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Dr. Robert Budde

Partner
Rechtsanwalt

Portrait ofRobert Budde

Dr. Robert Budde

Partner
Rechtsanwalt

Contact
CMS Hasche Sigle
Kranhaus 1
Im Zollhafen 18
50678 Cologne
Germany
Languages German, English, Italian

Robert Budde is a commercial law expert, advising companies on their agency and distribution arrangements as well as on related German and EU competition law issues. He specialises in implementing and restructuring exclusive and selective distribution systems and also drafts complex framework supply agreements. In particular, he advises on disputes between manufacturers and the trade regarding price adjustments and delivery obligations. Robert’s practice furthermore includes assisting his clients on all contract law issues related to procurement, production and distribution. In recent years, Robert Budde has also acquired considerable expertise in sports law, in particular in disputes between football clubs and players' agents. In case of dispute, he represents his clients in court, often in an international context. Renowned law firm directories recommend Robert in their rankings, naming him as one of Germany’s leading distribution lawyers as well as a highly experienced litigator.

Robert is particularly experienced in advising Italian companies on their business activities in Germany. From 1996 to 2006, he acted as counsel of trust to the Italian Consulate General in Cologne and in 1999, he was presented with the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Ufficiale).

Robert has been a partner since 1994. Before joining CMS in 1990, he was a research assistant at the Research Institute for Social Law and the Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law. He also worked for four years as associate with a litigation boutique law firm.

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Führender Name für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed as leading individual

Chambers Europe, 2023

Leading Individual for Trade, Distribution and Logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

"Robert Budde is a very approachable and experienced consultant who also offers very pragmatic solutions.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

"highly experienced in distribution law", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)

"Recommended" for Distribution and Franchising

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)

„experienced”, competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)

Leading individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2021

"stands out for his advice on distribution systems, contractual disputes and supply chains"

Chambers Europe, 2021

"top choice for Italian clients and cross-border cases involving Italian law"

Chambers Europe, 2021

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2021

"He is very experienced and pragmatic in his advice and doesn’t get lost in details but really focuses on the economic needs and connections.", client

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as Leading Individual

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2022

Leading individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

"Dr. Budde has outstanding professional competence.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Führender Name für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed as leading individual

Chambers Europe, 2023

Leading Individual for Trade, Distribution and Logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

"Robert Budde is a very approachable and experienced consultant who also offers very pragmatic solutions.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

"highly experienced in distribution law", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)

Führender Berater im Vertriebsrecht

JUVE Handbuch, 2021/2022

"Recommended" for Distribution and Franchising

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)

„experienced”, competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)

Leading individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2021

"stands out for his advice on distribution systems, contractual disputes and supply chains"

Chambers Europe, 2021

"top choice for Italian clients and cross-border cases involving Italian law"

Chambers Europe, 2021

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2021

„hervorragend“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023

Führender Berater im Vertriebsrecht

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023

„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb, Handel, Logistik

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023

"He is very experienced and pragmatic in his advice and doesn’t get lost in details but really focuses on the economic needs and connections.", client

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as Leading Individual

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2022

Leading individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

"Dr. Budde has outstanding professional competence.", client

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

„Dr. Budde hat überragende fachliche Kompetenz.“, Mandant

The Legal 500 Deutschland, 2022

Memberships & Roles

  • German Association for Distribution Law (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Vertriebsrecht)
  • German-Italian Business Association Mercurio
  • German-Italian Chamber of Commerce in Milan
  • German Bar Association Italy
  • Associazione di Giuristi di Lingua Italiana
  • German-Italian Lawyers’ Association
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Publications

