International

Commercial Court and Commercial Chambers open in Hamburg

28 April 2025
Hanseatic city strengthening Germany as a legal centre

The Commercial Court at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court and the Commercial Chambers at the Hamburg Regional Court are taking up their work after a law to strengthen Germany as a legal centre took effect on April 1, 2025.  Businesses will now be able to bring disputes involving more than half a million euros to the Commercial Court, where proceedings will be conducted in German. Two commercial chambers will now hear proceedings involving disputes over EUR 5,000 entirely in English.

Commercial Court and Commercial Chambers

"The Commercial Court at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court enables commercial disputes to be resolved faster. At the same time, our independent judges guarantee the high legal quality of the decisions," said Marc Tully, President of the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court. Global companies will also benefit from the Commercial Court.

One chamber will specialise in construction, banking, finance and company law disputes, as well as post-merger disputes. A second chamber will specialise in insurance, transport, shipping and traffic law. The public can be excluded from hearings on confidential business matters and the opposing party can be required to exercise greater discretion. Decisions of the Commercial Court may be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court. The parties may request  a written protocol of the proceedings. 

Strengthening Hamburg as a legal centre

This will create ideal conditions for international commercial disputes at the Hamburg Regional Court, according to Birte Meyerhoff, President of the Hamburg Regional Court. Anna Gallina, Senator for Justice and Consumer Protection, stressed: "Hamburg as a legal and business center thrives on global co-operation. We are strengthening Hamburg and its international orientation as well as Germany as a legal centre in international competition."
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Sources and further information

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