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 Christoph Schröder
Counsel

Dr. Christoph Schröder

Rechtsanwalt

Languages
  • German
  • English
  • Chinese
Social media

Christoph Schröder advises companies on commercial and corporate law.

He is an expert in supply chain compliance. This includes the German Supply Chain Act as well as Europe-wide and foreign regulations on corporate due diligence and reporting obligations. In this area, he supports clients, for example, in determining the applicability of legal regimes, setting up a risk management system, conducting risk analyses, drafting contracts and internal guidelines, as well as in infringement and liability cases.

Another focus of Christoph’s work is the China business. He has been assisting German and Chinese companies with their investments and other activities in the respective other country for many years. He is familiar with the typical expectations and business customs in both countries and brings his experience to bear in mutual communication. This is often of decisive importance for the successful conclusion of a transaction. He often negotiates, presents and communicates in Chinese.

Christoph has been a lawyer at CMS in Hamburg since 2006. From 2012 to 2020, he worked in our Shanghai office.

He gives presentations and publishes articles, in particular on investments in Germany and on supply chain compliance.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Recommended for consultancy on environmental and liability risks and ESG supply chain due diligence
    The Legal 500 EMEA Green Guide, 2024

Relevant experience

  • Advising Yongfeng Group on the acquisition of the German prefabricated construction group Bürkle
  • Advising Chinese cable manufacturer ZTT on the acquisition of the Turkish company Demirer Kablo
  • Advising China Railway Construction Corporation on the acquisition of the German company CIDEON Engineering and CIDEON Switzerland
  • Advising Powerway Group Co., Ltd. (Ningbo/China) on the acquisition of Berkenhoff GmbH (Germany)
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned construction machinery manufacturer on emission standards in various European jurisdictions as well as on standard distribution agreements
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned enterprise on establishing a hospital in Africa
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned container shipping company on establishing agencies in several European countries

Publications

  • "Aktuelle Entwicklungen rund um das Lieferkettengesetz", comply. 2023, S. 14
  • Neue Sorgfaltspflichten in der Lieferkette - Das LkSG als Impuls für ein Supply Chain Compliance Management, Zeitschrift comply., Heft 4/2022, S. 54-55 (mit Martin Schulz)
  • Praxisleitfaden Supply Chain Compliance - Anforderungen des LkSG und Empfehlungen zur Umsetzung von Sorgfaltspflichten in der Lieferkette, Köln 2022 (mit Martin Schulz)
  • Investitionen in Europa - Ablauf einer M&A-Transaktion und Standardklauseln, GermanyContact 4/2012, p. 17
  • Offshore-Windkraftanlagen - Haftung und Haftpflichtversicherung, VersR 2010, p. 585 ff, as co-author
  • Der multimodale Frachtvertrag nach chinesischem Recht, Diss., Berlin 2008
  • Der Eigentumsvorbehalt im Kaufvertrag nach dem Recht der VR China, Newsletter der Deutsch-Chinesischen Juristenvereinigung e.V., 4/1999, p. 117-136
  • Vertragsgesetz der Volksrepublik China, Übersetzung und Einführung, Mitteilungen des Instituts für Asienkunde Hamburg, No. 309, Hamburg 1999, as co-author

