Partner

Dr. Gerald Gräfe

Rechtsanwalt | Head of Automotive & Mobility, Germany

Languages

German
English

Gerald Gräfe is regularly advising clients on purchasing, production and distribution matters, including product liability and product safety. Gerald has a focus on drafting complex contracts and T&Cs. On an ongoing basis, he advises German and international clients on all legal issues related to contracts and distribution, often in the context of their international activities. Gerald also represents companies in court and arbitration proceedings, with a focus on distribution disputes. He is also regularly consulted on data protection issues that have a bearing on distribution law.

After having worked in the legal department of a chamber of commerce and with an international law firm, Gerald joined CMS in 2006 and was made partner in 2013. Alongside his legal practice, he regularly publishes and is co-editor of the Zeitschrift für Vertriebsrecht (Journal of Distribution Law) published by C.H. Beck. Gerald is ranked in Chambers, listed in Legal 500 as a Leading Partner and listed as regularly recommended lawyer in JUVE.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

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Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Germany, 2025
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Führender Partner für Handel, Vertrieb und Logistik

The Legal 500 Deutschland, 2025
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"For me, Gerald Gräfe is the best commercial lawyer for matters relating to the automotive industry.", client

Chambers Germany, 2025
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"Experienced practitioner Gerald Gräfe advises on a plethora of commercial issues including purchasing and cooperation agreements and new business models requiring in-depth understanding of distribution and competition law questions. Besides his prowess in non-contentious matters, Gräfe is equally respected for his ability in disputes. He is particularly active in the automotive area."

Chambers Germany, 2025
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Führender Name für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
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„Oft empfohlen“ für Handel, Vertrieb und Logistik

JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
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Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2024
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Leading Individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2024
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Führender Name für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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„tiefe Kenntnis im Automotive-Sektor“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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„pragmat. u. lösungsorientiert“, Mandant

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb und Handel

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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„kompetent u. fair“, Wettbewerber

JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
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Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2023
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Listed as leading individual

Chambers Europe, 2023
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Leading Individual for Trade, Distribution and Logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
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Listed for Product Liability

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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"competent and fair”, competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)
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"Recommended" for Distribution and Franchising

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020-2022 (GCLF)
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"very strong", "he has quality in him", competitors

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)
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„Gerald Gräfe steht an der Spitze der Commercial-Gruppe und lässt seine Erfahrung in der Automotive-Branche sowie dem Vertragsrecht in seine Mandate einfließen.“

The Legal 500 Deutschland, 2021
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Leading individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2021
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Listed for Product Liability

Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2020-2021 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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"well-respected adviser on a variety of matters, including contract standardisation and the implementation of novel retail or distribution systems"

Chambers Europe, 2021
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Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2021
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"recommendable", competitor

JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020 (GCLF)
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„fundierte Kenntnisse im Kfz-Sektor, pragmat. u. angenehm“, Mandant; „kompetenter u. fairer Verhandlungspartner“, „kennt sich aus“, „vertrauenswürdig“, Wettbewerber

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
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Führender Berater im Vertriebsrecht

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
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„Oft empfohlen“ für Vertrieb, Handel, Logistik

JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
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Listed as Leading Individual

Chambers Europe, 2022
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Listed as notable practitioner

Chambers Europe, 2022
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Leading individual for Trade, distribution and logistics

The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
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Führender Name für Handel, Vertrieb, Logistik

The Legal 500 Deutschland, 2022

Relevant experience

Advising a multinational US group on contract and product liability law issues in relation to different European jurisdictions on an ongoing basis
Advising tier 1 suppliers as well as one OEM on automotive industry supply contracts on a regular basis
Advising machine tool manufacturers on contract and distribution law issues on a regular basis
Drafting a global standard distribution agreement for an Asian heavy machinery manufacturer