  • „Preisanpassungen in Rahmenlieferverträgen im Konsumgütereinzelhandel – Sackgassen und Wege aus der Preisfalle“, ZVertriebsR 2022, 279 with Dr. Philipp Rohdenburg
  • Der Spielervermittlervertrag: Vermittlungsmaklervertrag oder vermittlungsunabhängiges Provisionsversprechen? Urteil des OLG Karlsruhe vom 18.2.2022 – 15 U 54/21, with Dr. Philipp Rohdenburg, SpoPrax 2022, S. 238-242
  • „Ergänzende Vertragsauslegung eines Spielervermittlervertrages bei Verschiebung der Transferperiode“, SpoPrax 2022, 112, with Dr. Philipp Rohdenburg
  • „Die Geschäftsverbindung: Abgrenzung vom Vertragshändlervertrag und Frist zu ihrer Beendigung – zugleich eine Anmerkung zu OLG Hamm, Urteil vom 14.5.2020“, ZVertriebsR 2020, 348.
  • „Sponsoring in der Krise“, Article on the effects of the continuation of the Bundesliga season in the form of "ghost games" on sponsorship contracts, Information Letter “Football in the Corona Crisis”, 3rd edition, with Philipp Rohdenburg, 14.5.2020
  • „Ist die ‚Gutscheinlösung eine Lösung“? Article on the new law according to which ticket holders should receive a voucher instead of the ticket price if an event is cancelled, Information Letter "Football in the Corona Crisis", 2nd edition, with Philipp Rohdenburg, 24.4.2020
  • „Auswirkungen der Corona-Pandemie auf Vertriebsverträge“. Blog post in CMS blog with Lars Eckhoff, 31.3.2020
  • “Haftung bei Absagen von Messen aufgrund des Coronavirus“, Blog post in CMS blog on economic consequences for organisers and participants in the event of cancellation of trade fairs, with Philipp Rohdenburg, 17.3.2020
  • "Findet AGB-Recht auf Kaufverträge, die unter einem Rahmenliefervertrag abgeschlossen werden Anwendung?“, ZVertriebsR 2019, S. 348
  • E-WINE – legal and economic aspects of online wine sales, Author of the Chapter “Online sale with European Consumers – Legal requirements and information obligations”, 2018
  • Termination of Franchising and Distribution Agreements in EU, Autor des Chapter IV “Germany”, 2018
  • “3 Jahre Garantie” – Warum Werbung mit Herstellergarantie gar nicht so einfach ist, blog post in CMS blog about Risks of a manufacturer's warranty on sales packaging, 27.9.2018
  • "Contratti di agenzia internazionali, la disciplina in Germania", zusammen mit Avv. Alessandro Limatola, Il Sole 24 Ore – Guida al Lavoro 21.4.2017.
  • "Der Handelsvertretervertrag in Italien – Besonderheiten des italienischen Rechts", zusammen mit Dr. Francesco Gozzo, LL.M., ZVertriebsR 2017, 77.
  • Handbuch des Vertriebsrechts, Autor des Abschnitts "Rahmenlieferverträge", 4. Auflage 2016
  • Handbuch des Vertriebsrechts, Autor des Abschnitts "Italien", 4. Auflage 2016
  • "Quando un cliente acquisito dall'agente deve essere considerato un nuovo cliente", Agenti e Rappresentanti di Commercio, n. 3/2016, S. 21
