Who

Lawyers

  • Samuel Aebi
    Samuel Aebi
    Samuel Aebi

    Samuel Aebi

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2014, studied in Berlin and Shanghai. Before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz in January 2016, legal counsel with a global start-up in Berlin having 500 employees worldwide.

    Focus: Corporate law with main emphasis on advising start-ups in respect to venture and growth capital financing in all stages.  Additionally, operative support of start-ups, especially in the area of IT-law.

  • Olga Balandina-Luke
    Olga Balandina-Luke
    Olga Balandina-Luke

    Olga Balandina-Luke

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2011, Certified Specialist in corporate and commercial law, studied law in Berlin, London and Moscow. Olga worked for King & Wood Mallesons, previously: SJ Berwin, before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz.

    Focus: Advising companies and investors in corporate law matters, in particular in the context of venture, expansion and growth capital as well as mergers and acquisitions, employee incentive schemes and corporate and commercial disputes before national courts.

  • Wolfgang Bomba
    Wolfgang Bomba
    Wolfgang Bomba

    Dr Wolfgang Bomba, LL.M.

    Associate, Counsel

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2006, Certified Specialist in IP law since 2014, studied in Regensburg, Dresden and Strasbourg (CEIPI), further studies in Nuremberg, Berlin and Albuquerque (USA), worked inter alia at White & Case, Herbert Smith Freehills and as in-house lawyer at a fintech “unicorn” before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz.

    Focus: IP (patent, trademark, design, copyright law), unfair competition law, compliance and litigation for start-ups and other enterprises.

    Several publications, lecturer on IP law at Hagen Law School/Fern Universität Hagen.

  • Johanna Bredt
    Johanna Bredt
    Johanna Bredt

    Johanna Bredt

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer since 2023, studied in Freiburg and Madrid. Prior to joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Johanna worked as a paralegal at Greenberg Traurig LLP in Berlin.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, entrepreneurs and investors in corporate law, especially in the area of venture, expansion and growth capital.

  • Falko Brüggemann
    Falko Brüggemann
    Falko Brüggemann

    Falko Brüggemann, LL.M. (UCT)

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2021, studied law in Passau, Münster and Cape Town, legal traineeship in Hamburg. Before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Falko worked as a legal employee for a major international law firm and a company builder in Hamburg.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, founders and investors on corporate law, especially in the area of venture and growth financing of companies.

  • Sinje Clausen
    Sinje Clausen
    Sinje Clausen

    Sinje Clausen

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer since 2022, studied in Berlin and Amsterdam, mediator. Prior to joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Sinje worked as a legal trainee in an international law firm in Berlin.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, entrepreneurs and investors in corporate law, especially in the area of venture, expansion and growth capital.

  • Sven Demarczyk
    Sven Demarczyk
    Sven Demarczyk

    Sven Demarczyk

    Associate

    Fully qualified lawyer since 2020, studied in Berlin. Prior to joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Sven worked as legal counsel in a Berlin start-up and as a research assistant in major international law firms in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, founders and investors on corporate law, in particular in the area of venture and growth financing of companies.

  • Lorenz Frey
    Lorenz Frey
    Lorenz Frey

    Dr Lorenz Frey, LL.M. (Bond University)

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2019, studied in Berlin and Australia. Before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, he was a trainee lawyer in the scientific service of the Bundestag and in a major international law firm.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, founders and investors in corporate law, in particular in the area of venture and growth financing of companies.

  • Maximilian Göbel
    Maximilian Göbel
    Maximilian Göbel

    Maximilian Göbel, LL.M. (TAU)

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2022, studied law in Berlin, London and Tel Aviv. Legal traineeship in Berlin, inter alia, at the Federal Foreign Office, at a leading German commercial law firm in IP/IT and data protection law and at the European Commission in Brussels. Previously legal associate at the world’s leading music label.

    Focus: Digital business models, IP and IT law, data protection law, know-how protection.