Publications

Anmerkung zu KG Berlin Hinweisbeschluss vom 01.07.2025 - 2 U 37/22 - Ausschluss der Zuständigkeit deutscher Gerichte in Gerichtsstandsvereinbarung, ZVertriebsR 2025, 391
Die wirksame Ausgestaltung von Vereinbarungen über die Einstandszahlung im Handelsvertretervertrag, ZVertriebsR 2025, 276 (together with Dr. Rudolph Holtz, B.A.)
Die neue Produkthaftungsrichtline Teil 1 bis 3, QZ Qualität & Zuverlässigkeit, 17.06., 30.07. and 19.08.2025
Die neue Produkthaftungsrichtlinie aus vertriebsrechtlicher Sicht, ZVertriebsR 2025, 137
Lieferverträge zwischen Resilienz und Compliance, Sonderveröffentlichung Handelsblatt Autogipfel 16.12.2024
Sales Conditions and Consumer Protection, Doing Business in Europe, 2024, Sweet & Maxwell (together with Dirk Loycke)
Stichwort Handelsvertreter und Tankstellenstationärsverträge in Feldhusen/Niebling, AGB-Kommentar, 4. Aufl. 2023
Kapitel Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Unternehmen (Kooperationsverträge und Joint Ventures) in Hamann/Sigle/Grub, Gesellschaftsrecht, Finanzierung und Unternehmensnachfolge, 3. Aufl. 2022 (together with Dirk Loycke)
Doch keine grundsätzliche Neuberechnung des Ausgleichsanspruchs nach Semen – Anmerkung zu BGH, 24.09.2020 - VII ZR 69/19, ZVertriebsR 2020, 386
Sales Conditions and Consumer Protection, Doing Business in Europe, 2017, Sweet & Maxwell (together with Dirk Loycke)
Aktuelle Entwicklungen beim Unternehmervorteil als Anspruchsvoraussetzung des Ausgleichsanspruchs nach § 89b Abs. 1 HGB – Der neue "Neugeworbene Stammkunde" und "Intensivierte Altkunde" (?), ZVertriebsR 2017, 282 (together with Timon Boerner)
Verjährung des Anspruch auf Buchauszug, Anmerkung zu BGH, Urt. v. 03.08.2017 – VII ZR 32/17, ZVertriebsR 2017, 289
Stichwort Handelsvertreter und Tankstellenstationärverträge im Anwaltskommentar AGB-Recht, 3. Aufl., Deutscher Anwalt Verlag 2017
Auf Kosten des Verkäufers zur Nacherfüllung, Anmerkung zu BGH, Urt. v. 19.07.2017 – VIII ZR 278/16 in LTO – Legal Tribune Online, 20.07.2017
Die Auswirkungen des Brexit auf das Vertriebsrecht – Erste Überlegungen, Editorial ZVertriebsR 4/2016
Verjährung des Buchauszugsrechts, Anmerkungen zu OLG Stuttgart, Urt. v. 17.02.2016 – 3 U 118/15 gemeinsam mit Dr. David Preisendanz, ZVertriebsR 4/2016, 2730
Neukundenbegriff beim Handelsvertreterausgleich, Anmerkungen zu EuGH, Urt. v. 07.04.2016 – C – 315/14, EuZW, 2016, 427
