Construction and architects' law

Building construction, civil engineering projects and infrastructure measures play a central role in our advisory services. The number and size of the projects that we have supported are a clear testament to this. We advise principals as well as contractors proactively in all stages of a construction project – from development to planning, construction and financing through to operation.

We are proud of the fact that our Practice Group for construction and architects’ law is often described as an innovative market leader in professional circles. It currently includes around 100 lawyers, most of whom are specialists in construction and architects’ law. Their professional expertise is demonstrated – beyond their consultative work – by an extraordinarily active engagement in research: either as authors of standard works on construction law or as lecturers and honorary professors at numerous universities.

Kapellmann's construction law practice has long been at the very top of the market and regularly reinforces this position through its central role in the country's most strategically important construction projects.
JUVE Rankings 2025/26

Leading law firm for construction law in Germany; The renowned boutique law firm Kapellmann und Partner Rechtsanwälte is adept at handling construction and property law issues. The firm is highly regarded for its strength in large-scale infrastructure and energy projects, including urban and rail developments. The team's broad range of advice includes construction, planning and engineering contracts as well as architectural and public procurement law and framework agreements. Kapellmann und Partner continues to be a popular choice for public institutions and well-known energy giants; Kapellmann und Partner is the benchmark for quality in construction law.
Chambers Germany Guide 2025

Leading law firm for construction law; 'We feel that we are in good hands at "Kapellmann" in all legal matters. From the scheduling of appointments to the reception and the always well-prepared meetings, the professional approach and support is always noticeable'; ' The outstanding preparation and sifting as well as the fastest familiarisation with complex (also technical) contexts should be emphasised here. The "strategies" are almost legendary in our eyes.'
Legal 500 Germany 2014 to 2025

Most recommended law firm for real estate and construction law by in-house counsels
kanzleimonitor.de 2023/2024 (law firm directory of the German institute for legal departments & in-house lawyers)

Law firm of the year for construction law
Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers® 'Germany's Best Law firms 2025'

OUR WORK IN CONSTRUCTION AND ARCHITECTs´ LAW FOCUSES ON

Construction contracts

We have excellent professional experience in all areas of construction law. Providing individual and practice-oriented consultation, we advise on the structuring and implementation of complex construction projects. We support clients in contract drafting, contract management and – where necessary – in court disputes.

We advise both principals and contractors on all types of construction project but also on all forms of contract used for individual trades – from general contractor award to innovative models such as integrated project management with multi-party contracts. We provide comprehensive advice on service, remuneration and liability issues, subsequent audit and settlement (claim management) as well as tax and insurance law issues. In addition, we are very familiar with complex project organisations and the processing of difficult claims.

Experience includes

Brandenburg International Airport Berlin: comprehensive support in construction and public procurement law issues surrounding new build of airport
City of Cologne: advising and representing the city in connection with the collapse of the Historical Archive Building, including inter alia the preservation and implementation of damage claims
ATCOST21 Consortium (ARGE): project support in connection with the commissioning by Deutsche Bahn of lots 1A (Filder tunnel) and 1B (Ober- and Untertürkheim tunnels) of the Stuttgart 21 project
Elbphilharmonie: advice and judicial representation of the general contractor
FRANKONIA Eurobau AG: advising on major urban development projects such as the Lenbachgärten Munich, the Andreasquartier Düsseldorf, the Sophienterrassen Hamburg and the Heinrich Heine Gärten Düsseldorf
Immofinanz AG: advising on Gerling Quartier Project Cologne
Munich airport: construction and public procurement law support in new terminal project
ThyssenKrupp AG: new build of ThyssenKrupp Quartiers in Essen, first and second phases of construction
Rheinmetall Immobilien GmbH/the developers GmbH: new build project “Unternehmerstadt Düsseldorf“ with partial project Lighthouse, DoubleU and casa altra
Klinikum Ansbach: advising on renovation and new build projects as well as on a public-private partnership

Legal management for large-scale projects JurProM®

Legal project management JurProM® covers all the legal advisory and organisational work involved in the development and implementation of large (construction) projects. On the basis of many years‘ experience, we have developed our own brand of legal project management, JurProM®, with standardised scopes of work and fee scales. To date we have supported more than 150 projects with a combined value of more than 15 bn Euros using JurProM^®.

Experience includes

European Central Bank, value c. 500 m. Euro
Brandenburg International Airport Berlin, value c. 1 bn. Euro
KoelnMesse North Halls, value c. 300 m. Euro
UMTS, value c. 200 m. Euro
Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, value c. 550 m. Euro
Düsseldorf Airport, value c. 370 m. Euro
Part of construction of new railway line for DB AG Cologne-Frankfurt, value c. 675 m. Euro
ARAG Tower Düsseldorf, value c. 120 m. Euro
Redesign of Leipzig main railway station, value c. 170 m. Euro
Part of upgrade of railway line for DB AG Munich-Ingolstadt, value c. 90 m. Euro
Bundesbank in Berlin, value c. 150 m. Euro
Extensive retail project near Cologne, value c. 50 m. Euro
Borussia stadium project in Mönchengladbach, value c. 80 m. Euro
Multiplex cinema in Berlin, value c. 25 m. Euro

Project management law, architects‘ and engineers‘ law

We advise principals as well as planning offices and project managers on all issues surrounding project management law and the law of architects and engineers.

The advice we offer covers all project stages: from procurement strategy and contract drafting through contract management and implementation, including defence against planner supplements. We also advise on all issues relating to liability, copyright and insurance law. Where necessary, we also support our clients in the management of remuneration or liability proceedings.

Experience includes:

European Central Bank Frankfurt new build: representation in architecture copyright dispute concerning the Großmarkthalle Frankfurt
BBI Berlin Brandenburg International Airport new build: contract drafting and public procurement support for several partial projects, including actions against former planning consortium BBI V
FRANKONIA Eurobau AG: comprehensive contract law, planning and construction law advice on several urban district developments, e.g. the Sophienterrassen Hamburg
Restoration and new build of Klinikum Ansbach: dispute over project management agreement
Advising object planner of a new build airport (c. 1 bn. Euro)
Representing planning consortium for interior fittings in remuneration litigation proceedings concerning a 7+ star Hotel

Cooperation with Prof. Schiffers BauConsult

We frequently cooperate with Prof. Schiffers BauConsult based in Cologne. This engineering company advises on the construction law assessment of delayed building works, cost and deadline management of real estate projects and (anti) claim management for principals and contractors, and advice can be provided in collaboration with our law firm as a “one-stop shop”.

Through our other Practice Groups focusing on public construction and environmental law as well as plant engineering, we can address practically all project-related issues that our clients may face with proven expertise from a single source.