  • Distribuzione, anche in Germania il concessionario ha (quasi) sempre diritto all'indennità di fine rapporto, Il Sole 24 Ore (Online) 26.4.2016
  • Seit 2012 monatliche Beiträge im Newsletter der Deutsch-Italienischen Handelskammer Mailand, zu Themen des Handels- und Vertriebsrechts sowie des internationalen Prozessrechts
  • "Anforderungen an die außerordentliche Kündigung von Handelsvertretern und Vertragshändlers wegen zu geringer Umsätze", zusammen mit Christoffer Gruppe, ZVertriebsR 2014, S. 71.
  • „Ausweg aus der Fristversäumung – Wer zu spät kommt, dem fällt manchmal noch was ein“, blog post in the CMS Blog about the termination of distribution agreements without notice despite expiry of the "reasonable deadline", 19.9.2012
  • "Rechtssicherheit und Verringerung der Transaktionskosten? – Das GEKR aus dem Blickwinkel der Praxis", Beitrag zus. mit Lars Eckhoff in: Hahn (Hrsg.), Gemeinsames Europäisches Kaufrecht, Verlag C.H. Beck 2012
  • Rahmenlieferverträge - ein Instrument zur Verfestigung von Vertriebsbeziehungen, ZVertriebsR 2012, S. 37
  • „Wer reklamieren will, muss reisen …“, blog post in the CMS Blog about the place of performance for subsequent performance in Sales Law, 3.6.2011
  • Handbuch des Vertriebsrechts, im Kapitel "Internationales Vertriebsrecht" Autor des Abschnitts "Italien", 3. Auflage 2010
  • Das neue Recht des Ausgleichsanspruchs, zus. mit Lars Eckhoff, CMS-Report XVI, 2009, S. 22
  • Il Contratto di Agenzia in Germania - un aggiornamento, zus. mit Francesco Gozzo, Agenti e Rappresentanti di Commercio 2009, Heft 2, S. 20
  • La Nuova Normativa sulla Indennità di Fine Rapporto, Agenti e Rappresentanti di Commercio 2009, Heft 4, S. 26
  • Auswirkungen des AGG auf Vertriebspartner, BB 2007, S. 731
  • Rahmenverträge erfolgreich abschließen, Autor des Beitrags "Leistungsstörungen und Kündigung", 2007
  • Das Ende der Einstandszahlung im Handelsvertreterrecht?, DB 2005, S. 2177
  • Gli Strumenti di Garanzia nel Diritto Tedesco, Beitrag zum Tagungsband A.I.G.L.I. "Le Garanzie nel Commercio Internazionale", 1999
  • Il Contratto di Agenzia in Germania, Zeitschrift der Deutsch-Italienischen Handelskammer 1999
  • L'Agente Commerciale nel Diritto Tedesco, Agenti e Rappresentanti di Commercio 1998, Heft 1, S. 27
  • La Responsabilità della Società Madre per Debiti della s.r.l. controllata nel Diritto Tedesco, Zeitschrift der Deutsch-Italienischen Handelskammer 1996
  • La Tutella dalle Imitazioni nel Diritto Tedesco, Zeitschrift der Deutsch-Italienischen Handelskammer 1995
  • Verspäteter Ausspruch der fristlosen Kündigung eines Vertragshändlervertrages, WiB 1994, S. 198
  • Verwirkungen der Maklerprovision und Mitverschulden, MDR 1986, S. 896
  • Verweisungen im BGB, Jura 1984, S. 578
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Lectures list

