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Dr. Tom Christopher Pröstler, LL.M. (Sydney)

Rechtsanwalt, Solicitor (England & Wales)

Berlin, Germany
Hong Kong SAR, China
(Deutschland)
(Hong Kong)
Languages
  • German
  • English
Social media

Tom Christopher Pröstler is a dispute resolution partner with CMS in Germany and a senior foreign legal consultant with CMS Hong Kong’s international arbitration team. Admitted as German Rechtsanwalt and English solicitor, Tom advises his clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes involving a wide range of applicable laws. He primarily acts in international arbitration proceedings under all major arbitration rules, including ICC, DIS, HKIAC, LCIA and UNCITRAL Rules. In addition, he advises on German court proceedings (including arbitration related proceedings and interim relief), transnational litigations and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. He is also regularly appointed as arbitrator.

Tom has special expertise in disputes concerning large technology, construction, and development projects and in conflicts between western and Asian parties. Moreover, he regularly advises on commercial, corporate, and post-M&A disputes. His sector expertise includes engineering (esp. plants, infrastructure, software, automotive and e-mobility), energy (esp. offshore wind, solar, coal, gas and biomass), mining, pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and consumer products.

Next to his legal practice, Tom regularly speaks and publishes on dispute resolution, international law, and legal tech subjects. He is a director of the Humboldt Centre for the Legal Profession, visiting lecturer at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, teaching courses on international arbitration, international sales law and legal tech, and co-editor and co-author of “International Construction Disputes – A Practitioner's Guide”.

Tom joined CMS’ Munich office in 2013. He was part of the team that opened CMS’ Hong Kong office in 2016 and, after two years fully based there, now splits his time between Berlin and Hong Kong.

Awards & Recognitions
01 –
  • Award
    Listed for Arbitration / Dispute Resolution / Mediation
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2027 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Award
    Listed for International Arbitration
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2027 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    "Tom has a very good command of international arbitration proceedings"
    Lexology Index – Arbitration 2025 (formerly Who's Who Legal)
  • Quote
    Listed as "Global Elite Thought Leader"
    Lexology Index 2024: Arbitration - Under 45 - Partners (formerly Who's Who Legal)
  • Quote
    "He has a sharp and brilliant legal mind"
    Lexology Index 2024: Arbitration (formerly Who's Who Legal)
  • Quote
    "Mr Pröstler is efficient and has good communication skills"
    Lexology Index 2024: Arbitration (formerly Who's Who Legal)
  • Quote
    "Tom is very competent, always producing high-quality documents"
    Lexology Index 2024: Arbitration (formerly Who's Who Legal)
  • Quote
    "He is always one step ahead"
    Who's Who Legal 2023
  • Quote
    "Practice Area Award" for Commercial Arbitration
    IFLR - Rising Stars Awards EMEA 2022
  • Quote
    "Tom is proactive in structuring cases and always provides the best strategy for his clients"
    Who's Who Legal 2023
  • Quote
    Listed as "Arbitration Future Leader"
    Who's Who Legal 2023
  • Quote
    "Above-average technical expertise, assertive", client
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
  • Quote
    Listed in "Rising Stars in Commercial Arbitration"
    Expert Guides Rising Stars, 2019 - 2022
  • Quote
    "He has exceptional persuasion skills in conjunction with an ability to present a case in a very straight forward manner"
    Who's Who Legal 2023
  • Quote
    "Jurisdictional Award" for Germany
    IFLR - Rising Stars Awards EMEA 2022
  • Quote
    Praised by clients
    Global Arbitration Review (GAR 100), 2018

