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Portrait ofChristoph Zarth

Christoph Zarth

Partner
Rechtsanwalt | Head of Maritime, CMS Germany

CMS Hasche Sigle
Stadthausbrücke 1-3
20355 Hamburg
Germany
Languages German, English, French

Christoph's focus is on the maritime industry. He is acting for clients from various sectors, in particular shipping, transport and logistics, shipbuilding, engineering, offshore wind energy as well as foreign trade. Christoph is advising in operational matters and also transactions. In those areas, Christoph has also developed a litigation and arbitration practice. He is frequently appointed as arbitrator.

Christoph joined CMS in 2007 and was appointed as partner in 2015.

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"Christoph Zarth is a good lawyer", client

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2023

Listed as leading individual

Chambers Europe, 2023

Leading Individual for Martime and Shipping

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2021

Listed as Leading Individual

Chambers Europe, 2022

Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2022

Leading individual for Maritime and shipping

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022

Memberships & Roles

  • Executive committee of the German Maritime Law Association (DVIS)
  • German Maritime Arbitration Association (GMAA)
  • Hamburg Bar Association (HAV)
  • Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (AIJA)
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Publications

  • Zur Internationalen Zuständigkeit nach EuGVO oder EuInsVO bei Klagen des Insolvenzverwalters - Anmerkung zu EuGH, C-157/13 ("Nickel & Goeldner Spedition"), Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2015, p. 31 f.
  • Zur Wirksamkeit einer Schiedsvereinbarung - Anmerkung zu BGH, II ZB 83/13, Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2014, p. 699 f.
  • Zur Auslegung von Art. 71 EuGVVO - Anmerkung zu EuGH, C-452/12 ("Nipponkoa Insurance Co. (Europe)"), Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2014, p. 501 f.
  • Zum Nachweis der Entlastungsvoraussetzungen des § 708 BGB - Anmerkung zu BGH, II ZR 391/12, Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2014, p. 73 f.
  • Haftung aufgrund Firmenfortführung nach Insolvenz - Anmerkung zu BGH, VIII ZR 423/12, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H.Beck 2014, p. 31
  • Kein Leistungsverweigerungsrecht aus § 320 I BGB nach Vertragsaufgabe - Anmerkung zu BGH, VIII ZR 163/12, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H.Beck 2013, p. 440
  • Rügeobliegenheit beim Handelskauf gilt auch für Rechtsmängel – Anmerkung zu OLG Düsseldorf, 23 U 47/12, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2013, S. 315
  • Zur Vollstreckbarerklärung eines ausländischen Schiedsspruchs gegen ausländischen Staat – Anmerkung zu BGH, III ZB 40/12, EWiR - Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2013, S. 435 f
  • Firmenstempel zeigt Handeln als Bevollmächtigter der Gesellschaft an – Anmerkung zu BGH, XII ZR 35/11, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2013, S. 134
  • Unwirksamkeit insolvenzabhängiger Lösungsklauseln – Anmerkung zu BGH, IX ZR 169/11, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2013, S. 72