  • Jan Heerma
    Jan Heerma
    Jan Heerma

    Dr Jan Heerma

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 1996, studied law in Bochum and Passau, further studies in New York and Dallas, doctorate in Passau. Jan has been practicing law for 25 years, including 12 years as a partner of King & Wood Mallesons, previously SJ Berwin, before founding Vogel Heerma Waitz.

    Focus: Intellectual property and technology transfer of any kind, including licenses, R&D, joint ventures; legal structuring of business models; M&A.

    Jan regularly publishes on legal issues, most prominently as co-author of Wandtke/Bullinger, commentary on copyright. One of Germany’s best VC lawyers according to Handelsblatt Ranking 2017. Recognised by “Best Lawyers” as Lawyer of the Year 2021 for Technology Law in Berlin.

  • Florian Kozok
    Florian Kozok
    Florian Kozok

    Florian Kozok, LL.M. (University of Cape Town)

    Associate

    Fully qualified lawyer since 2019, studied at the University of Passau, in Lübeck, Hamburg and at the University of Cape Town. Prior to joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Florian worked for an international law firm and a prop-tech start-up in Hamburg.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, entrepreneurs and investors in corporate law, especially in the area of venture, expansion and growth capital.

  • Sina Lühr
    Sina Lühr
    Sina Lühr

    Sina Lühr

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer since 2020, studied in Berlin. Before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, she worked as a research assistant in a major international law firm, as a legal trainee at the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy and in a law firm in Toronto, Canada.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, founders and investors on corporate law, especially in the area of venture and growth financing of companies.

  • Darius Mey
    Darius Mey
    Darius Mey

    Darius Mey

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer since 2021, studied in Bayreuth and Münster, worked as a legal trainee in Frankfurt am Main. Prior to joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Darius worked as an associate with Mayer Brown LLP.

    Focus: Advising investors, founders and start-ups in the context of venture capital and growth financing, mergers and acquisitions as well as on all issues of corporate law.

  • Jules Michels
    Jules Michels
    Jules Michels

    Jules Michels, LL.M. (USC)

    Associate

    Admitted as attorney at law in the State of New York since 2018 and admitted as fully qualified German lawyer since 2020. They studied in Berlin and Los Angeles and previously worked as an associate at Morrison Foerster LLP.

    Focus: Advising start-ups, founders and investors on corporate law, in particular venture and growth financing of companies and acquisitions and sales of companies.

  • Simon Pfefferle
    Simon Pfefferle
    Simon Pfefferle

    Dr. Simon Pfefferle, LL.M. (Duke)

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2014, studied in Heidelberg, Berlin, Durham (North Carolina, USA), doctorate in Berlin. Prior to joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Simon worked for Greenberg Traurig.

    Focus: Advising investors, entrepreneurs and growth companies in the context of venture capital and growth financings, mergers and acquisitions, employee incentive schemes as well as on all issues of corporate law.

  • Sabine Röth
    Sabine Röth
    Sabine Röth

    Sabine Röth

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2008, studied law in Freiburg, Stellenbosch and Edinburgh. Sabine worked for King & Wood Mallesons, previously SJ Berwin, before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz.

    Focus: Advising investors, entrepreneurs and businesses in growth, technology and innovation driven areas with regard to corporate finance by equity, mezzanine and debt capital, mergers and acquisitions, employee incentive schemes, general corporate and operational issues.

  • Simonié Schlombs
    Simonié Schlombs
    Simonié Schlombs

    Simonié Schlombs, LL.M. (Edinburgh)

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer since 2021, studied in Berlin, Norwich and Edinburgh. Legal trainee in Berlin with placements at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and a leading German commercial law firm in IP/IT and data protection law. Before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, Simonié worked with GSK Stockmann and studied for a Master’s degree in Innovation, Technology and Law in Edinburgh.

    Focus: Digital business models, IP and IT law, data protection law, know-how protection.

  • Mario Tepe
    Mario Tepe
    Mario Tepe

    Mario Tepe, LL.M.

    Associate

    Fully qualified German lawyer since 2022, studied in Berlin, Istanbul and Krakow. Before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz, he worked as a research assistant for a major international law firm and as a legal trainee in an MDAX-listed digital company. Co-founder of the largest branch of pro bono student legal services in Germany.