Relevant experience

  • Arbitrations and Adjudications
    • Representation of an East Asian pharmaceutical company in an ICC arbitration in Frankfurt a.M. against a Central European pharmaceutical company concerning a drug development and approval project
    • Representation of a European consortium in a DIS arbitration in Berlin against a state in connection with a failed major IT and transport infrastructure project
    • Representation of German and Chinese subsidiaries of a German technology group in an ICC arbitration in Hong Kong against a Chinese automotive company regarding the production and delivery of electromobility parts
    • Representation of an East Asian plant manufacturer in a DIS arbitration in Düsseldorf against a Central European energy company concerning a plant construction project
    • Representation of a Central European plant manufacturer in a HKIAC arbitration in Hong Kong against an East Asian state authority concerning a major traffic infrastructure project
    • Representation of a Central European plant manufacturer in an ICC arbitration in Zürich against a Southern European mining company concerning a plant construction project (FIDIC Yellow Book)
    • Representation of a Southern European employer in an ICC arbitration in Zürich against a Western European contractor concerning a major offshore wind construction project in the Baltic Sea (FIDIC Yellow Book)
    • Representation of a European PE-Fund in two LCIA arbitrations in London against a Central European advisory company regarding commission payments
    • Representation of a European PE-Fund in a VIAC Arbitration in Vienna against a US-American PE-Fund regarding a Post-M&A dispute
    • Sole arbitrator in a DIS arbitration in Erfurt concerning commission payments resulting from a technology development and plant construction agreement
    • Co-arbitrator in two ad hoc arbitrations in Munich concerning communication infrastructure projects
    • Representation of a Southern European general contractor in a FIDIC adjudication in Berlin against a Southern European sub-contractor concerning a CCGT power plant construction project in Central Europe
  • State Court Proceedings
    • Representation of an East Asian medical technology company in German court proceedings against a European medical technology company concerning the termination of a distribution agreement
    • Representation of an East Asian company in German court proceedings against a German company in connection with the supply of medical protective equipment
    • Representation of two founders of a pharma-start-up in German court proceedings against investors concerning a buyout
    • Representation of a Dutch recycling company in German court proceedings against a German company concerning the termination of a cooperation and supply agreement
    • Representation of an East Asian company in German court proceedings against a German company concerning the delivery of batteries for e-mobility
    • Representation of different clients in German court proceedings to set aside and/or enforce arbitral awards
    • Advice of different clients on court proceedings in, inter alia, China, Switzerland and Spain to set aside and/or enforce arbitral awards
    • Advice of different clients on court proceedings in, inter alia, China, Spain, France and the USA

Publications

  • Eskalationsklauseln – Wenn, dann richtig!, RInPrax 4/2026, S. 216 (with Matthias Cromm)
  • Articles 10 to14 DIS-Rules, in: R. Hennecke/J. Menz (eds.), DIS-SchO Kommentar, C. H. Beck 2025
  • Working with Those from Different Legal Traditions, in: C. Lotfi/A. Zielinska-Eisen/V. Sandler Obregón (eds.), International Arbitration in Practice, Kluwer Law International 2025, Kap. 31 (with Amy Wen Wei)
  • International Construction Disputes, Beck-Hart-Nomos 2022 (ed., with Andreas J. Roquette)
  • Arbitration (Commerical), in: A. Roquette/T. Pröstler (eds.), International Construction Disputes, Beck-Hart-Nomos 2022, p. 81 (with Adrian Bell)
  • The Digitalised Construction Site, in: A. Roquette/T. Pröstler (eds.), International Construction Disputes, Beck-Hart-Nomos 2022, p. 339 (with Eliane Fischer, Mino Han and Christina Täuber)
  • Legal Tech in Construction Disputes, in: A. Roquette/T. Pröstler (eds.), International Construction Disputes, Beck-Hart-Nomos 2022, p. 353 (with Eliane Fischer, Mino Han and Christina Täuber)
  • Arbitration in Hong Kong, in: D. Mantucci (ed.), L'Arbitrato Nelle Esperienze Straniere - Trattato di Diritto dell'Arbitrato (Vol. XI), Edizioni Scientifiche Italiane 2021, p. 613 (with Nicolas Wiegand)
  • Construction Contracts and Disputes, in: M. Moser/C. Bao (eds.), Managing "Belt and Road" Business Disputes: A Case Study of Legal Problems and Solutions, Wolters Kluwer 2021, p. 229 (with Mariel Dimsey and Nicolas Wiegand)
  • Enforcing arbitral awards in Germany, Lexis PSL Practical Note (with Evgenia Peiffer)
  • State immunity and arbitration in Germany, Lexis PSL Practical Note (with Susanne Schwalb)
  • Challenging the tribunal’s jurisdiction and anti-suit injunctions in Germany, Lexis PSL Practical Note (with Evgenia Peiffer)
  • Interim measures in support of arbitration in Germany, Lexis PSL Practical Note (with Susanne Schwalb)
  • Investitionsschutz entlang der Seidenstraße: Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit und Chinas neue "Seidenstraßengerichte", ICC Germany-Magazin, (6) Mai-November 2018, p. 32 (with Nicolas Wiegand)
  • The New Arbitration Rules of the German Institution of Arbitration (DIS): An Introduction to the New Dis-Rules from a Construction Arbitration Perspective, ICLR (3) 2018, p. 289 (with Andreas J. Roquette)
  • Up to Date Arbitration – Die neue DIS-Schiedsgerichtsordnung, BauR 6/2018, p. 900 (with Andreas J. Roquette)
  • Time Limits in International Arbitral Proceedings, in: P. Shaughnessy/S. Tung (eds.), The Powers and Duties of an Arbitrator – Liber Amicorum Pierre A. Karrer, Wolters Kluwer 2017, p. 279 (with Klaus Sachs)
  • Arbitration is becoming increasingly Asian, Business Law Magazine (3) Sept. 2015, p. 22 (with Nicolas Wiegand)
  • Res Judicata in International Arbitration – Both Common Ground and Source of Conflict, YAR, 4 (17) April 2015, p. 8 (with Susanne Schwalb)
  • Modelle betrieblicher Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung – Ein historisch-europäischer Rechtsvergleich zwischen Deutschland und dem Vereinigten Königreich, Schriften zum Arbeitsrecht und Wirtschaftsrecht vol. 91 (ed. Prof. Abbo Junker), Peter Lang 2015
  • How China-seated arbitration awards have been enforced Overseas – the English perspective, CIETAC HKAC Newsletter, 6/2014, p. 7 (with Sarah McIvor)
  • Willem C. Vis Moot – mehr als ein Studentenwettbewerb, SchiedsVZ, 5/2014, S. 248
  • The Rise of an Arbitration Giant: An Overview of the Development of the Chinese Law on Arbitration and the CIETAC Rules, Vindobona Journal, 15 (2) 2011, p. 217

