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Tilman Niedermaier
Partner

Dr. Tilman Niedermaier, LL.M. (University of Chicago)

Rechtsanwalt

Languages
  • German
  • English
  • French
Social media

Tilman Niedermaier represents clients in complex disputes before courts and arbitral tribunals. He is an expert in international procedural and contract law and focuses on corporate, commercial and international investment disputes. Tilman advises on matters related to large-scale projects, distribution and procurement contracts, license and IP agreements, M&A contracts and joint ventures in a variety of industry sectors (i.a. automotive, aerospace & defence, engineering, energy, infrastructure & transport and sports). Tilman also acts as arbitrator.

He joined CMS in 2010 and has been a partner since 2018. Prior to that, Tilman was a research fellow at the Institute of International Law of the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich and worked for a lawyer admitted to the German Federal Supreme Court. He is a lecturer at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and the Ludwig Maximilians University Munich for international procedural and arbitration law.

Awards & Recognitions
01
  • Quote
    Parteivertreter in Schiedsverfahren
    JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
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    „Oft empfohlen“ für Konfliktlösung
    JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
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    „kompetent in der Sache, fair im Umgang“, Wettbewerber
    JUVE Handbuch, 2024/2025
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    "Outstanding competence, pragmatic advice, good accessibility, and high responsiveness."
    Thomson Reuters' Stand-out Lawyers 2024
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    Named as a "Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer"
    Thomson Reuters' Stand-out Lawyers 2024
  • Quote
    Listed as "Thought Leader"
    Who's Who Legal 2024 – Germany
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    Listed as "Thought Leader"
    Who's Who Legal 2024 – Arbitration
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    "Tilman is extraordinarily experienced"; "He shows distinct technical understanding of his cases"; "He gives excellent client service and responsiveness", peers and clients
    Who's Who Legal 2024 – Arbitration
  • Quote
    Listed for Arbitration / Dispute Resolution / Mediation
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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    Listed for International Arbitration
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2024 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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    Next generation partner for arbitration
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2024
  • Quote
    „Oft empfohlen“ für Konfliktlösung
    JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
  • Quote
    „klug, dynamisch, analytisch, flexibel, angenehm“, Wettbewerber
    JUVE Handbuch, 2023/2024
  • Quote
    Listed for Arbitration / Dispute Resolution / Mediation
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2023 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
  • Quote
    Next Generation Partner for Arbitration
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
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    „Er sticht aufgrund seines exzellenten juristischen und prozessualen Verständnisses, der mündlichen und schriftlichen Beherrschung der englischen Sprache und seines strategischen Denkens wahrlich hervor; ein wirklicher Gewinn, so jemanden in komplizierten Arbitrations an seiner Seite zu wissen oder als vorzüglichen Gegner auf der anderen Seite", Mandant
    The Legal 500 Deutschland, 2023
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    „kompetent, fair u. kollegial“, Wettbewerber
    JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
  • Quote
    „Oft empfohlen“ für Konfliktlösung
    JUVE Handbuch, 2022/2023
  • Quote
    "Tillman is extraordinarily experienced", "He shows destinct technical understanding of his cases", "He gives excellent client service and responsivenes", peers and clients
    Who's Who Legal 2023
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    "Tilman Niedermaier is highly recommended by peers for his adept handling of complex commercial and investment disputes."
    Who's Who Legal 2022 Germany – Arbitration
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    "Dr Tilman Niedermaier: extremely sharp expertise, very pragmatic, calm and unexcited. Considers all hurdles at top speed.", client
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
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    Next generation partner for Arbitration
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
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    "Dr. Tilman Niedermaier combines specialist knowledge and strategic thinking in a unique way. He is also very patient, considerate and willing to get to know the client. He remains calm and composed in crisis situations."
    The Legal 500 EMEA, 2022
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    "Recommended" for Dispute Resolution
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)
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    "clever, analytical, flexible and pleasant manner", "rising star in the arbitration scene", competitors
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2022 (GCLF)
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    Nennung als Top Anwalt für den Bereich Schiedsverfahren
    WirtschaftsWoche Top-Kanzleien 2021; In Kooperation mit: Handelsblatt Research Institute
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    Listed for Arbitration / Dispute Resolution / Mediation
    Deutschlands beste Anwälte 2017-2021 – Handelsblatt in Kooperation mit Best Lawyers
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    Listed in "Rising Stars in Commercial Arbitration"
    Expert Guides Rising Stars, 2018-2021
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    "competent, fair and cooperative", competitor
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)
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    "Recommended" for Dispute Resolution
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2021 (GCLF)
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    "Peers and clients say ‘he combines outstanding legal capability with the thought leadership and the strategic thinking needed to secure the best possible results for his clients; Tilman is both exceptionally hard working and thoroughly personable; a very bright lawyer and a true team player; Tilman displays an impressive knowledge of IP issues and is completely trilingual in German, English and French; he is an extremely experienced and excellent lawyer with a balanced approach’"
    Who's Who Legal 2021
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    "smart, analytic, flexible, pleasant to work with", "rising star as arbitrator" (competitors)
    JUVE German Commercial Law Firms 2020 (GCLF)
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    "Tilman Niedermaier is a well-respected arbitration lawyer who 'combines outstanding legal capability with the thought leadership and strategic thinking needed to secure the best possible results for his clients'."
    Who's Who Legal 2020
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    "Tilman Niedermaier at CMS Hasche Sigle is 'one of the rising stars in the German arbitration market' who 'always displays very strong advocacy skills while keeping his composure and calm'. Sources consider him 'a very knowledgeable arbitration specialist'."
    Who's Who Legal 2019
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    "Tilman Niedermaier is 'extremely well recognised' in the arbitration sphere and ranks prominently for his vast experience handling commercial arbitration proceedings."
    Who's Who Legal 2018
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    "Tilman Niedermaier is praised as ‘very precise and good to work with; he is an excellent lawyer with a first-class analytical mind’"
    Who's Who Legal 2017