  • Zur Gesamtwirkung eines zwischen Käufer und Verkäufer einer mangelhaften Sache geschlossenen Vergleichs für gesamtschuldnerisch mithaftenden Gutachter - Anmerkung zu BGH, VII ZR 7/11, EWiR - Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2012, S. 233 f
  • Incoterms maßgeblich für Gerichtsstand - Anmerkung zu EuGH, C-87/10, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2011, p. 307
  • Regular contributions on the French case law, Hamburger Zeitschrift für Schifffahrtsrecht International 2011
  • Schiedseinrede selbst muss konkrete Bezeichnung der maßgeblichen Schiedsvereinbarung enthalten, Anmerkung zu BGH, XI ZR 168/08, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2011, p. 166
  • Aufgabe der Präklusionsrechtsprechung bei Rüge der Unzuständigkeit des ausländischen Schiedsgerichts mangels wirksamer Schiedsvereinbarung - Anmerkung zu BGH, III ZB 100/09, EWiR - Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2011, p. 199 f
  • Zur Schadensberechnung bei qualifiziertem Verschulden des Frachtführers - Anmerkung zu BGH, I ZR 39/09, EWiR - Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2011, p. 109 f
  • Ziffer 27 ADSp hebelt gesetzliche Haftungsbeschränkungen aus - Anmerkung zu BGH, I ZR 194/08, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2011, p. 32
  • Unzulässigkeit einer Klage gegen GmbH nach Amtsniederlegung des einzigen Geschäftsführers - Anmerkung zu BGH, II ZR 115/09, EWiR – Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2011, p. 17 f
  • Wann ist das selbständige Beweisverfahren beendet? - Anmerkung zu BGH, VII ZR 172/09, IBR - Immobilien- & Baurecht, ISSN 0941-5750, id Verlag 2011, p. 58
  • "Weiterfressender" Mangel hat die Schuldrechtsreform überlebt! - Anmerkung zu BGH, VII ZR 172/09, IBR - Immobilien- & Baurecht, ISSN 0941-5750, id Verlag 2011, p. 11
  • Keine Kenntnis der Gläubiger vom Insolvenzverfahren allein wegen dessen öffentlicher Bekanntmachung - Anmerkung zu BGH, IX ZR 209/09, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2010, p. 585
  • Kein Frachtführerpfandrecht an Drittgut für inkonnexe Forderungen - Anmerkung zu BGH, I ZR 106/08, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2010, p. 425
  • Regular contributions on the French case law, Hamburger Zeitschrift für Schifffahrtsrecht International 2010
  • Besondere Anforderungen bei der Verwendung von AGB im internationalen Handel - Anmerkung zu LG Aachen, 41 O 94/09, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2010, p. 347
  • Zu Haftungsbeschränkungen im Seefrachtrecht - Anmerkung zu BGH, I ZR 140/06, EWiR - Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2010, p. 59 f
  • Zeitchartervertrag kann im IPR als Frachtvertrag zu behandeln sein - Anmerkung zu EuGH, C-133/08, GWR - Gesellschafts- und Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 1868-1816, Verlag C.H. Beck 2009, p. 452
  • Keine Doppelexequatur von Schiedssprüchen - Anmerkung zu BGH, IX ZR 152/06, EWiR – Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2009, p. 759 f, Koautor
  • Verfassungswidrigkeit der Pendlerpauschale - Anmerkung zu BVerfG, 2 BvL 1/07, EWiR – Entscheidungen zum Wirtschaftsrecht, ISSN 0723-9416, RWS Verlag 2009, p. 49 f, Koautor
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Lectures list