  • “Distributorship agreement, termination and stock management” Lecture at a Congress of the International Association of Italian speaking Lawyers, Milan, 6 May 2023
  • „Everything you always wanted to know about Italian Agency Law, but were afraid to ask”, With Dr. Francesco Gozzo, Avvocato, Verona, Interview and Q&A session with an Italian distribution law expert at the 12th Symposium of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Vertriebsrecht (DGVR), Leipzig 29 April 2022
  • Regular contributions to "CMS To Go", our Podcast on current legal topics, in particular in the seasons "Update Commercial" and "Law & Sports"
  • „Peculiarities of Italian Commercial Agency Law”, Lecture at the Online Workshopof the German-Italian Lawyers' Association, 8. October 2021
  • „Vendere online, vendere in store?”, Lecture on current cases on selective distribution systems (Amazon, Sisley, Coty) at a panel discussion, Verona 21.11.2019
  • „E-Commerce in Germania: Attenzione alle diffide per violazioni del GDPR e l’uso di clausole nulle nelle condizioni generali di vendita“, Lecture at an interdisciplinary congress of the University of Verona and the Association “Scambi sul Mercato, Verona 23.11.2018
  • “Termination of Distribution and Franchise Agreements - Cessazione die contratti di concessione di vendita e di franchising”, Lecture to the Milan Bar Association 11.5.2018
  • "Ineffective clauses in distribution and supply contracts: Known and proven does not necessarily mean effective", Commercial Roadshow Cologne 22.02.2018, Düsseldorf 28.02.2018
  • "Vendita diretta tramite online-shop - Confronto con la distribuzione tramite concessionari", Lecture at an interdisciplinary seminar of the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce in Milan on online sales to Germany with legal, fiscal and marketing aspects, Milan 9.11.2017
  • "Contratti online. Informazioni ai consumatori", Lecture at a congress of the Italian Wine Law Association UGIVI on legal and economic aspects of the online distribution of wine, Castello di Grinzane Cavour 22.9.2017
  • "Direct sales via online shop or online distribution via resellers? – Legal requirements and possible restrictions", Lecture at a seminar on e-commerce, Verona 4 November 2016
  • "Le clausole di esonero/limitazione di responsabilità nei contratti internazionali - Germania", Congress of International Association of Italian speaking Lawyers, Milan, 14 May 2016.
  • "La distribuzione in Germania – i tre canali principali: Agenzia, Concessione di vendita, Stabile organizzazione", Interdisciplinary seminar on distribution to Germany, Verona, 8 April 2016
  • "Strategies to avoid/reduce claims to compensation in German Agency and Distribution Law"Seminar of the "German Bar Association Italy", Milan, 11 December 2015
  • "Liability without Limits – International Comparison of Liability Clauses" Commercial Roadshow Düsseldorf 24 November 2015
  • "La distribuzione in Germania – con spunti comparatistici con l'Italia", with Avvocato Italo de Feo, Seminar of the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Milan, 1 October 2015
  • "La distribuzione del vino in Germania – Principali problematiche e soluzioni percorribili", XXII. Seminar of the Italian Association of Wine Law "UGIVI" in occasion of the trade fair "Vinitaly", Verona, 22 March 2015
  • "Separating from an Unloved Distribution Partner – The Pitfalls of Termination Without Notice", Commercial Roadshow, Cologne, 12 November 2014
  • "General Terms and Conditions – More Than Just Small Print", 12th SMEs Conference Cologne Rhineland (Mittelstandstag KölnRheinland), Cologne, 26 June 2014
  • "Thoughts on the Structuring of the Distributions Partner's Compensation Claim", Fourth Symposium of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Vertriebsrecht (German Association for Distribution Law), Leipzig, 28 March 2014
  • "Hell to Pay? – The Distribution Partner's Compensation Claim", Commercial Roadshow, Cologne, 13 November 2013
  • "Obligation to Conclude Contracts in Master Supply Agreements" and "Securing Supplier's Ability to Deliver", workshops with the Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft Einkauf und Logistik (German Association for Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics), Cologne, 15 May 2012
  • "Master Supply Agreements – Always Test the Ties That Bind", "Commercial Roadshow", Cologne, 15 November 2011
  • Workshop "Purchase and Supply Agreements in Times of Crisis – From the Perspective of the Buyer", German Association Materials Management, Purchasing and Logistics, Cologne, 17 November 2009
  • "The Contractual Partner in Crisis – A Non-Controllable Risk?", roadshow "Economic Downturn – Chances in the Crisis", Cologne, 4 March 2009
  • "Problem Clauses in Distribution and Supply Agreements – A Workshop", workshop Düsseldorf Chamber of Industry and Commerce, 21January2009, in modified form as client workshop, Bergisch-Gladbach, 16 March 2010
  • "Typical Problem Clauses", "Commercial Roadshow", Cologne, 6 November 2008
  • "Contractual Design as Illustrated by an Authorised Dealer Agreement", in-house seminar, Cologne, 5 March 2008
  • "'False' Clauses in Distribution Agreements – A Workshop", workshop, "Commercial Roadshow", Cologne, 6 November 2007
  • "Pitfalls in Import and Export Transactions", "Commercial Roadshow", Cologne, 14 November 2006
  • "Typical Sources of Errors in Distribution and Purchasing Agreements", "Commercial Roadshow", Cologne, 24 November 2005
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Education