Buchauszug und Ausgleichsanspruch – Zeitliche und inhaltliche Grenzen der Geltendmachung des Anspruchs auf Erteilung des Buchauszugs, ZVertriebsR 2015, 227
Neuland: Was nach dem "Grexit" käme – Auswirkungen eines Austritts Griechenlands aus der Euro-Zone auf Verträge, Deutscher Anwaltsspiegel, Ausgabe 13, 1. Juli 2015, S. 3
Sales Conditions and Consumer Protection im Länderteil Germany, gemeinsam mit Dirk Loycke in Frank Wright, Doing Business in Europe, Sweet & Maxwell, Loseblattsammlung, Stand Dezember 2014
"Neuer Kunde" i.S.d. § 89b Abs. 1 S. 1 Nr. 1 HGB – Produktbezogener Neukundenbegriff, zusammen mit Dr. Kai-Oliver Giesa, ZVertriebsR 2014, 287
Von Ingmar zu Unamar – Welche Beschränkungen der Rechts- und Gerichtswahlfreiheit ergeben sich aus der Entscheidung des EuGH vom 17.10.2013, C-184/12, zusammen mit Dr. Kai-Oliver Giesa, ZVertriebsR 2014, 29
Vertriebsverträge während der laufenden Kündigungsfrist – Rechte und Pflichten der Vertragsparteien, ZVertriebsR 2013, 362
Zur Frage ob und unter welchen Voraussetzungen der Hersteller einen Kunden ohne Einschaltung seines Händlers direkt beliefern darf, Anmerkung zu OLG Düsseldorf, 16 U 172/12, ZVertriebsR 2013, 224
Sales Conditions and Consumer Protection im Länderteil Germany, gemeinsam mit Dirk Loycke in Frank Wright, Doing Business in Europe, Sweet & Maxwell, Loseblattsammlung, Stand Juni 2013
Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Unternehmen (Kooperationsverträge und Joint-Ventures) gemeinsam mit Dirk Loycke in Haamann/Sigle, Vertragsbuch Gesellschaftsrecht, 2. Auflage, C. H. Beck 2012
Länderteil Germany, gemeinsam mit Dr. Axel Funk in Francoise Gilbert, Global Privacy and Security Law, Wolters Kluwer Loseblattsammlung, Stand Oktober 2011
Gläubigerschutz bei der englischen Limited mit Verwaltungssitz in Deutschland - Eine europarechtliche Untersuchung, Peter Lang 2010
Zukünftig höhere Ansprüche – EuGH Urteil zum Ausgleichsanspruch des Handelsvertreters, w.news – Wirtschaftsmagazin der IHK Heilbronn – Franken Nr. 11, November 2009, S. 60 f.
Produktrückrufe und Kostentragungspflicht, CMS Report XVI. S. 28 f.
BGH klärt Frage des Umfangs der Kostentragung bei Nacherfüllung, CMS Report XV. S. 74
Grenzüberschreitende Verschmelzung als Modalität der Ausübung der Niederlassungsfreiheit? Anmerkung zu EuGH C-411/03, ELR 2006, p. 65 ff
Director`s fiduciary duties als Gläubigerschutzinstrument bei britischen Limiteds mit Verwaltungssitz in Deutschland, DZWiR 2005, 410 ff.

