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 Michael Schellenberger
Principal Counsel

Dr. Michael Schellenberger, Mag. rer. publ.

Rechtsanwalt | Fachanwalt für Erbrecht (Certified lawyer for inheritance law)

Languages
  • German
  • English
Social media

Michael Schellenberger assists business owners and high net worth individuals with their asset structuring, corporate investment management, succession planning and matrimonial regime issues. He also advises his clients on inheritance matters, either in their role as heirs, beneficiaries of a compulsory portion or otherwise involved as beneficiaries. Michael’s clients particularly appreciate his ability to identify their specific requirements and to then jointly develop solutions with them that are not just the best possible option from a legal perspective but also avoid conflicts in the long run.

Michael joined CMS in 2007 and has been a principal counsel since 2019. Alongside his legal practice, he is very much involved in teaching and academia: He is a lecturer on national and international succession planning at Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University and trains young lawyers at Stuttgart Bar Association. In 2015, he was offered a professorship in civil law at a university in Baden-Wuerttemberg that he declined in order to continue with his private clients work at CMS.

Amongst others, Michael co-authored the section on bequests in a leading commentary on civil law as well as the succession planning chapter in a guide on commercial and corporate law and he also co-wrote a guide on family businesses and entrepreneurial families.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Nennung als besonders empfohlener Anwalt für den Bereich Erbrecht
    WirtschaftsWoche Top-Kanzleien 2019; In Kooperation mit: Handelsblatt Research Institute

Publications

  • "Der Schutz des Unternehmens im Todesfall – Güterrechtliche und pflichtteilsrechtliche Regelungen zur Sicherung des Unternehmensbestands", NWB Erben und Vermögen (NWB-EV) 2019, 1
  • "Der Schutz des Unternehmens im Todesfall – Güterrechtliche und pflichtteilsrechtliche Regelungen zur Sicherung des Unternehmensbestands", NWB Erben und Vermögen (NWB-EV) 2018, 1
  • Mitautor beim neuen Beck-Online-Großkommentar Zivilrecht, Kommentierung zum Vermächtnisrecht, 2015
  • Mitautor beim Fachanwaltshandbuch für Handels- und Gesellschaftsrecht zur Unternehmensnachfolge seit 2014
  • Mitautor beim Handbuch Familienunternehmen und Unternehmerfamilien, im Erscheinen
  • „Eine neue württembergische Lösung?“, Beitrag zu einem neuen Vermächtnismodell, ErbR 2012, 230
  • Autor für C.H. Beck-Online-Formulare zum Pflichtteilsrecht und erbrechtlichen Klageverfahren seit 2010
  • Erbrechtliche Klageverfahren, C.H. Beck-Online, seit Juni 2010
  • Die Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts ist grundbuchfähig, BB 2009, p. 400
  • Zur Beweislastverteilung nach Inso§82, EWiR 2006, p. 213 f
  • Zur Frage der wirksamen Kapitalaufbringung innerhalb eines Cash-Pool-Systems, Betriebs-Berater 2006, p. 850 f

Memberships & Roles

  • Lecturer at Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University
  • Lecturer at Stuttgart Bar Association
  • Chairman of a foundation
  • German Bar Association’s working group for inheritance law
  • German Association for Inheritance Law and Estate Planning

Lectures list

  • "Corporate succession and contingency planning", NEW 2015, Friedrichshafen, 09.06.2015
  • "Contingency planning and corporate succession following the German federal election – Protecting your company and your assets", 9th Mittelstandstag Bodensee (convention of small/medium companies), Friedrichshafen, 10.10.2013
  • "Corporate succession – new developments", 8th Mittelstandstag Bodensee (convention of small/medium companies), Friedrichshafen, 11.10.2012
  • Various lectures on European inheritance law as of 2012
  • Corporate succession workshops at a number of banks since 2012
  • Corporate succession staff training workshops at a number of banks since 2010
  • The new law governing limited liability companies, NewCome 09 Exhibition and Regional Congress for Business Start-ups, March 2009
  • Liability and asset protection in corporate succession, Stuttgart 23.07.2008

Education

  • 2012: Certified lawyer for inheritance law
  • 2011: PhD; thesis on a topic related to the history of ecclesiastical law, University of Heidelberg
  • 2007: Second state examination in law
  • 2006 - 2007: Master programme in administrative sciences with a focus on business law at the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer
  • 2005 - 2007: Trainee lawyer in Baden-Wuerttemberg
  • 2004: First state examination in law
  • 2000 - 2004: Law studies at the University of Heidelberg