Relevant experience

Arbitration

  • Representation of a tier-1 supplier in the automotive sector in a dispute with a supplier of electronic components in ICC Emergency Arbitrator Proceedings and subsequent ICC arbitration
  • Representation of a wind turbine manufacturer in a dispute with a tier-1 supplier relating to serial defects in DIS arbitration
  • Representation of a joint venture in a dispute relating to a PPP large scale infrastructure project in DIS arbitration
  • Representation of a public entity in a dispute relating to a large scale infrastructure project in ICC arbitration
  • Representation of a merging entity in the telecommunication sector in several EU merger-control arbitrations
  • Representation of a shareholder in joint venture dispute in the water treatment sector in ICC arbitration

Litigation

  • Representation of a wind turbine manufacturer in dispute relating to knowhow protection
  • Representation of a tier-1 supplier in the automotive sector in a dispute with cooperation partner relating to a development and licensing contract
  • Representation of a wind turbine manufacturer in dispute relating to serial defects
  • Representation of a wind turbine manufacturer in a dispute with suppliers relating to serial defects in several jurisdictions
  • Representation of an international aerospace & defense company in a dispute relating to a large scale project
  • Representation of a media company in a dispute relating to TV rights in the sports sector
  • Representation of various industry clients relating to interim measures in the context of international sanctions

Arbitrator

  • Regular appointments as sole, presiding and co-arbitrator in arbitrations under various rules