Memberships & Roles

  • Director of the Humboldt Centre for the Legal Profession
  • Co-Chair DIS Construction Group
  • Hong Kong Arbitration Charity Ball Committee Member
  • Swiss Arbitration Ambassador for Hong Kong
  • Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre's HK45 Regional Ambassador Germany
  • German Arbitration Institute (DIS)
  • Swiss Arbitration Association (ASA)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC)
  • International Bar Association (IBA)
  • International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)
  • Society of Construction Law (SCL)
  • Humboldt Moot Association (Board Member)
  • Munich Moot Association
  • Moot Alumni Association

Lectures list

Since 2014, Tom gives an annual block seminar on "International Sales Law and Arbitration" at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (with Tobias A. Strecker) and a lecture on the "Recognition and Enforcement of Arbitral Awards" at the Frankfurt Drafting School. Since 2022, he also holds a seminar on "Legal Tech in Dispute Resolution" in the International Dispute Resolution Masters (LL.M.) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. In addition, he regularly gives lectures and presentations, in particular on international arbitration and dispute resolution as well as on construction, engineering and Asia related legal topics.

Selected lectures:

  • Somewhere Over the Rainbow Suite: Disputes Involving FIDIC Contracts, ASA Construction Group Roundtable, 11.11.2025, Zurich 
  • 40 Jahre HKIAC – eine asiatisch-internationale Erfolgsstory, 11. Internationaler Wirtschaftsrechtstag, 10.11.2025, Berlin
  • What would you do?, GAR Live Hong Kong, 23.10.2025, Hong Kong
  • Großverfahren, Verfahrenssteuerung und (elektronisches) Dokumentenmanagement, German Judges Acadamy, 14.08.2025, Trier
  • Effective Cross-Border Dispute Resolution: International Arbitration 101, Afrikaverein der deutschen Wirtschaft, 24.06.2025, Berlin
  • The Benefit of the Neutral Forum – Exploring the Attraction of Switzerland, Hong Kong and Singapore for International Arbitrations (Moderator), Swiss Arbitration Event at Hong Kong Arbitration Week, 21.10.2024, Hong Kong
  • German Law in Construction Contracts: Navigating GTCs (Moderator), DIS Construction Group Event, 09.09.2024, Berlin
  • International Construction Dispute Resolution: Latest Practice and New Trend, BAC/BIAC & ASA Geneva Summit on Commercial Dispute Resolution in China, 20.06.2024, Geneva
  • Common Law vs. Civil Law Debate (Moderator), HK 45/DIS 40 Event, 28.05.2024, Frankfurt
  • Recognition and Enforcement of Awards in Italy and Germany – a side-by-side comparison, Conference jointly organized by Italienzentrum der Freien Universität Berlin and Bilateral Italian-German Arbitration Group, 23.05.2024, Berlin
  • Disability Inclusion or Abuse of Proceedings? Debate on the Practical Application of the ICC Guide on Disability Inclusion, MAA/ICC/myAbility Disability Inclusion in Arbitration Event, 26.03.2024, Vienna
  • Lex constructionis – construction industry-specific legal concepts (Moderator), DIS Construction Group Event, 13.09.2023, Berlin
  • Ask the Secretary General (Moderator), Joint HKIAC, Swiss Arbitration & DIS Event, 21.06.2023, Berlin
  • Vindobona Journal 25th Anniversary Jubilee Panel, MAA Annual International Commercial Law & Arbitration Conference, 31.03.2023, Vienna
  • Outcome related fee structures – does a new era dawn?, HK45 & ASAb40 Joint Event, 13.01.2022, virtual
  • Brexit’s impact on international arbitration, DIS 40 London Brexit Spotlight, 25.03.2021, virtual
