Home / People / Dr. Ulrich Becker

Dr. Ulrich Becker

Partner
Rechtsanwalt

Portrait ofUlrich Becker

Dr. Ulrich Becker

Partner
Rechtsanwalt

Contact
CMS Hasche Sigle
Neue Mainzer Straße 2–4
60311 Frankfurt
Germany
CMS Hasche Sigle
Augustusplatz 9
04109 Leipzig
Germany
Languages German, English

Ulrich Becker provides comprehensive civil and commercial law advice, in particular on operationally relevant purchasing and sales issues, such as contract drafting. His practice especially focusses on warranty matters but also product compliance, including product liability and product safety. In this context, Ulrich asserts and defends warranty and product liability claims and advises on product recalls. He also advises on preventive product safety compliance, such as product labelling and CE marking, as well as on all aspects relating to placing products on the EU market. Furthermore, Ulrich has recently been intensively focusing on the realignment of German and European product safety law, e.g. in relation to the EU Market Surveillance Regulation from mid-2021.

In the above-mentioned areas, Ulrich represents his clients before state courts and arbitration tribunals. His clients include European and US medium-sized companies in mechanical and plant engineering, high-tech, the supply industry and trade (at all levels of distribution).

Ulrich started his legal career in 2007 at Shearman & Sterling LLP in Frankfurt. In 2008, he joined CMS and has been a Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution partner since 2017. In 2014, Ulrich was seconded (6 months) to a US client in the Silicon Valley as an in-house lawyer. He regularly speaks on distribution and liability law topics as well as on product liability and product safety at congresses and (in-house) seminars. Since 2021, Ulrich has been lecturer at the law faculty of the EBS University of Economics and Law in Wiesbaden.

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„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„exzellent, kann komplexe Rechtsthemen zielsicher u. erfolgr. manövrieren“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„exzellent, kann komplexe Rechtsthemen zielsicher u. erfolgr. manövrieren“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb, Handel und Logistik

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

Leading lawyer for contract law

Kanzleimonitor 2020-2022

Recommended lawyer

Kanzleimonitor 2020, 2021

„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„exzellent, kann komplexe Rechtsthemen zielsicher u. erfolgr. manövrieren“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024

„exzellent, kann komplexe Rechtsthemen zielsicher u. erfolgr. manövrieren“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb, Handel und Logistik

JUVE Handbuch 2023/2024

Leading lawyer for contract law

Kanzleimonitor 2020-2022

Recommended lawyer

Kanzleimonitor 2020, 2021

Relevant experience

Product compliance

 

  • Worldwide leading manufacturer of industrial machines | Europe-wide product recall due to exceeding of emission limits
  • Manufacturer of hearing protection | Coordination of Germany-wide product recall
  • Leading manufacturer of garden and do-it-yourself equipment | Representation at hearing of Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) regarding incorrect information and technical documentation for radio equipment
  • Manufacturer of machine tools | Representation at hearing of market surveillance authority regarding handling of potentially carcinogenic substances in products
  • Globally active manufacturer of machines in the field of renewable energies | Support in responding to numerous inquiries from market authorities in several German federal states regarding risks according to the Machinery Directive and occupational health and safety
  • Leading manufacturer of optical devices | Examination of legal consequences of material (limit values) and formal (lack of technical documentation) violations of EMVG (EMC directive) incl. RAPEX analysis support
  • Leading manufacturer of optical devices | Advice on the preparation of safety information letters due to risks resulting from a deactivated safety function or due to existing risks despite safety function incl. RAPEX analysis support
  • Leading manufacturer of optical devices | Advice on the preparation of safety information letters due to new approval requirement according to the Radiation Protection Ordinance (Strahlenschutzverordnung)
  • Manufacturer of drives for home use | Advice on product marking UKCA vs. CE marking issues
  • Advice to a leading company in the energy sector on complex technical documentation requirements under the Machinery Directive in connection with offshore wind turbines
  • Manufacturer of machinery for the food industry | Advice on the possibility and requirements for issuing declarations of conformity and declarations of incorporation in electronic form, as well as on the design of the type plate and the (re)issuance of the declaration of conformity in case of an extended workbench according to the Machinery Directive
  • Manufacturers of home electronics | Advice on required information and labels according to various EU directives and their implementation into German law (Radio Equipment Directive, Machinery Directive, RoHS Directive, Low Voltage Directive, EMC Directive and WEEE Directive) in connection with market entry