Publications

  • FRAND ADR under the Data Act and the SEP Regulation in Peter Picht, Thomas Cotter und Erik Habich (Ed.) FRAND - German Case Law and Global Perspectives, Chap. 15, Edward Elgar Publishing 2024, together with Peter Picht
  • The Impact of Insolvency Proceedings on Enforcement of Arbitration Awards in Richard Bamforth und Kushal Gandhi (ed.) Arbitration and Insolvency, Chap. 9, Edward Elgar Publishing 2024, together with Jeremy Mesh
  • „Halbstarke“ als Friedensstifter – alternative Streitbeilegung im Data Act und der SEP-Verordnung, EuZW 2023, 1035, zusammen mit Peter Georg Picht
  • Arbitration in the United States in Stephan Balthasar (Hrsg.), International Commercial Arbitration, C.H. Beck, 2nd ed., Hart Publishing, Nomos 2021
  • Hello, DIS Rules 2018 – An Introduction to the Revised Arbitration Rules of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS), b-Arbitra | Belgian Review of Arbitration, Volume 2019 Issue 1, p. 87 et seq., together with Falco Kreis
  • Industrie 4.0 und gewerblicher Rechtsschutz – Was alternative Streitbeilegung bei FRAND-Streitigkeiten leisten kann, ICC Germany-Magazin, November 2018, p. 75 et seq.
  • Resolution of IP disputes and arbitration, CD Corporate Disputes, Oct-Dec 2018, 35
  • Post Merger Arbitration – Schiedsverfahren und Fusionskontrolle, M&A Review 2018, 130, together with Armin Dürrschmidt
  • Renewable Energy Disputes in Maxi Scherer (ed.), Arbitration in the Energy Sector, Chap. 4, Oxford University Press 2018, together with Simon Manner
  • Kommentar zur UNCITRAL-Schiedsgerichtsordnung in Rolf A. Schütze (ed.), Institutionelle Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, 3. Aufl., Kapitel XII., Heymanns 2017, together with Paolo Michele Patocchi
  • Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit und Energiewende – Aktueller Stand und Herausforderung bei erneuerbaren Energien, ICC Germany-Magazin, December 2017, p. 40 et seq
  • Der Fall Claudia Pechstein – eine Analyse mit Blick auf die Causa Dominique Taboga in Andreas Grundei / Martin Karollus (ed.), Berufssportrecht VIII, Jan Sramek Verlag 2017
  • Zur Group of Companies Doctrine und der Auslegung der subjektiven Reichweite von Schiedsvereinbarungen – Welches Recht ist anwendbar?, in Liber Amicorum Siegfried Elsing, Frankfurt am Main 2015, p. 475, together with Klaus Sachs; English version: On the "group of companies doctrine" and interpreting the subjective scope of arbitration agreements – which law applies?, Revista de Arbitragem e Mediação, vol. 50/2016, p. 539
  • Arbitration in the United States in Stephan Balthasar (ed.), International Commercial Arbitration, Chapter 19, C.H. Beck, Hart Publishing, Nomos 2016
  • Die Durchsetzung von Document Production Orders in internationalen Schiedsverfahren, ZVglRWiss 114 (2015) 449, together with Klaus Sachs
  • Die Rechtsfigur der "adverse inferences" in der internationalen Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, in Walter Eberl (ed.), Beweis im Schiedsverfahren, Nomos 2015, together with Klaus Sachs
  • The Athlete as the "Weaker" Party, Geisinger Elliott Geisinger/Elena Trabaldo (eds.), Sports Arbitration: A Coach for Other Players? – ASA Special Series No. 41, Chap. 8, Juris Publishing 2015
  • Schiedsvereinbarungen im organisierten Sport, SchiedsVZ 2014, 280
  • Arbitration Agreements between Parties of Unequal Bargaining Power – Balancing Exercises on Either Side of the Atlantic, ZDAR 2014, 12
  • Schieds- und Schiedsverfahrensvereinbarungen in strukturellen Ungleichgewichtslagen - Ein deutsch-U.S.-amerikanischer Rechtsvergleich mit Schlaglichtern auf weitere Rechtsordnungen, VVerfR 97, Mohr Siebeck 2013
  • UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules in Rolf A. Schütze (ed.), Institutional Arbitration, Chapter XV, C.H. Beck, Hart Publishing, Nomos 2013, together with Paolo Michele Patocchi
  • Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit und Finanztermingeschäfte – Anlegerschutz durch § 37h WpHG und andere Instrumente, SchiedsVZ 2012, 177
  • Overriding Mandatory Provisions Before Arbitral Tribunals – Some Observations, Liber Amicorum for Bernd von Hoffman in Herbert Kronke/Karsten Thorn (eds.), Gieseking 2011, also published in 34 Revista de Arbitragem e Mediação (2012) 159, together with Klaus Sachs
  • Kommentar zur UNCITRAL-Schiedsgerichtsordnung in Rolf A. Schütze (ed.), Institutionelle Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit, 2. Aufl., Kapitel XII., Heymanns 2011, together with Paolo Michele Patocchi
  • Unwirksame Schiedsklausel in Franchiseverträgen durch Wahl des Tagungsortes im Ausland?, SchiedsVZ 2009, p. 196, together with mit Markus Schulz

Memberships & Roles

  • German Institution of Arbitration (DIS; Member of the Advisory Board)
  • Association Suisse de l'Arbitrage (ASA)
  • International Bar Association (IBA)
  • International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA)
  • IP Dispute Resolution Forum of the Max-Planck-Institute of Innovation and Competition (IPDR; Member of the Advisory Board)
  • German-American Lawyers‘ Association (DAJV)
  • Arbitrator at the German Court of Arbitration for Sport
  • German National Academic Foundation alumnus

