Commercial Litigation & Cross-Border Business Law

Götz Gaiser is a partner at Prelia in Stuttgart and advises German and international companies on commercial disputes and complex cross-border business matters. His practice focuses on the resolution of contractual and corporate disputes, international debt recovery and enforcement, insolvency-related matters, and disputes arising out of ongoing commercial relationships and transactions.

He regularly acts for foreign companies doing business in Germany and assists them in assessing claims, developing litigation and settlement strategies, negotiating with counterparties and coordinating court proceedings and enforcement measures. His work is characterised by a strong commercial focus: legal strategy is developed with the client’s business objectives, recovery prospects and cost considerations in mind.

Götz is admitted as a Rechtsanwalt in Germany and as an Avocat in France. His dual qualification and international background are particularly valuable in matters involving several jurisdictions, foreign clients or cross-border contractual relationships, while the principal focus of his practice is advising clients on German law and representing their interests in Germany.

Professional Background & Credentials

Götz studied law at the University of Tübingen and holds a Master’s degree in International Business Law from Aix-Marseille University. His legal training included periods in both Stuttgart and Paris.

He was admitted to the Stuttgart Bar in 2022 and subsequently to the Paris Bar in 2024. He advises clients in German, English and French and regularly works with companies, lawyers and other advisers across different jurisdictions.

His international training and experience enable him to explain German legal and procedural issues in a way that is accessible to foreign management teams and in-house counsel and to coordinate effectively with lawyers and stakeholders outside Germany.

Commercial Litigation Expertise

Götz advises and represents clients across a broad range of commercial disputes, including:

• disputes arising from commercial and supply agreements;
• international trade and cross-border contractual disputes;
• payment claims, debt recovery and enforcement;
• disputes concerning defective performance, non-delivery and contractual remedies;
• shareholder and corporate disputes;
• disputes arising in connection with M&A transactions and corporate relationships;
• insolvency-related claims and creditor strategies;
• settlement negotiations and restructuring of outstanding commercial claims; and
• coordination of multi-jurisdictional litigation and enforcement strategies.

A significant part of his work involves disputes with an international dimension. He regularly assists companies based outside Germany with claims against German counterparties and serves as their central point of contact for German litigation, enforcement and insolvency matters.

His experience in commercial contracts, corporate law and transactions also enables him to assess disputes from the underlying business perspective. Rather than viewing litigation in isolation, he considers the contractual history, commercial relationship, available security, counterparty risk and potential enforcement scenarios when developing a strategy.

Cross-Border Disputes & International Clients

International disputes frequently require more than an understanding of substantive German law. Differences in legal systems, commercial expectations, languages and procedural rules can significantly affect how a dispute should be handled.

Götz regularly works with international clients and foreign counsel on such matters. He assists clients in understanding the German legal environment, evaluating litigation and enforcement risks and coordinating proceedings involving several jurisdictions.

His dual admission in Germany and France complements this international practice. While his work is not limited to Franco-German matters, his familiarity with different legal cultures and his ability to work fluently in German, English and French are particularly useful when dealing with cross-border disputes and international management teams.

Commercial Approach to Dispute Resolution

Götz approaches litigation as a commercial decision rather than purely as a procedural exercise.

At an early stage, he focuses on identifying the client’s actual objective and assessing the available options. Depending on the circumstances, this may mean pursuing court proceedings without delay, securing assets, negotiating a settlement, establishing a structured payment arrangement or taking insolvency-related measures.

Particular attention is paid to the economic viability of a claim. This includes assessing the counterparty’s financial position, likely recovery prospects, procedural costs, enforcement options and the strategic consequences of litigation for an ongoing business relationship.

Where an amicable solution remains commercially sensible, Götz seeks to achieve it without unnecessarily weakening the client’s legal position. Where litigation becomes necessary, he focuses on developing a clear and enforceable strategy from the outset.

Corporate & Commercial Background

In addition to dispute resolution, Götz advises clients on corporate and commercial law, including commercial contracts, corporate structures and cross-border M&A transactions.

This combination of contentious and non-contentious work is particularly valuable in commercial litigation. It enables him to understand not only the procedural aspects of a dispute but also the contractual and transactional context from which it arose.

His experience includes advising international businesses entering or operating in the German market, drafting and negotiating commercial agreements and assisting with corporate transactions and governance matters.

Industries & International Experience

Götz advises companies from a variety of industries, including manufacturing, automotive and industrial supply, technology, consumer goods, logistics and international trade.

He frequently works on matters involving international supply chains and business relationships between German companies and counterparties in Europe, Asia and other international markets.

His practice therefore often involves coordinating legal issues across borders and working alongside foreign lawyers, insurers, credit insurers, financial advisers and other professionals.

Professional Activities & Memberships

Götz is actively involved in international legal networks and professional associations, including AIJA – International Association of Young Lawyers, the German-French Lawyers’ Association (DFJ) and the German-Chinese Lawyers’ Association (DCJV).

Through these networks, he maintains close relationships with lawyers in numerous jurisdictions and is able to coordinate international matters efficiently where advice or proceedings outside Germany are required.

Why Clients Work With Götz

International clients instruct Götz in particular when they require a German commercial litigation lawyer who understands both the legal and the commercial dimensions of a dispute.

His practice combines:

• experience in commercial litigation, enforcement and insolvency-related matters;
• a strong background in corporate and commercial law;
• extensive experience advising international businesses;
• the ability to coordinate cross-border disputes involving several jurisdictions;
• direct communication in German, English and French; and
• a pragmatic approach focused on achieving commercially meaningful results.

Based in Stuttgart and advising clients throughout Germany, Götz acts as a trusted point of contact for businesses facing commercial disputes, enforcement issues or other complex legal challenges in the German market.