 

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Publications

  • After Corona: How contracts become fit for the future, Deutsche Handwerkszeitung of July 30, 2020
  • After the crisis is before the crisis - Checklist for strengthening the supply chain, article on CMS-Blog, April 20, 2020
  • "Erased" - Manufacturers can request deletion of a RAPEX notification, article on CMS-Blog, March 06, 2020
  • Becker/Kussnik, Appropriate Confidentiality Measures under the Act on Protection of Trade Secrets - Consequences for the Contract Practice? RAW 2018, p. 119
  • Warning or Recall: Companies should be prepared, Börsenzeitung of October 1, 2016, p. 13
  • Problems must not be covered up, Interview about issues around product recalls in: Return – Magazin für Unternehmensführung und Sanierung, September 20, 2016
  • Inductive Charging as Challenge in terms of Product Liability, Forum Elektromobilität e.V. (pub.), Das Magazin für die Mobilität von morgen, 02/2013, p. 41
  • Secondary Market Trading with Traction Batteries – Liability Issues, Forum Elektromobilität e.V. (pub.), Das Magazin für die Mobilität von morgen, 02/2012, p. 42
  • "Buying" instead of "Ordering", Online-Handel, 02/2012, p. 30
  • The End of Online Trading?, Kommunikation & Recht (K&R), 04/2011, editorial
  • The End of Online Trading? , Anwalt Aktuell, 04/2011, p. 14
  • Das Beschlussverfahren zum Kündigungsschutz de lege lata und de lege ferenda – Zugleich eine rechtstatsächliche Untersuchung zum Beschlussverfahren gemäß §§ 126 ff. InsO (The Status Quo, and a Proposal for Reform, of the Adjudication Procedure in Wrongful Termination Cases – Also an Empirical Analysis of the Adjudication Procedure pursuant to Sections 126 et seq. of the German Insolvency Act), Publishing House Peter Lang, 2006
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Lectures list