Memberships & Roles

Co-editor of the ZVertriebsR
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Vertriebsrecht e.V.
Deutsch-Kanadische Gesellschaft e.V.

Lectures list

European product liability law – new legal requirements and new liability risks for companies and insurers, BUJ Summit Product Compliance 25 November 2025, Frankfurt am Main
Material defects, guarantee and product liability - scope of liability and structuring options, IHK Rhein Neckar, 29.09.2025
Material defects, guarantee and product liability - scope of liability and structuring options, IHK Stuttgart, 17.09.2025
ESG Responsibility and Arbitration - German, Spanish and European Perspectives, ciarb German Chaprter & ciarb Iberian Chapter, 27.03.2025, CMS Stuttgart
Material defects, guarantee and product liability - scope of liability and structuring options, IHK Ulm, 29.01.2025
Panellist at the German-Serbian Chamber of Commerce event on 17 September 2024 in Belgrade on compliance with LkSG in Serbia – Best practice and challenges
Legal framework for safety-relevant defects, Association of German Engineers (VDI) seminar, Application of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) guidelines on special features, Stuttgart, 15.10.2024
Reform after almost 40 years – The effects the new product liability directive is having on companies, 3rd Southern German Quality Day 2024, 28.06.2024, Fraunhofer IPA Stuttgart
Material defects, guarantee and product liability – Scope of liability and structuring options, IHK Stuttgart, 11.06.2024
Managing ESG risks in the supply chain, Panelist at the World Law Group Regional Meeting, Stuttgart, 12.05.2023
CO2 emissions-price for imported goods – The EU border adjustment system CBAM is armed, Webinar VDE Institute, 06.03.2024
Legal framework for safety-relevant defects, Association of German Engineers (VDI) seminar, application of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) guidelines on special features, Stuttgart, 23.02.2024
It won't get any greener – The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism for goods imported into the European Union (CBAM), online seminar German Eastern Business Association, 21.02.2024
Semiconductor shortage, congestion in the Suez Canal – Disruption to the global supply chain, German Association of General Counsel (BUJ) General Counsel Online Round Table, 25.06.2021
Covid 19, Raw Material Price Increases, Supply Shortages, Hardship Clauses at Work, Comparison of German, English and Swiss Law, German Association of General Counsel (BUJ) Online Round Table, 25.11.2021
Law on transposing the EU Sale of Goods Directive – New sales law from 01.01.2022, Webinar IHK Ulm, 20.10.2021
Current developments in product liability law, meeting of the German Association of General Counsel (BUJ) Product Liability Group, 27.05.2021, online
COVID-19 – Implications for International Sales Contracts under German law, ASIAN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE (AIAC) & MALAYSIAN-GERMAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY(MGCCI), Kuala Lumpur, 13.07.2020
Purchasing and distribution contracts – Avoiding pitfalls, Association of German Engineers (VDI) Stuttgart, 24.06.2019
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ludwigshafen, 27.09.2018
Purchasing and distribution contracts – Avoiding pitfalls, Association of German Engineers (VDI) Stuttgart, 28.06.2018
Commercial agency law – Compensation claims and recent development, Chamber of Industry and Commerce Heilbronn Franken, Heilbronn, 07.05.2018
Legal framework with regard to safety-relevant defects – An overview, Quality 2018 – Düsseldorf, 12.03.2018
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ludwigshafen on 28.09.2017
Distribution agreements during the current notice period, 16th Distribution Law Practice Forum 2016, Cologne, 11.11.2016
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ludwigshafen, 29.09.2016
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Southern Upper Rhine, 28.04.2016
Warranty claims and product liability, Stuttgart Chamber of Industry and Commerce, 30.11.2015
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Rhineland-Palatinate, Ludwigshafen, 08.10.2015
Warranty claims and product liability, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 21.10.2014
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Commerce for the Palatinate, Ludwigshafen, 16.10.2014
Warranty claims and product liability, Chamber of Commerce Southern Upper-Rhine, Lahr, 06.05.2014
Warranty claims and product liability, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 08.11.2013
Common problems when pursuing the compensation claim of the commercial agent, Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Commerce, 03.06.2013
Update on distribution law – common problems in connection with termination of commercial agency agreements, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 13.03.2013
Update on Distribution Law – The Compensation Claim, Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Commerce, 16.02.2012
Update on Distribution Law – The Compensation Claim, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 17.11.2011
Exporting Services – Drafting Service Contracts, Global Connect Trade Fair, Stuttgart, 27.10.2010
Update on Distribution Law – The Compensation Claim, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 18.10.2010
Direct Marketing after Legal Reforms, Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Commerce, 29.06.2010
Customers and suppliers in times of an economic downturn – risks and precautionary measures, ZVEI-PCB and Electronic Systems, Ludwigsburg 08.02.2010
Update on Commercial Agency Law, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 19.10.2009
Retention of title in case of threatening insolvency, Mittelstandstag Bodensee, 22.09.2009
Supplier insolvency – risks and precautionary measures, Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Commerce, 08.07.2009
Legal aspects of procurement for product development, Management Circle Munich, 08.05.2009
Liability and data protection on the internet, Heilbronn Chamber of Commerce, 16.10.2008
Compensation claims of commercial agents and distributors, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, 16.09.2008
Procurement for product development, Management Circle 2008, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main, Munich
Workshop on current distribution law issues, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce 16.10.2007
Workshop on the impact of the new anti-discrimination laws on contracts, Ulm Chamber of Commerce 19.10.2006
Workshop on the impact of the new anti-discrimination laws on contracts, Weingarten Chamber of Commerce 10.10.2006
Workshop on current distribution law issues, Heilbronn Chamber of Commerce 18.06.2006
Workshop on current distribution law issues, Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce 19.06.2006
Regular lectures at the University of Constance on different commercial law issues
Regular in-house workshops for legal departments at clients, procurement and distribution departments

Education

2009: PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Jochen Glöckner; LL.M. in Konstanz with a focus on EU law
2003: Trainee lawyer at Heilbronn Regional Court
2001: six-month work experience placement with Silicon Valley law firm
Law studies in Konstanz

Practice Areas

Commercial Distribution and Franchising Production and Product Liability Purchasing and Procurement

sectors

TMC - Technology, Media & Communications Data Protection Law & IT Security Law Automotive & Mobility Procurement, production and sustainability of automotive products

Insights

Global Reach

Karriere