Corporate Law

Corporate Law

“Trust is recommended in each transaction, but Safety gives good sleep.”

Janin Ahnefeld

Unfortunately, a handshake is not always the safest way to secure your legal agreements. As IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad once put it bluntly: “Do not make verbal agreements. Do not rely on a handshake. Make sure everything is in writing. After all, no lawyer in the world can help you enforce a handshake.” And that is where we come in.

Ensuring Your Legal Security

No two corporate transactions are alike. Differences arise based on industry, market scope, and business size. With deep legal knowledge, strategic insight, and creative problem-solving, we ensure your business is legally secure—and commercially strong. We negotiate and draft multilingual contracts for national and international business, develop custom general terms and conditions (GTCs), and mediate in cross-border disputes.

Ahnefeld Law Berlin Anwaltskanzlei Corporate Law

Legal office for corporate law Berlin Germany

Transparency and Clarity

We also conduct due diligence processes on M&A transactions and give you legal advice how to best structure your transaction due to your business needs and requirements. Within such a transaction, time is always money. We keep our given deadlines and work within the scope of our assignment. Transparency and clarity are thereby our main intentions to move the transaction in a smooth way forward until it is finalised. The same approach we have on any venture capital transactions, share deals or joint ventures where our expertise is required.

Safety on New Territory

If you want to incorporate a new company, we will work with you on the best way how to structure it due to your legal needs thereby also taking into account tax and financial advices and requests. There is nothing more beautiful than creating something new and be part of this process with you. We will built up your success with you.

Lawyer for corporate law Berlin

Our Legal Services in Corporate Law

Services - Corporate Law

Company formation and structuring

Company formation and corporate structuring require thoughtful legal planning to establish a strong and sustainable foundation for business operations and future growth. AHNEFELD LAW advises entrepreneurs, investors, start-ups and multinational companies on the establishment, organisation and restructuring of corporate entities across a wide range of industries. We assist our clients in selecting the most appropriate legal structure, preparing constitutional documents, shareholder agreements and governance frameworks, while ensuring full compliance with applicable corporate and regulatory requirements.

Beyond incorporation, we provide strategic guidance on group structures, cross-border operations, ownership arrangements and liability considerations designed to support operational efficiency and long-term commercial objectives. With a practical and business-oriented approach, we tailor each structure to the specific needs of the client, balancing legal protection with commercial flexibility. Our services aim to create secure, efficient and well-governed corporate frameworks that support both immediate business goals and future expansion opportunities.

Appointing managing directors and representatives

Appointing managing directors and authorised representatives requires precision, foresight, and a clear understanding of corporate governance obligations. AHNEFELD LAW advises companies, shareholders, and international investors on the legally secure appointment, replacement, and registration of directors, board members, and commercial representatives. We prepare all necessary resolutions, powers of attorney, and filing documents, while ensuring full compliance with applicable corporate and regulatory requirements. With a focus on efficiency, discretion, and practical solutions, we guide clients through every stage of the process, from strategic planning to official registration. Our service provides reliable legal support tailored to the structure and objectives of each business.

Corporate Governance and Dissolution

Effective corporate governance is essential to maintaining transparency, accountability, and long-term business stability. AHNEFELD LAW advises companies, shareholders, directors and investors on the development and implementation of governance structures that support sound decision-making and regulatory compliance.

We assist with shareholder relations, board responsibilities, internal policies, corporate restructuring and the management of governance-related disputes, always with a focus on protecting the company’s commercial interests and operational integrity.

In addition, AHNEFELD LAW comprehensive legal support in corporate dissolution and liquidation proceedings. Whether arising from strategic restructuring, shareholder decisions or financial circumstances, the dissolution of a company requires careful planning and strict compliance with legal obligations. We guide our clients through every stage of the process, including resolutions, creditor matters, asset distribution and regulatory filings. Combining technical expertise with a pragmatic approach, we help clients conclude corporate affairs efficiently, discreetly and with legal certainty.

Mergers and Acquisitions, Share Deals and Joint Ventures

AHNEFELD LAW advises companies, investors and shareholders on all stages of transactional work, from initial planning and negotiation through to execution and post-transaction integration. We assist in structuring share and asset deals, drafting and negotiating purchase agreements, shareholder agreements and joint venture arrangements, ensuring that each transaction is aligned with our clients’ commercial goals.

A core element of our practice is comprehensive legal and regulatory due diligence, identifying risks and opportunities at an early stage to enable informed decision-making. We also provide guidance on corporate governance, financing structures and regulatory approvals, ensuring smooth and compliant transaction processes.

We provide both transactional expertise and deep commercial insight, delivering tailored, efficient and solution-oriented advice. Our focus is on creating legally secure and strategically sound structures that support sustainable growth, value creation and successful long-term partnerships.

Venture Capital Transactions

We support and advise also start up and/or early-stage companies as well as existing companies to provide the funding they need to reach their internal goals. Venture Capital can change the entire structure of a company. Thereby, for our clients the understanding of the legal ramifications of the Venture Capital financing is essential before signing any legal agreements that can shape your company’s future.

VC Transactions help our clients to get essential funding form early investors for equity ownership and other rights. Our legal due diligence service includes thereby to help you to prepare for the funding by organizing your corporate record, identifying your legal risks and ensuring that your company is in compliance with regulations. On the other side, if you want to invest in a company, we conduct a quick but comprehensive and careful due diligence for you to make sure that you make a careful investing decision – based on our legal findings.

Balance between founders and investors is essential to protect each party and keep the company flexible. We thereby support in the negotiation and signing process of the VC contract in case that is required too.