  • Product Compliance from 360° - Labelling on product and packaging - "low hanging fruit" for authorities, series of events by VDE and CMS Hasche Sigle, March 09, 2022, Webinar
  • Product Compliance from 360° - Do we really need CE? No one ever asks..., series of events by VDE and CMS Hasche Sigle, February 16, 2022, Webinar
  • Product liability and safety never stand still... Latest case law, Bundesverband der Unternehmensjuristen (BUJ) - Fachgruppe Produkthaftung, February 15, 2022, Webinar
  • Lecture as part of the Hamburg certificate program "Bucerius Compliance Officer" of Bucerius Education GmbH on the topic "Product Compliance - The way to a safe and legally compliant product", February 10, 2022, Webinar
  • Law on the implementation of the EU directive on the sale of goods - sales law from January 1, 2022, December 08, 2021, BHB - Handelsverband Heimwerken, Bauen und Garten e.V., Webinar
  • Modernizing the EU's product safety and liability framework: a critical overview of recent legislative initiatives, Bundesverband der Unternehmensjuristen (BUJ) - Fachgruppe Produkthaftung, November 02, 2021, Webinar
  • Modernizing the EU's product safety and liability framework: critical overview of the latest legislative initiatives, October 08, 2021, Academy of European Law (ERA), Trier
  • Lecture on " Statutory Obligations – Producer‘s Liability" at EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht, September 30, 2021, Webinar
  • Manuals: Nobody reads that anyway?, September 29, 2021, VDE Webinar
  • Supply bottlenecks - What rights do I have and how can I protect myself for the future? IHK Hanau-Gelnhausen-Schlüchtern, September 21, 2021, Webinar
  • Dealing with supply bottlenecks, late deliveries, shortages of raw materials and price increases, August 10, 2021, in-house training at a leading company in the DIY and home improvement sector, Webinar
  • Expert keynote speech on the European Commission's Inception Impact Assessment on the revision of the Product Liability Directive, July 20, 2021, Bitkom webinar.
  • The countdown is on - The Market Surveillance Regulation is coming on July 16, 2021, July 07, 2021, Bitkom Webinar
  • The countdown is on - The Market Surveillance Regulation is coming on July 07 16, 2021, July 02, 2021, CMS Webinar
  • Pitfalls in contract law - In-house workshop for a global leader in the toy industry, June 17, 2021, webinar
  • The countdown is on - Only one month left until the market surveillance regulation, June 15, 2021, VDE webinar
  • Industrial espionage, know-how theft - how do I protect valuable company information correctly, May 18, 2021, VDE webinar in English language
  • And gone is the information... know-how protection as a challenge for companies, April 20, 2021, VDE webinar
  • Lecture on "Product Compliance" at EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht gGmbH, May 06, 2021, webinar
  • Semiconductors and steel - it's getting tougher for the supply chain, March 09, 2021, CMS webinar
  • Lessons from the crisis - How to make contracts fit for the future, IHK event "Kurz mal Recht" of the Hanau-Gelnhausen-Schlüchtern Chamber of Commerce and Industry, February 25, 2021, webinar
  • Lecture as part of the Hamburg certificate program "Bucerius Compliance Officer" of Bucerius Education GmbH on the topic "Product Compliance - The way to a safe and legally compliant product", February 04, 2021, Webinar
  • Responsibility for conformity assessment and/or declaration of conformity? Prerequisites of (civil) legal responsibility and liability of companies, Maschinenrechtstag - Die Konferenz rund um das Maschinenrecht, October 13, 2020, Cologne
  • Lecture on "Product Compliance" at EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht gGmbH, May 20, 2020, Wiesbaden
  • After the crisis is before the crisis - supply chains under stress - options to act in difficult times, May 13, 2020, CMS webinar
  • Basic Questions of Material Defects and Product Liability, ZVEI Seminar "CE Guidelines and New Legislative Framework", March 11, 2020, Frankfurt/Main
  • Basic Questions of Material Defects and Product Liability, IHK event "Recht Kompakt" of the IHK Aschaffenburg, February 19, 2020, Aschaffenburg
  • Lecture as part of the Hamburg certificate program "Bucerius Compliance Officer" of Bucerius Education GmbH on the topic "Product Compliance - The way to a safe and legally compliant product", February 8, 2020, Hamburg
  • Product liability requirements for the production and sale of household appliances - What you need to know to avoid liability, VDE Information Day "Household Appliances", November 5, 2019, Offenbach
  • Violations of REACH and RoHS - What are the consequences?, VDE Information Day "Chemicals", November 06, 2019, Offenbach
  • Basic Questions of Material Defects and Product Liability, IHK event "Recht Aktuell" of the IHK Hanau-Gelnhausen-Schlüchtern, September 19, 2019, Hanau
  • Protection of Secrets in Companies - Current Developments and Practical Implementation, Meeting of the Fachgruppe Werkzeuge des Fachverband des Maschinen- und Werkzeug-Großhandels e.V. (FDM), September 3, 2019, Fulda
  • Lecture as part of the Hamburg certificate program "Bucerius Compliance Officer" of Bucerius Education GmbH on the topic "Product Compliance - The way to a safe and legally compliant product", February 23, 2019, Hamburg
  • Presentation at the Partner Days 2018 of a large German industrial company on the subject "Protection of secrets in companies - current developments and practical implementation", December 06, 2018, Böblingen
  • Lecture at the German Graduate School of Management and Law gGmbH on the subject "Introduction to Distribution Law Part 2", September 6, 2018, Heilbronn
  • Presentation of the Saxon employers' association "Sächsischer Arbeitgeberverbandes Nahrung und Genuss e.V." on the subject of " Responsibility for the product - What has to be considered from a (civil) legal point of view for manufacturers and retailers in the food industry", June 13, 2018, Weidensdorf
