About
VON THUNEN | Rechtsanwaltsbuero

The lawyer´s office VON THUNEN advises family enterprises, entrepreneurial families and foundations in questions of strategic relevance. These comprise, inter alia, “classics” like business successions within the family, by sale or by establishment of a foundation as well as new challenges like the legal organization of a number of family shareholders with regard to the business („family business governance“), the internationalization of the family shareholders´ personal legal relationships or issues arising from an altered financing environment or with regard to employees´ participation rights.

We pursue a holistic approach addressing the interface of family and business, always viewing the individual economic and personal concerns of our clients in the wider context of the whole family and the entire family wealth. Given that in a family business these fields of law interact closely, our consulting approach integrates company, partnership and tax law as well as inheritance law and family law. Apart from our special experience derived from the year-long exclusive service to family businesses, entrepreneurial families and foundations, we embrace psychological and economic aspects actively. This interdisciplinary specialization proves its worth also in situations where a foundation acts as owner or when advising private clients with complex wealth.

We foster a style of proactive advice. Working trustfully, in particular, with our clients´ permanent tax and legal advisers, we maintain close personal relationships to further advisers with complementary specializations – also  internationally – in order to offer the best possible service to our clients together.  

The range of services offered by the lawyer´s office VON THUNEN comprises the following practice areas in which we have many years of experience:

• Legal Foundations of the Family Business („Family Business Governance“)
• Business Succession Planning
• Reorganization of Corporate Groups and Legal Form
• Sale and Purchase of Enterprises (Mergers and Acquisitions, M&A)
• Financing and Capital Markets
• Corporate Law Special Projects and Counsel to the Corporate Organs
• Law and Practice of Foundations/Trusts
• Structuring and Protecting Private Wealth („Asset Protection“)
• Dispute Resolution in Family Businesses and Foundations/Trusts

The office VON THUNEN renders its services to family businesses, entrepreneurial families and foundations all over Germany and is represented by an office in Stuttgart and Bielefeld, respectively. Both cities and their wider regions are characterized by a marked presence of family businesses.

In Addition, we advise international entrepreneurial families and private clients with regard to their activities and investments in Germany. At their option, we advise our clients personally at their place of residence or business.

About
Dr Sebastian von Thunen LL.M.

Dr Sebastian von Thunen has focused his practice consistently on the giving of holistic advice to family businesses, entrepeneurial families and foundations (trusts) in questions of strategic relevance and in particularly challenging issues of corporate, partnership and trust  law as well as inheritance and family law.

Professional Background

2018 Founding of VON THUNEN | Rechtsanwaltsbuero, Bielefeld/Stuttgart

2018 Lawyer, Partner, BRP Renaud & Partner, Stuttgart

2011 – 2017 Lawyer, Hennerkes, Kirchdoerfer & Lorz, Stuttgart

2010-2011 Lawyer, Hengeler Mueller, Duesseldorf

2009 Admission to the bar, Germany

2008 – 2011 Doctorate studies (Dr iur), University of Osnabrueck, Scholar of the German National Merit Foundation

2006 – 2008 Legal Training in Duesseldorf and Madrid (Uría Menéndez law firm)

2004 – 2005 Postgraduate Studies in International Business Law, Master of Laws (LL.M.) , King´s College, University of London, Scholar of the German National Merit Foundation

1999 – 2004 Legal Studies, University of Bielefeld, Scholar of the German National Merit Foundation

1998 Abitur (A-level equ.) at Ratsgymnasium Bielefeld

Qualifications

2014 Tax Law, German Lawyers‘ Academy Course for Specialist Lawyers, Bochum/Munich

2011 Dr iur (summa cum laude), University of Osnabrueck

2008 Second State Examination in Law (with honours), State Office for Legal Examinations, Duesseldorf

2005 Master of Laws (LL.M.) (merit) in International Business Law, King´s College, University of London

2004 First State Examination in Law (with honours), Law Examination Authority, Higher Regional Court of Hamm