Lectures list

  • Young ICCA Workshop on Oral Advocacy, 10 October 2024, Munich
  • Tribunal-appointed experts: upsides and downsides, IBA Annual Conference, 30 October 2023, Paris
  • ASA Town Hall, Roundtable on Issue Conflicts, 29 September 2023, Bern
  • IP & ADR, ICC Conference, 22 June 2023, Munich
  • Clean Energy & Arbitration, Delos Webinar, 10. November 2021
  • Dispute Resolution for Blockchain Transactions, Round Table organised by the Silicon Valley Arbitration & Mediation Center (SVAMC) Initiative on Arbitration and Mediation for Blockchainbased Transactions, 14 May 2021
  • Contemporary and emerging issues in award writing, IBA Webinar, Award writing tips for the young arbitrator in a changing world, 30 October 2020
  • Mediating COVID-19 disputes: quick, low-cost, consensual – perfect tool?, ICC YAF Webinar, 23 September 2020
  • Dispute Settlement in the Digital Economy, SOLAIR Conference, 10 September 2020
  • High-Tech Dispute Resolution: Does the Legal Toolbox Need a System Update?, Virtual Roundtable, Ministry of Justice State of Israel, 27 August 2020
  • High-Tech Disputes / Technology, Tel Aviv Arbitration Day, 3 March 2020, Tel Aviv
  • Equal footing principle and asymmetric arbitration clauses, Hanover Arbitration Day, 27 FebruarY 2020, Hanover
  • Joint IBA Arb40 – DIS40 - MuCDR Toolkit Workshop, Practical Considerations for Drafting an Award, 31 January 2020, Munich
  • Combining efficiency, due process, transparency, predictability and confidentiality in arbitral proceedings - a dreamland?, YAR Conference, 10 October 2019, Lisbon
  • Who's Who Legal Future Leaders: Arbitration Conference, Oxford Union style debate – motion "This house believes the rise of new regional arbitral seats and institutions will change international arbitration for the better", 26 June 2019, London
  • Collective Redress in Germany and the EU, BUJ Regional Group Meeting, 6 June 2019, Munich
  • Arbitration and the mandatory forum for consumers in cross-border banking disputes – The German perspective, joint event of Swiss Chambers' Arbitration Institution (SCAI), Zurich Chamber of Commerce and Zurich Banking Association on „Arbitrating financial disputes - are there tangible benefits?“, 26. March 2019, Zurich
  • Mediations- und Schiedsvereinbarungen, Schiedsgerichtsbarkeit & Mediation - Anwendung im gewerblichen Rechtsschutz, ICC Conference, 4 June 2018, Munich
  • Arbitration in the Renewables Sector, Panel Moderator, Renewables Arbitration, 22 March 2018, Hamburg
  • Wishful thinking or thinkable reality – effiziente Schiedsverfahren in Großprojekten, Panel Moderator, CMS Dispute Resolution Retreat 2017, 16 November 2017, Hamburg
  • The Conduct of Arbitration Proceedings, WIPO Mediation and Arbitration Workshop, Panel Discussion, 9 November 2017, Munich
  • ASAb40 - DIS40 - ArbIt – YAAP Summer Retreat 2017, Newsflash Germany, 15 July 2017, Baden/Vienna
  • Die Sportschiedsgerichtsbarkeit auf dem Prüfstand (Causen Pechstein &Taboga), Symposium zu aktuellen Rechtsfragen des Berufssports‎ XV, 17 October 2016, Vienna
  • The relationship between state courts and arbitral tribunals -‎ The German perspective, 5th DIS Baltic Arbitration Days, 3 June 2016, Riga
  • Gas Pricing Disputes – A New Wave and Old Challenges?, Panel Moderator, DIS 40 Nord, 19 May 2016, Hamburg
  • Geheimnisschutz im Zivilprozess – Die schiedsrechtliche Perspektive, Gesprächskreis Litigation, 14 April 2016, Munich
  • The Arbitral Proceedings: Party Autonomy v. Efficient Case Management, arbit / ASA below 40 – Party Autonomy: Use It Wisely, Use It Efficiently, 12 February 2016, Rome
  • Levelling the playing field in sports arbitration, DIS Conference - Power Imbalances in International Dispute Resolution, 23. September 2015, Berlin
  • Herausforderungen an die Sportschiedsgerichtsbarkeit und Lösungsansätze – Dabei sein ist alles? Einblicke in die Sportschiedsgerichtsbarkeit, DIS 40 Nord, 20 May 2015, Hamburg
  • Counsel Ethics in International Arbitration, YIAG Workshop, 10 November 2014, Istanbul
  • The role and powers of the arbitral tribunal in respect of misconduct by parties and counsel, VI Belgrade Arbitration Conference, 4 April 2014, Belgrade
  • Policing misbehaviour by counsel and experts - who decides? - The role and powers of the arbitral tribunal, ASA Below 40 Seminar - The straight and narrow - legal and ethical rules applicable to counsel, expert and arbitrators, 9 November 2013, Zurich
  • The Athlete as the "Weaker" Party, ASA International Arbitration Annual Conference - Sports Arbitration: A Coach for Other Players?, 27 January 2012, Lausanne

Education

  • 2013: PhD (University of Goettingen)
  • 2010: LL.M. (University of Chicago The Law School)
  • Trainee lawyer (Munich Higher Regional Court)
  • 2006: First state examination (University of Munich)
  • 2004: Certificat de Droit Transnational (University of Geneva)
  • Law studies in Munich and Geneva