  • Großschäden auf See - Haftung des Shippers gegenüber Schiff und anderen Ladungsbeteiligten, Maritime Breakfast von CMS Hasche Sigle, November 2014 in Hamburg
  • The revised Brussels-I-Regulation (1215/2012) and its impact on arbitration and the West Tankers judgement of the ECJ, Keynote address, 3rd DIS Baltic Arbitration Days, Juni 2014 in Riga
  • Maritime Arbitration, Panel discussion, Young Maritime Law Association Seminar, Juni 2014 in Hamburg
  • Die neue EuGVO sowie die zukünftige Verordnung über die vorläufige Kontenpfändung, DVIS Vortragsveranstaltung "Aktuelle Entwicklungen im Seerecht", März 2014 in Hamburg
  • Vertragskündigung in der Insolvenz des Vertragspartners - Übliche Klauseln auf dem Prüfstand, Maritime Breakfast von CMS Hasche Sigle, November 2013 in Hamburg
  • The actual carrier under the reformed maritime law, Maritime Breakfast of CMS Hasche Sigle, May 2013 in Hamburg
  • Further relevant items in the reformed maritime law, in particular: contracts of carriage of goods, transport documents, arrest, Seminar for practitioners on the new maritime law of CMS Hasche Sigle, January 2013 in Hamburg (together with Lautenschlager)
  • Drafting of contractual terms, notes for ship owners and fright forwarders, Seminar for practitioners on the new maritime law of CMS Hasche Sigle, January 2013 in Hamburg (together with Heischmann)
  • Legal challenges for the shipping industry in the offshore sector, Maritime Breakfast of CMS Hasche Sigle, May 2012 in Hamburg
  • Lien on Sub-Freights, Seminar on charterparties of the German Maritime Law Association, February 2012 in Bremen und Hamburg
  • The definition of the term charterer and its implications on global limitation of liability under the CLNI, Mannheim Legal Debate of the Institute of Transport and Traffic Law and of the GBM, November 2011 in Mannheim
  • Ship finance and ship mortgages, Joint Seminar of the Turkish and German Maritime Law Associations on new developments in maritime law, October 2011 in Istanbul
  • INCOTERMS 2010 and their impact on the transport business, DVZ-conference on international law of transport, forwarding and logistics, September 2011 in Frankfurt/Main
  • Gross negligence in the law of carriage of goods by sea, Seminar on cargo damage of the German Maritime Law Association, March 2011 in Hamburg and Bremen
  • New recommendations for the containerised transport, Seminar for practitioners on the INCOTERMS 2010 of CMS Hasche Sigle, December 2010 in Hamburg
  • Emissions tradingin the maritime industry? Perspectives, Maritime Breakfast of CMS Hasche Sigle, November 2010 in Hamburg
  • Risk of liability for the saver from distress; Concessions and support granted to trade partners in financial difficulties, Maritime Breakfast of CMS Hasche Sigle, November 2009 in Hamburg
  • The Mesquer-judgement of the ECJ: Is European environmental law turning the limitation of liability system upside down?, Seminar on limitation of liability of the German Maritime Law Association, June 2009 in Hamburg
  • Charter parties in case of bankruptcy of owner or charterer, Maritime Breakfast of CMS Hasche Sigle, May 2009 in Hamburg
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Education