What our clients are saying

“I have been a client of Ms. Ahnefeld for 15 years. She and her colleagues are extraordinarily approachable and responsive, and very thorough in the follow up. They are particularly helpful in guiding their foreign clients through unfamiliar territory, which gives the non-native a confidence and sense of security that is an important part of the legal process. An expert law firm that is very client-focused.”
Client from USA
“A friend recommended Ahnefeld Lawfirm when I was dealing with a challenging problem last year. From the outset, I was put at ease by their straightforward approach, transparency and professionalism. There were multiple hurdles to be overcome during the process but each one was met with efficiency and competency. It was a stellar service from start to finish.”
Client from Ireland
“Janin and her firm have been crucial partners in my journey in Germany. From vetting property contracts to filing taxes to defending and winning a case for me; she has done it all with ease and finesse. I highly appreciate her work especially as an investor who’s not grown up in Germany and therefore my grasp of the German language has been very basic. She has been an extremely valuable asset.”
Client from India
“As an Israeli entrepreneur I keep business relationship with Janin more than 10 years. I enjoy her professionalism and quick reaction to changing business situation. Janin succeeded to provide envelope of business services from her partners in Germany (including notaries,real estate brokers,developers in different countries) and Israel,that significantly increase additional value for business . I appreciate so much our deep business relationship during years.”
Client from Israel
“Twelve years have passed since I first met Janin back in 2014. From my time working in Germany to my current life in China, I have consistently entrusted her with all my German legal affairs. Her rigorous work attitude, professional dedication, and client-oriented service have fully earned my deep trust.”
Client from China
“I was referred to Ms Ahnefeld by a friend who had previously benefited from her firm’s services. Ms Ahnefeld has been highly responsive, detail-oriented and strategic in handling a complex tenancy dispute involving extensive documentation and cross-border issues. As a non-German speaker, I particularly appreciated her ability to work clearly and professionally in English throughout the process. Her communication has been clear, pragmatic and well-structured, and she was quick to identify inconsistencies in the data.”
Client from Switzerland / France
“Janin supported us through several real estate matters in Germany, including identifying problematic real-estate deals before we committed to them, reviewing the purchase contract for our apartment, and currently representing us in an ongoing legal dispute. Throughout all of these processes, she was extremely professional, detail-oriented, and trustworthy. As foreigners unfamiliar with the German legal system, we especially appreciated her ability to explain complex procedures patiently. Her advice gave us confidence and helped us avoid costly mistakes.”
Client from Israel
“As a British citizen with property interests in Berlin, German business and tax law can often seem perplexing, complex, and difficult to manage. Janin Ahnefeld has helped us to navigate, understand and remain compliant throughout our 10-year relationship with the firm. She is always extremely prompt in replying to messages, she is approachable and she demystifies the rules and regulations so that you can feel confident that you are compliant and working to the best of your abilities. I couldn’t recommend her and her company more highly.”
Clients from UK
“We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Ahnefeld Lawfirm spanning many years. Throughout our collaboration, we have come to fully trust Janin’s legal opinions and guidance — her expertise and dedication have been invaluable to us.”
Clients from China
“Janin Ahnefeld represented me in an exceptionally complex family gift of a flat in Berlin and guided me through every tax and legal challenge with expertise and patience. She also took on the difficult process of evicting a non-paying tenant – no small feat in Berlin – and managed everything so smoothly that I was ultimately able to sell the apartment at the best possible price. What truly sets Janin apart is her personal, well-rounded follow-up care. She doesn’t just handle your case; she stays by your side. We even became friends along the way. I trust her completely and wholeheartedly recommend her and her law firm.”
Client from Ukraine
“I’ve known Janin for more than 15 years, during which time she helped me both acquire and sell multiple properties in Berlin. Beyond legal services, she was instrumental in my dealings with banks and pension funds that partially financed these transactions. Throughout this time, our cooperation and communication were simultaneously easy, enjoyable, and incredibly focused and professional—all this while I spend most of my time in the Far East. I’ve referred numerous friends from Australia, Southeast Europe, and elsewhere, and everyone received the same top notch service. After all these years, I consider her both a friend and a business partner, and I hope to work with her again in Berlin soon.”
Client from Serbia
“I have been working with Janin for almost 10 years for my annual tax matters, and she has always been professional, reliable, and extremely efficient. I always feel that everything is handled carefully and correctly. She provided excellent support with legal and administrative matters related to my apartment, including handling the termination process of a tenant contract after the tenant sadly passed away. Her guidance made a very difficult situation much easier to manage. When I had issues with neighbors complaining about my tenant smoking heavily, she handled the matter calmly and professionally and helped me find the right way to deal with the situation. What I value most is her responsiveness, professionalism, and the confidence she gives me that everything is under control.”
Client from Israel
“Janin Ahnefeld has provided me, since the purchase of my studio in Berlin in 2012, with all the legal assistance and expertise I have ever needed, from tax returns amid changing regulations to the delicate estate settlement that had to be handled with the relevant French authorities following my husband’s passing. All of this with as much professionalism and responsiveness as warm, genuine empathy!”
Client from France

A Relationship Built On Trust.

Work With Us

Legal matters often intersect with personal lives, families, and futures. We take that responsibility seriously.

If you are looking for an expert legal advisor who thinks ahead, communicates clearly and stands firmly on your side, we should talk.

Schedule a confidential consultation

Telephone: +49 30 34 35 60 38
E-Mail: contact@ahnefeldlaw.com

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