  • Requirements under product liability law for the manufacture of transformers and power supplies - What has to be done to avoid liability?, VDE Information Day "LED, Human Centric Lighting", April 18, 2018, Offenbach
  • What still remained open... Or: there are still so many typical pitfalls in sales contracts, Conference of the Tools Division of the Fachverband des Maschinen- und Werkzeug-Großhandel e.V. (FDM), March 20, 2018, Wuppertal
  • Requirements under product liability law for the manufacture of transformers and power supplies - What has to be done to avoid liability?, VDE Information Day "Chemical Product Safety and Sustainability", March 07, 2018, Offenbach
  • One-day client in-house seminar for a global company in the electrical industry on the subject "Product conformity and liability - On the way to a legally compliant product and consequences of non-compliance", March 06, 2018
  • Mistakes during conformity assessment and CE marking - civil, criminal and public liability and its avoidance, Maschinenrechtstag of the Fachverband des Maschinen- und Werkzeug-Großhandel e. V. (FDM), January 25, 2018, Frankfurt/Main
  • Product liability requirements for the manufacture of transformers and power supplies - What do you need to know to avoid liability?, VDE/ZVEI Information Day Transformers and Power Supplies, November 15 2017, Offenbach
  • Changes in the German Warranty Law as of 01.01.2018, Maschinenrechtstag – Conference for machinery law, October 24, 2017, Cologne
  • Client inhouse workshop for an internationally active company in the kitchen supply industry on the topic of "Product liability and product safety – How to produce a safe and legally compliant product and consequences of non-compliance", September 13, 2017
  • Management presentation for an internationally active company in the electrical industry on the topic of " Product conformity and liability – The legally compliant product and consequences of non-compliance", September 11, 2017
  • Typical Failures in Sales and Distribution Agreements, Conference of the Tools Division of the Fachverband des Maschinen- und Werkzeug-Großhandel e.V. (FDM), September 5, 2017, Braunschweig
  • Basic Questions of Material Defects and Product Liability, ZVEI Seminar "CE Guidelines and New Legislative Framework", March 2, 2017, Frankfurt/Main
  • Selling into Europe: What you need to know – Product related regulatory issues that are relevant when selling into the EU, Webinar in cooperation with European-American Chamber of Commerce New York, February 16, 2017
  • Two-day client inhouse workshop for European strategic purchasing of an US based technology company on the topic of "Purchasing in a legally compliant way", January 17-18, 2017
  • Responsibility for conformity assessment and conformity declaration? Prerequisites for the legal responsibility and liability of corporations, VDE / ZVEI Workshop "LED Applications within the general lighting", November 24, 2016, Offenbach
  • Responsibility for conformity assessment and conformity declaration? Prerequisites for the legal responsibility and liability of corporations, VDE Information day "Chemical product safety and sustainability for electronic products", November 16, 2016, Offenbach
  • Know-How Protection in Companies – Non Disclosure Agreement as "Toothless Tiger"?, Maschinenrechtstag – Conference for machinery law, October 11, 2016, Cologne
  • Responsibility for conformity assessment and conformity declaration? Prerequisites for the legal responsibility and liability of corporations, VDE / ZVEI Information day "Power supply – Standards, legal requirements, visions", September 27, 2016, Offenbach
  • Contractual arrangements of costs and damage in claim settlement scenarios, Maschinenrechtstag – Conference for machinery law, October 6, 2015, Cologne
  • Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) – Consequences for Companies?, Presentation at the regular meeting of local companies organized by the city of Mörfelden-Walldorf, July 23, 2015, Mörfelden-Walldorf
  • Risk Management – Handling of Risks and Implementation of a Risk Management System, Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektroindustrie e.V. (ZVEI) (Central Association of the Electrical Engineering and Electronics Industry (ZVEI), April 20, 2015, Frankfurt a.M.
  • Typical Failures in Sales and Distribution Agreements, Maschinenrechtstag – Conference for machinery law, October 7, 2014, Cologne
  • Various Client Inhouse Seminars at the German production sites of an US based technology company regarding "Supply", "Sales", "Engineering", "Non-Disclosure Agreements", September 9-11, 2014
  • Compensation Claim of Distribution Partners - Strategies for Avoidance and Limitation, lecture at "Update Procurement and Distribution", November 19, 2013, Frankfurt a. M.
  • Client Inhouse Seminar on Product Liability, November 29, 2012
  • Secondary Market Trading with Traction Batteries: Unlimited Liability? – Legal Issues of Distribution and Liability when trading Traction Batteries on the Secondary Market, lecture at Forum ElektroMobilität e.V., June 14, 2012, Berlin
  • Client Inhouse Seminar on General Contract Law, May 30, 2012
  • The new Product Safety Act – Challenges not only for Producers, lecture, May 22, 2012, Frankfurt a. M.
  • Framework Supply Agreements, lecture at "Update on Procurement and Distribution", November 24, 2011, Frankfurt a. M.
  • Distribution on International Markets, lecture, September 27, 2011, Frankfurt a. M.
  • Direct Marketing and Law – Obstacles to reaching Customers / Data Protection and Competition Law, lecture at "Update Procurement and Distribution", November 9, 2010, Frankfurt a. M.
  • Legal Update on the Compensation Claim of Commercial Agents and Distributors, lecture at "Update Procurement and Distribution", November 10, 2009, Frankfurt a. M.
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Education