  • 2007: admitted to the bar
  • Jobs and internships at business law firms in Marseille, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt
  • Traineeship in Hamburg
  • 2003: Maitrise en droit
  • Law studies in Passau, Munich, Aix-en-Provence and Speyer
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Feed

25/03/2024
CMS advises on project financing for land-based terminal in Stade
Hamburg – Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH (HEH) has achieved financial close for the project financing to develop and realise the planned terminal for liquefied gases in Stade. Total investment is some EUR 1.6 billion. Achieving financial close represents a major milestone for Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH’s land-based terminal.A multi-dis­cip­lin­ary and multi-location CMS team headed by Dr Hilke Herchen and Dr Holger Kraft advised Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH on developing the project and on preparations to secure the project financing. This included corporate law advice with a particular focus on developing and optimising corporate governance, and on the associated links to the project financing. This advice marks a continuation of the existing close cooperation between HEH and CMS. The CMS team has been providing advice on an ongoing basis since the start of the project, with support for project development around corporate, operation & maintenance and real estate matters in particular. This has included advising on various shareholders joining the project, with a recent example being Enagás S.A. as industrial partner in June 2023. The CMS team conducted a comprehensive due diligence check to put the project financing on a solid footing. The first expansion phase of the project will see an emission-free terminal begin operating in 2027. Its infrastructure is also approved for bio-LNG and synthetic natural gas (SNG). At a later stage, the project will be switched over to hydrogen-based energy carriers such as ammonia. The planned regasification capacity is 13.3 billion cubic metres per year and the send-out capacity is 21.7 gigawatt. From March 2024 until the onshore terminal becomes operational, Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH will also accommodate one of the five FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Units) chartered by the German federal government. CMS Germany Dr Hilke Herchen, Lead Partner Dr Holger Kraft, Lead Partner Matthias Sethmann, Principal Counsel Dr Luise Pelzer, Counsel Dr Stefan Kühl, Senior Associate Dr Carl-Friedrich Thoma, Senior Associate Dr Josephine Doll, As­so­ci­ate Domin­ic Zimmer, Associate Dr Christian Seeburger, Associate, all Corporate/M&A Dr Fritz von Hammerstein, Partner Katja Meisel, Senior Associate Jan Gröschel, Senior Associate, all Per­mit­ting Mar­tin Krause, Partner Dr Sebastian Orthmann, Partner Dr Hans Fabian Kiderlen, Principal Coun­sel Chris­toph­er Schmeckel, Senior Associate Wiebke Westermann, Associate, all Real Estate Dr Friedrich von Burchard, Partner, Energy & Climate Change Dorothée Janzen, Part­ner  Chris­toph Zarth, Partner Robin Azinovic, Associate, all Commercial Dr Kerstin Block, Partner, Banking & Finance  Dr Martin Mohr, Partner Dr Olaf Thießen, Principal Counsel, both Tax Dr Sebastian Cording, Partner Dr Anna Lena Füllsack, Senior Associate, both TMC Dr Michael Bauer, Partner Luisa Thomasberger, Associate, both Antitrust, Competition & Trade Dr Philipp Nonnenmühlen, Counsel, Labor, Employment & Pensions Dr Martin Gerecke, Partner, IP Birgit Wagner, Legal Manager, Smart OperationsPress Con­tact presse@cms-hs. com
27/12/2022
Green light from European Commission: CMS advises German government on...
Stut­tgart/Brus­sels – State-owned gas trader SEFE Securing Energy for Europe GmbH (SEFE) can continue to operate as an integrated midstream gas company and pursue its chosen realignment strategy after...
16/11/2022
Comprehensive advice on securing energy supply in Germany
Ham­burg/Stut­tgart – Struggling gas company Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE) has been transferred to the ownership of the Federal Republic of Germany in order to secure German gas supplies. SEFE is...
21/04/2022
CMS advises Hanseatic Energy Hub on entry of Dow
Hamburg – The chemical company Dow is participating as a further partner in Hanseatic Energy Hub GmbH, the project company for the future LNG terminal at Stade industrial park (Lower Saxony), near the...
11/03/2022
CMS advises Deutsche Afrika-Linien on sale of container liner business...
Hamburg-based DAL Deutsche Afrika-Linien GmbH & Co. KG, which is part of the Rantzau Group, has sold its container liner service to Hapag-Lloyd AG. The transaction also includes the worldwide agency business...
18/02/2021
CMS advises Luxcara on signing turbine supply contract and service agreement...
Hamburg – Luxcara and GE Renewable Energy have signed a contract for the supply of 137 wind turbines for the 753 MW Önusberget wind farm in Sweden. The parties also agreed a full-service maintenance...
27/01/2021
International CMS team advises Wärtsilä on sale of its Entertainment Business...
Hamburg – The listed Finnish technology group Wärtsilä has sold its business unit Entertainment to the French listed Videlio.A CMS team headed by lead partner Dr Henrik Drinkuth comprehensively advised...
21/08/2020
Transport of Goods - EU Mobility Package
Background: Regulatory requirements in the European Road Haulage Market EU law has been harmonizing the regulatory framework of the European road haulage market for over 45 years[1], focused on: granting...
01/08/2017
CMS advises River Advice on acquisition of Köln-Düs­sel­dor­fer Deutsche Rheinsch­iffahrt...
Cologne – CMS has advised the Swiss River Advice Group on its acquisition of 97.32 per cent of listed company Köln-Düs­sel­dor­fer Deutsche Rheinschiffahrt AG, and also on the subsequent squeeze-out...
01/02/2017
ADSp 2017 - German Freight Forwarders’ Standard Terms and Conditions
The publication "German Freight Forwarders’ Standard Terms and Conditions" is currently reworked and will afresh be available soon
01/02/2016
ADSp 2016 - German Freight Forwarders’ Standard Terms and Conditions
In mid-December 2015, after several years of preparatory work, the German Association of Freight Forwarders (Deutscher Speditions- und Logistikverband e. V. – DSLV) published an updated version of the...
30/06/2015
CMS advised successful in relation to the legal structuring and project...
Hamburg – Highland Group Holdings Ltd., Siemens Financial Services and Copenhagen Infrastructure II, a fund managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners arranged successfully the financing of Veja...