Lectures list

  • "Das Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG)", Schulung für Mandantin, München, 02.12.2024
  • "EU-Entwaldungsverordnung (EUDR)“, Online-Schulung für Mandantin, 13.11.2024
  • "Legal update on CSDDD and EUDR", Vortrag auf dem CMS Consumer Products Sector Group Meeting, Co-Referent: Akin Aslan (CMS Niederlande), Düsseldorf, 09.10.2024
  • "EU-Lieferkettenrichtlinie (CSDDD) – Was müssen Unternehmen beachten?", Webinar von CMS im Rahmen der Reihe "Compliance Sessions", Co-Referent: Martin Schulz (CMS Deutschland), 02.10.2024
  • "ESG session" zu CSDDD, EUDR und EUFLR, Online-Schulung für Mandantin, Co-Referentin: Döne Yalcin (CMS Türkei), 19.09.2024
  • "Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD): Was bedeuten die neuen Nachhaltigkeits-Sorgfaltspflichten in der EU für Schweizer Unternehmen?", Co-Referentin: Regula Meng (focusright), Zürich, 18.09.2024
  • "Das Lieferkettengesetz in der Praxis – Dos und Don'ts für Mittelständler", Webinar im Rahmen der Reihe "Online Impulse" der Wirtschaftsförderung und Technologietransfer Schleswig Holstein GmbH (WTSH), Co-Referent: Tobias Bomsdorf (CMS Deutschland), 04.07.2024
  • "Die EU-Lieferkettenrichtlinie – ab wann und für wen gilt sie, was ist zu tun, welche Sanktionen drohen?", Online-Seminar des VDE Verband der Elektrotechnik Elektronik Informationstechnik e.V., 19.06.2024
  • "Geschäftspartner-Screening nach dem LkSG", Vortrag auf der Veranstaltung "Business Partner Compliance – ein wichtiger Baustein effizienter Governance" der Regionalgruppe West der Financial Experts Association e.V. (FEA) (Düsseldorf, 23 April 2024)
  • "Das Lieferkettengesetz in der Praxis", Vortrag im Rahmen der Industriegespräche der Verbände AKW/ZHH, FDM, FWI und ZVEI (Köln, 21 November 2023)
  • "Insights on the new Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)", Webinar der SAP SE, Co-Referent: Timm Hemmert (SAP SE), 9 November 2023
  • "LkSG: Pflichten und Haftungsrisiken für die Unternehmensleitung", Webinar von CMS im Rahmen der Reihe "Compliance Sessions", Co-Referent: Martin Schulz (CMS Deutschland), 8 November 2023
  • "Supply Chain Due Diligence: Status Quo in Germany and EU Outlook", Vortrag auf der SAP Spend Connect Live (Wien, 11 October 2023)
  • "Supply Chain Compliance: Menschenrechtliche und umweltbezogene Sorgfaltspflichten für Banken", Vortrag auf der Veranstaltung "Sustainability – Regulatorische Anforderungen an Banken" von CMS (Frankfurt/Main, 26 September 2023)
  • "Compliance-Herausforderung: Beschwerdeverfahren im LkSG" , Vortrag auf dem Bitkom Forum Recht (Berlin, 25 May 2023)
  • "ESG – Supply Chain Governance in DACH", Podiumsdiskussion auf dem Mergermarket M&A Forum – Germany (Frankfurt/Main, 18 April 2023)
  • “Das Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG)”, Online-Schulung für Mandantin, 2023-01-30
  • "Auf dem Weg zum deutschen Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG) – Umsetzungsherausforderungen & Best Practices", Diskussion im Rahmen eines Webinars von Moody's Analytics, 24 January 2023
  • „The German Supply Chain Act and key elements of a social compliance program“, Online-Schulung für Mandantin, 2023-01-18
  • "Supply Chain Compliance and Green Public Procurement", Vortrag und Moderation der Session im Rahmen der Veranstaltungsreihe “General Counsel Roundtable” der European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA), Co-Referentin: Veronika Kovács (CMS Hungary), Frankfurt, 2022-11-17
  • “Das neue Lieferkettengesetz: Herausforderungen für die Wirtschaft, Chancen für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung?” Einführung und Diskussion auf der Online-Veranstaltung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für die Vereinten Nationen (DGVN) und von CMS, 2022-11-09
  • “The proposed EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) and the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act: What to expect?”, Global Life Sciences & Healthcare Forum 2022, Co-Referent: Kenny Henderson (CMS UK), Brüssel, 2022-09-29
  • „Lieferkettengesetz ante portas – Ein Update zu den Sorgfaltspflichten“, Webinar von CMS im Rahmen der Reihe „Compliance Sessions“, Co-Referent: Martin Schulz (CMS Deutschland), 2022-09-27
  • „Neue Sorgfaltspflichten in der Lieferkette – Das LkSG und die geplante EU-Richtlinie: Was haben insbesondere Banken zu beachten?“, Online-Schulung für Mandantin, 2022-06-30
  • "ESG Compliance: Trade sanctions / Supply Chain Issues", Vortrag und Moderation der Session im Rahmen der Veranstaltungsreihe “General Counsel Roundtable” der European Company Lawyers Association (ECLA), Co-Referent: Kai Neuhaus (CMS Deutschland), Hamburg, 2022-06-10
  • „Menschenrechtliche und umweltbezogene Sorgfaltspflichten in der Lieferkette“, Webinar von CMS im Rahmen der Reihe „Nachhaltig in die Zukunft“, Co-Referent: Martin Schulz (CMS Deutschland), 2022-06-08
  • „Das Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz (LkSG) und Entwicklungen auf EU-Ebene“, Vortrag auf dem Jahrestreffen des Geschäftsbereichs Commercial von CMS Deutschland, Köln, 2022-06-03
  • „Neue Sorgfaltspflichten in der Lieferkette“, Webinar von CMS im Rahmen der Reihe „Compliance Sessions“, Co-Referent: Martin Schulz (CMS Deutschland), 2022-04-28
  • „Supply Chain Compliance”, Vortrag im Rahmen der Online-Schulung „ESG part 1“ für Mandantin, 2022-03-30
  • „Die neuen Regulierungsvorschläge der EU-Kommission für Lieferketten“, Online-Vortrag in der Sitzung der Fachgruppe UJ@KMU des Bundesverbandes der Unternehmensjuristen (BUJ), 2022-03-24
  • "China und Schiedsverfahren: Know-how für die Praxis" (Hamburg, 21 June 2012)
  • "Der typische Ablauf eines GMAA-Verfahrens" (Hamburg, 20 May 2011)
  • "China - Investitionen am Beispiel der Transportbranche" (Hamburg, 18 May 2011)
  • "Incoterms und die übrigen Regelungen im Kaufvertrag" (Hamburg, 9 December 2010)
  • "Technologieschutz in China – Vertragsgestaltung und Lizenzierung" (Hamburg, 22 September 2010)
  • "Havarie in der Praxis – Rechtliche Grundlagen" (Hamburg, regularly since August 2010)
  • "Offshore-Windkraftanlagen und IPR" (Hamburg 30 March 2010)
  • "Rechtsschutz deutscher Unternehmen in China - Welchen Erfolg versprechen Verfahren vor staatlichen Gerichten?" (Hamburg, 1 October 2008)
  • "Chinesisches Frachtrecht - Regeln für Gütertransportverträge auf dem Weg zum internationalen Standard" (Hamburg, 19 September 2008)
  • "Chinesisches Vertragsrecht" (Freiburg, 25 June 2008)

