect Annual Conference in Paris from September 25 to September 27, 2025

Inspiring exchange with colleagues from all over Europe. This time, the focus was on arbitration proceedings.

In view of the ever-increasing length of proceedings in the state judiciary and the increasing frequency of international legal disputes, arbitration proceedings are a promising approach to achieving cost-effective, legally secure, and rapid results — provided you know how.

Our partner Dr. Alexander Hoff, himself an arbitrator, attended this year’s congress in Paris and was able to exchange ideas on this topic with numerous colleagues.

Advo09/2025

Bartsch Lawyers back at Expo Real in Munich

At the international trade fair for real estate and investment from October 6 to 8, 2025, in Munich, you will experience the entire value chain of the real estate industry: from development, financing, and implementation to marketing, operation, and utilization.

As Europe’s largest real estate network, you will have the opportunity to gain an ideal overview of all asset classes and their future development in relation to your property. Bartsch Rechtsanwälte will be happy to advise and support you in dealing with complex issues.

Together with the Karlsruhe TechnologyRegion, you will find us in Hall B1, Booth 130.

We look forward to seeing you and having exciting discussions.

Tax Day 2025 in Pforzheim

We are delighted to have been able to host Tax Day 2025 in the stylish surroundings of the tower block of Sparkasse Pforzheim Calw.

We would like to express our special thanks to Dr. Sandy Schüler-Täsch, judge at the Federal Finance Court, who shared with us the latest developments in VAT case law relating to real estate transactions.

The stimulating discussions and intensive exchange among the participants once again demonstrated how important dialogue between practitioners, consultants, and the judiciary is.

Many thanks to all guests for their participation and the enriching discussions.

Bartsch Rechtsanwälte appoints Rüdiger Strubel as partner

On July 1, 2025, Rüdiger Strubel was appointed partner at Bartsch Rechtsanwälte.

Rüdiger Strubel has been admitted to the bar since 2006 and as a tax advisor since 2013. He is also a specialist lawyer for tax law. He joined our team in March 2022 and has since made a significant contribution to the expansion of our interdisciplinary consulting services.

He provides comprehensive advice to national and international investors in the areas of corporate law, tax law, criminal tax law, and transactions—with a particular focus on tax structuring, tax litigation, tax audits, preventive tax reviews, advisor liability, foreign trade and social security law, as well as tax due diligence and support for asset and share deals. In doing so, he always keeps the big picture in mind.

Rüdiger Strubel studied law at the University of Heidelberg and worked for PwC and EY for over twelve years, as well as several years for PwC Legal – in particular advising internationally active companies in the finance and real estate sectors.

His motto: “One contact person – multiple disciplines.”
This way of thinking exemplifies our firm’s full-service approach. Today, complex challenges require integrated solutions that combine different areas of law.

By expanding our partnership, we are sending a clear signal about the strategic development of Bartsch Rechtsanwälte—particularly with regard to further expanding our presence in Baden-Württemberg.

Congratulations, Rüdiger Strubel—we look forward to continuing our successful collaboration!

Strong together in Europe: Bartsch at the Advoselect network meeting in Augsburg

Advoselect – Strong together in Europe

Advoselect is an innovative, Europe-wide network of German-speaking commercial law firms. Our cooperation is based on partnership, mutual support, and a common goal: providing excellent legal advice in commercial law.

With a seal of approval for quality, competence, and reliability, Advoselect offers cross-border commercial legal advice of the highest standard – anywhere in Europe.

We promote personal relationships, openness, and diversity in an international, interdisciplinary network – with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises and the future of the economy.

Through exchange, internationality, and networking, we create sustainable added value – for our members and their clients.

In May, we met in Augsburg – an inspiring exchange among colleagues from 15 countries.

Over 40 participants came together to gain new inspiration, network, and grow together. One highlight was the practice-oriented sales training with our speaker Liane Allmann, which offered valuable suggestions on how law firms can position their consulting services even more specifically and create added value for our clients.

The warmth, openness, and trust within the network were palpable—Advoselect thrives on genuine cooperation across borders.

We incorporate new ideas into our everyday lives—and look forward to everything we can achieve together.

Opening ceremony for our Pforzheim location on May 14, 2025

We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone who shared this special moment with us at the PZ Forum. Thank you very much for coming in such large numbers, for the appreciative discussions, and for the great atmosphere.

In his speech, Dr. Alexander Hoff impressively outlined the history, values, and future of our law firm, while Dr. Marc Pfirmann succinctly summarized the advantages and potential of Pforzheim as a business location. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer’s speech on current global politics, economics, and the arms industry was full of thought-provoking ideas and was a real highlight of the evening.

We ended the evening in a relaxed atmosphere with cocktails, food, music, and good conversation—in the spirit of genuine networking.

Pforzheim, we look forward to everything that lies ahead!

Dr. Marc Pfirmann joins Bartsch Rechtsanwälte in Pforzheim

Bartsch Rechtsanwälte welcomes Dr. Marc Pfirmann as a new partner on January 1, 2025. With his comprehensive expertise in corporate law/M&A, he will strengthen the already strong M&A team, which currently consists of attorneys Hendrik Stroborn, Bernhard Fritz, Ulrich A. Götz (Karlsruhe), Dr. Thomas Scharpf (Munich), Florian Krug, and Daniel Scharpf. Together, the significantly expanded team will continue to operate as a unified entity in the region.

Dr. Marc Pfirmann brings with him many years of experience as a corporate partner, gained at the US law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed in Los Angeles, Gleiss Lutz, Ladenburger, and most recently Bender Harrer Krevet, among others. The 47-year-old expert will take over the establishment and management of a new office in Pforzheim, thereby strengthening Bartsch Rechtsanwälte’s regional presence.

The location is part of Bartsch Rechtsanwälte’s regional development strategy and a further step towards providing even better service to clients in Baden-Württemberg. The aim is to establish Pforzheim as a full-service commercial law firm and, in addition to corporate law, to further develop the areas of labor law, construction, architectural and real estate law, public procurement law, and IT law in particular.

Nowadays, solutions are rarely based on expertise in a single field. When things get more challenging, smooth cooperation across the boundaries of individual areas of law is required. Bartsch Rechtsanwälte meets this requirement with its interdisciplinary team at its Pforzheim office.
Reinforcement by Dr. Simon Bahlinger

In addition to Dr. Pfirmann, Dr. Simon Bahlinger, associate at Bender Harrer Krevet, has also joined Bartsch Rechtsanwälte. Together, they will contribute to the further expansion of the corporate law and M&A practice and to an even stronger presence of Bartsch Rechtsanwälte in Baden-Württemberg.