  • 2005 - 2007: Trainee lawyer in Frankfurt a. M. and London
  • 2005: Doctoral dissertation, Jena
  • 1998 - 2003: Law studies at the University of Jena
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Expertise

Feed

18/12/2023
CMS advises British service provider Serco on acquisition of social services...
Leipzig – Serco Group, which specialises in government services, has agreed to acquire European Homecare, a company focusing on social services, from the Korte Foundation. The Essen-based provider is...
Deals
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
21/04/2023
Key changes for companies related to the new General Product Safety Regulation
On 30 March 2023, the European Parliament adopted the General Product Safety Regulation for consumer products, which replaces the General Product Safety Directive of 2001 (2001/95/EC). The Council must...
Law-Now Private Equity & Venture Capital
16/06/2022
CMS advises shareholder of 1a Berlin-Tyre on sale to Best4Tires, a Rivean...
Leipzig/Berlin – Rivean Capital portfolio company Best4Tires has acquired 1a Berlin-Tyre, a tyre wholesaler with one of the widest range of products in Germany. The acquisition of 1a Berlin-Tyre is...
News
08/02/2022
CMS advises US technology company Bruker on acquisition of PepSep
Frankfurt/Main – Bruker Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed US tech company in the analytical instrumentation sector, has acquired PepSep. The Danish company specialises in the production and sale of high-quality...
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
23/12/2021
CMS advises home24 on acquisition of homeware specialist BUTLERS
Berlin – Berlin-based home24 SE, a leading pure-play home & living e-commerce platform in continental Europe and Brazil, has acquired all the shares in Butlers, a retailer of homeware, decorations and...
Deals
06/12/2021
CMS advises Cadence Growth Capital (CGC) on investment in phone-as-a-ser­vice...
Stuttgart – Phone-as-a-ser­vice provider everphone has raised USD 200 million in growth capital. The round of financing was led by Cadence Growth Capital (CGC), the fastest growing growth PE fund in...
Deals
10/06/2021
Protecting trade secrets: IT security and employee leaks regarded as biggest...
Three out of four senior corporate executives believe that more needs to be invested in protecting trade secrets. That is one of the key findings of recent analysis by international law firm CMS in association...
Press releases
25/02/2021
Das Liefer­kettenge­setz
Dr Ulrich Becker, partner in the Com­mer­cial prac­tice at CMS, and Dr Christoph Schröder, lawyer at CMS and one of the supply chain compliance experts, report on the latest developments in connection with the German Supply Chain Act (Liefer­kettenge­setz) and what these mean for German companies. The podcast also touches on the current status of the due diligence obligations planned at EU level.
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
14/12/2020
After the crisis is before the crisis – checklist for strengthening the...
In the current coronavirus pandemic, many companies have realised that their purchasing structures have reached their limits. It has proven to be risky to rely only on one supplier. It is also evident...
Publication
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