  • 1987: Admitted as a lawyer
  • Research assistant at the Research Institute for Social Law and the Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, Research work for PhD on a topic related to Italian law at the Universities of Freiburg and Pisa
  • Law studies at the University of Cologne
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Expertise

Feed

09/06/2023
Update Commercial
Now also available to listen to: Our Update Commercial provides a regular overview of the latest court rulings, ongoing legislative processes and trends around production, trade and distribution – always combined with recommendations and practical tips.
Publication
09/06/2023
Law & Sports
In our Law & Sports podcast series, we discuss the latest developments around sports law, covering matters such as players’ agents in professional football, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on various types of sports and issues relating to e-sports. Stay on the ball and find out what’s happening in the world of sport.
Publication
20/10/2022
Entscheidung des OLG Karlsruhe (15 U 54/21) zur Spiel­erver­mittlung: Ein...
In previous podcasts we introduced the parties involved in player transfers and discussed the features specific to this sector. Our fourth podcast in this series deals with the ruling by Karlsruhe Higher Regional Court of 18 February 2022 (15 U 54/21). This ruling highlights the problems posed by classifying the agreement on the agent’s fee as a brokerage contract. Dr Robert Budde and Dr Philipp Rohdenburg also present their proposed solution, which would simplify the civil law handling of using intermediaries in professional football player transfers.
Publication
11/10/2022
Der Vertrag mit dem Spiel­erver­mit­tler: ein Maklervertrag?
Welcome back to the third podcast in our mini-series on using intermediaries in player transfers. Having previously talked about the parties involved and payment of the agent by the player’s new club, this time Dr Robert Budde and Dr Philipp Rohdenburg ask why the parties usually describe the agreement on the agent’s fee as a brokerage contract. Is this legal categorisation absolutely necessary or does it create problems? Stay tuned and find out all you need to know about the legal and practical background to using agents in transfers in professional football.
Publication
05/10/2022
Wer bezahlt den Spiel­erver­mit­tler?
Having presented the basics and the main parties involved in player transfers in the previous podcast of our mini-series, we start the second part exactly where we left off: Dr Robert Budde and Dr Philipp Rohdenburg look at why an agent acting as an intermediary is paid by the sports club and not by the player. Stay tuned and find out all you need to know about the legal and practical background to using agents in transfers in professional football.
Publication
29/09/2022
Wie läuft eine Spiel­erver­mittlung ab?
Players’ agents are now involved in almost every transfer of a professional footballer from one club to another. But how does this transfer to a new club actually work? What role does the agent play, and how do the courts deal with any disputes that may arise in this context? This and many other fascinating questions around the legal and practical background to using agents in transfers in professional football are answered by Dr Robert Budde and Dr Philipp Rohdenburg in the first podcast of our mini-series of the same name.
Publication
05/07/2022
Sackgassen und Wege aus der Preisfalle
Raw materials scarcity, high energy and logistics costs: Due to high inflation and price increases across all sectors, production costs are also rising, resulting in many companies no longer being able to deliver in their usual manner. As a consequence, requests from suppliers for price adjustments are also becoming more and more common. In today’s Update Commercial podcast, Dr Robert Budde and Dr Markus Schöner, both partners at CMS, explain how this can be achieved even mid-contract.
Publication
29/03/2022
NFTs in der Welt des Sports
They’re currently a hot topic, not least due to the huge potential: non-fungible tokens (NFT). In this podcast, CMS Sports Group lawyers Dr Robert Budde and Phil­ipp Rohdenburg join up with Dr Julia Hugendubel, a lawyer in the CMS crypto team, to highlight the many possible applications of NFTs in sport. They discuss the statutory provisions in Germany and also cover other important aspects.
Publication
21/02/2022
Keine Provision bei Verschiebung des Transferfensters
Sport has clearly been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The courts often found themselves dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on contracts, for example. An important judgment was handed down by Bremen Regional Court on 31 January 2022, in a case where a Dutch players’ agency had sued SV Werder Bremen for commission. Lawyers Dr Robert Budde and Phil­ipp Rohdenburg from the CMS Sports Group report at first hand on the ruling and its implications.
Publication
01/02/2022
Victory for SV Werder Bremen against players’ agency before Bremen Regional...
Hamburg/Cologne – The long-established North German club does not have to pay EUR 250,000 in commission in connection with the transfer of Davy Klaassen. The dispute before Bremen Regional Court centred...
Deals
27/01/2022
Das neue Kaufrecht 2022
New law on sales has been in force in the EU since 1 January 2022, aimed at strengthening consumer rights. It applies to all contracts entered into after 1 January 2022 and affects both B2B and B2C transactions. In this podcast, CMS lawyers Dr Ulrich Becker and Dr Robert Budde talk with Lars Eckhoff about the changes and consequences involved, and what companies need to be aware of.
Publication
27/01/2021
Winter 2020/2021
Dr Ulrich Becker and Dr Robert Budde, who are both partners in the Com­mer­cial prac­tice at CMS, report on a number of issues, including the latest coronavir­us-re­lated decisions, developments around the entitlement to information under commercial agent law, key aspects of the Trade Secrets Protection Act (Geschäfts­ge­heim­nisge­setz) and when there is a right to withdraw from contracts for personalised goods.
Publication
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