Education

  • 2006: PhD; dissertation on Chinese transportation law
  • 2004 - 2006: Trainee lawyer in Kassel, followed by second state examination in law
  • 1999 - 2002: Law studies in Goettingen, followed by first state examination in law
  • 1998 - 1999: Chinese language and Chinese law studies in Nanjing
  • 1996 - 1998: Law and sinology studies in Wuerzburg
  • 1994 - 1996: Vocational training as a foreign trade merchant (Ausbildung zum Außenhandelskaufmann) in Hamburg

As a member of the firm’s China Desk, Christoph Schröder advises companies on commercial and corporate law.

He supports in particular Chinese state-owned and private enterprises in relation to their outbound investments and other overseas business activities, which primarily includes acquiring German companies as well as setting up joint ventures with German partners. Moreover, Christoph coordinates complex international projects for his Chinese clients, such as plant engineering or mandates involving multiple jurisdictions.

Having worked in the firm’s Hamburg office, he also has special shipping and transport expertise as well as extensive experience in German and international dispute resolution.

Christoph joined CMS in 2006 and has been a counsel since 2012. In the same year, he also relocated from Hamburg to Shanghai.

Relevant experience

  • Advising Yongfeng Group on the acquisition of the German prefabricated construction group Bürkle.
  • Advising Chinese cable manufacturer ZTT on the acquisition of the Turkish company Demirer Kablo.
  • Advising China Railway Construction Corporation on the acquisition of the German company CIDEON Engineering and CIDEON Switzerland.
  • Advising Powerway Group Co., Ltd. (Ningbo/China) on the acquisition of Berkenhoff GmbH (Germany).
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned construction machinery manufacturer on emission standards in various European jurisdictions as well as on standard distribution agreements.
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned enterprise on establishing a hospital in Africa.
  • Advising a Chinese state-owned container shipping company on establishing agencies in several European countries.

Education

  • 2006 PhD; dissertation on Chinese transportation law
  • 2004 - 2006 Trainee lawyer in Kassel, followed by second state examination in law
  • 1999 - 2002 Law studies in Goettingen, followed by first state examination in law
  • 1998 - 1999 Chinese language and Chinese law studies in Nanjing
  • 1996 - 1998 Law and sinology studies in Wuerzburg
  • 1994 - 1996 Vocational training as a foreign trade merchant (Ausbildung zum Außenhandelskaufmann) in Hamburg