The entry into force of the new law on April 1st, 2025 has capacitated the German federal states to establish specialized commercial courts within regional and higher regional courts. The federal state of Hesse will make use of this option in order to strengthen Frankfurt’s position as a business and judicial center by establishing specialized chambers for economic disputes (commercial chambers) within the Frankfurt Regional Court (Landgericht) and the Commercial Court Frankfurt within the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht).
This new judicial structure mainly targets companies with complex disputes in commercial law, especially those with an international dimension. One major aspect is the possibility of conducting proceedings in English in a modern and efficient structure with preparatory organizational appointments, while using English as the language for court hearings is by no means mandatory.
The aim is to provide a modern, specialized and efficient judicial forum, in particular for companies based or doing business in Hesse, as an attractive alternative to international arbitration tribunals or foreign commercial courts.
Dr. Michael Heinrich