    Focus: Digital business models, IP and IT law, data protection law.

  • Frank Vogel
    Frank Vogel
    Frank Vogel

    Dr Frank Vogel, LL.M. (Cantab.)

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 1994, studied in Berlin and Cambridge/UK, doctorate in Berlin. Frank practiced law for nearly 20 years in two international law firms, including 14 years as a partner of King & Wood Mallesons, previously SJ Berwin, before founding Vogel Heerma Waitz.

    Focus: Venture expansion and growth capital, mergers and acquisitions.

    Recognised by “Best Lawyers” as Lawyer of the Year 2021, 2017, 2012 and 2011 for Private Equity in Berlin and as Lawyer of the Year 2022, 2018, 2016 and 2013 for Venture Capital in Berlin.

  • Alexis von Kruedener
    Alexis von Kruedener
    Alexis von Kruedener

    Alexis von Kruedener, LL.M. (Edinburgh)

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2015, studied in Passau and Edinburgh, worked as a trainee lawyer in Berlin, previously employed at CMS Hasche Sigle.

    Focus: Digital business models, IP and IT law, data protection law, know-how protection. Special expertise in the field of Digital Health.

  • Clemens Waitz
    Clemens Waitz
    Clemens Waitz

    Dr Clemens Waitz, LL.M. (NYU)

    Partner

    Fully qualified German lawyer admitted since 2008, studied in Freiburg, Seville, New York, Shanghai and Berlin, doctorate in Freiburg. Clemens worked for Hogan Lovells and Morrison & Foerster before founding Vogel Heerma Waitz.

    Focus: Advising growth companies, entrepreneurs and investors, in particular with regard to venture and growth capital financings of technology businesses and on all corporate issues from incorporation to exit.

    Recognised by “Best Lawyers” as Lawyer of the Year 2023 and 2020 for Venture Capital in Berlin.

  • Andreas Wüsthoff
    Andreas Wüsthoff
    Andreas Wüsthoff

    Dr Andreas Wüsthoff, LL.M. (UPenn)

    Associate, Counsel

    Fully qualified German lawyer, admitted since 2000, doctorate in Tübingen, studied in Bochum, Tübingen, Leiden/The Netherlands and Philadelphia/USA (LL.M., and admission as attorney-at-law, New York). Andreas has many years of experience in several international law firms, including SJ Berwin (later on King & Wood Mallesons) and Herbert Smith Freehills.

    Focus: Advising companies and investors in venture and growth financing, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate issues. Experienced also in the field of proptech/real estate-related companies.

    Andreas participates as an author of Spindler/Stilz, a commentary on the German Stock Corporation Act (Aktiengesetz).

Assistants

  • Jana Boleslav
    Jana Boleslav
    Jana Boleslav

    Jana Boleslav

    Assistant in an international law firm since 2001 before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz. Qualified as state certified foreign language correspondent (English and French) and graduate translator (English and French)

  • Nicole Bresler
    Nicole Bresler
    Nicole Bresler

    Nicole Bresler

    Assistant since 2001, for 7 years in an international law firm, before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz. Qualified as state certified foreign language correspondent (English and French), professional expertise in accounting

  • Simone Busse
    Simone Busse
    Simone Busse

    Simone Busse

    Assistant since 2009, nine years in office management in a medical care centre, trained office administrator

    Assistant and accounting

  • Beate Eisele
    Beate Eisele
    Beate Eisele

    Beate Eisele

    Assistant since 1999, for 9 years in an international law firm (including office management), before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz. Qualified as state certified foreign language correspondent (English and French)

  • Diana Meyer
    Diana Meyer
    Diana Meyer

    Diana Meyer

    Assistant since 1999, for 15 years in international law firms, before joining Vogel Heerma Waitz. Qualified as state certified foreign language correspondent (English and French)

  • Tamika Wolf
    Tamika Wolf
    Tamika Wolf

    Tamika Wolf

    Assistant since 2019. Qualified as state certified foreign language correspondent (English and French)