  • Schiedsklauseln und Schiedssprüche – was ist in China zu beachten?, CMS Maritime Breakfast, 13.11.2019, Hamburg
  • Early Conflict Resolution and Efficiency in Arbitration Proceedings, DIS and CIETAC Seminar at the China Arbitration Week, 05.11.2019, Beijing
  • Early Conflict Resolution – A New (and Better?) Answer to the Eternal Question of How To Best Control Time and Costs?, DIS Seminar at the Hong Kong Arbitration Week, 20.10.2019, Hong Kong
  • Diversity as Key Factor for Overcoming Biases – and for Addressing the Challenges Faced by International Arbitration, ICC YAF, 24.05.2019, Warsaw
  • HK45 & DIS 40 Arbitrator Skills Workshop, 31.03.2019, Hong Kong
  • Leaving the All Old White Boys Behind Us: an Economic Argument for Diversity in International Arbitration, Berlin Premoot Panel Discussion, 14.03.2019, Berlin
  • China - Arbitration in Zeiten der Belt und Road Initiative, DIS 40 Berlin: Rise and Shine with Arbitration, 13.03.2019, Berlin
  • Law Applicable in Arbitration, Guest Tutorial for the Humboldt IDR LL.M., 21.12.2018, Berlin
  • Concurrent Delay under Continental Law: the Civil Law Approach, Construction Roundtable, 14.06.2018, Vienna
  • Technological Development in Arbitration, 12th Annual Generations in Arbitration Conference, 11.03.2018, Hong Kong
  • Investment Protection in Europe from a Belt and Road Perspective, Asia International Arbitration Centre – First Asian Conference for Students and Young Practitioners, 01.03.2018, Kuala Lumpur
  • BRI Construction Projects, 3rd Annual ADR & Competition Law Summit, 15.11.2017, Beijing
  • Fair and Equitable Treatment, Guest Lecture at City University of Hong Kong, 10.10.2017, Hong Kong
  • How to Deal with Motions, Submissions and Evidence Not Foreseen in the Procedural Timetable? – Table Session Moderator, Co-Chairs' Circle Second Global Conference, 27.05.2016, Helsinki
  • The Influence of Party Consent on the Arbitral Process, XIII Vienna Generations in Arbitration Conference, 18.03.2016, Vienna
  • The Alabama Claims – The Origins of International Arbitration, 12th Willem C. Vis Moot Announcements Assembly, 19.03.2015, Hong Kong (for Colin J. Wall)
  • Non-Signatories in Arbitration – Taking Consent Seriously, YACF Seminar, 26.02.2015, Helsinki
  • Past Mooties' Paths into Successful International Arbitration Careers – Panel Discussion, VIII Hong Kong Generations in Arbitration Conference, 30.03.2014, Hong Kong
  • Multiple Contracts in a Single Arbitration – Art 10. CEPANI and beyond, 3rd Hanover PreMoot Conference, 06.03.2014, Hanover
  • Arbitration in China – Erfahrungen aus 3 Monaten im "wilden Osten", DIS40 Berlin, 28.11.2013, Berlin

Education

  • Trainee lawyer at the Berlin High Court (Kammergericht) with stages in Munich and Shanghai
  • Research associate with an international law firm in Berlin
  • PhD on a comparative law subject at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
  • Advanced studies of process management at Ruhr-Universität Bochum
  • Master of Law (LL.M.) at the University of Sydney
  • Law studies, including foreign language legal studies of English law, at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and the Université de Genève
Practice Areas
Project development and construction law Dispute Resolution Litigation Arbitration

Insights by Tom Christopher

See all Insights
Event

From Stockholm to Berlin

29 Sep 2026 Berlin, Germany
Past event

CMS at the Seoul ADR Festival

31 Oct 2023
Past event

Join CMS at the Paris Arbitration Week

29 Mar 2023
Past event

Technology in the Conduct of Arbitration – Facing the Future

21 Sep 2021
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