Dr. Giorgina Kandalaft, LL.M.

As a senior associate in our Commercial Team in Düsseldorf and a member of the German and International Automotive Group, I advise domestic and international clients on contract law focusing on liability questions in particular. In this respect, I advise both in out-of-court negotiations and settlements as well as in complex disputes and court proceedings.

I mainly advise clients in the automotive industry (suppliers, e-vehicle manufacturers) and insurance companies on legal issues in the supply chain and on general contract law questions. My practice focuses on high-volume product liability and warranty cases, particularly upstream and downstream supply chain matters. This includes warranty cases with international customer service measures as well as the legal analysis of complex issues and disputes within high-volume and long-term supply relationships.

During my secondment with an international electric car manufacturer, I advised on legal issues surrounding the entry into the European automotive market and could apply and expand my expertise as a lawyer in the automotive industry working directly with the company management on a day-to-day basis.

As part of my comparative law PhD-thesis I conducted a research project focusing on the decision-making process within the Commercial Chambers in German courts, which enabled me to deepen my understanding of commercial and business law issues and their enforceability in court.

• Advising a Tier-1 automotive supplier in a high volume ( > EUR 60 million) warranty case vis-à-vis a German OEM and a Tier-2 supplier on a recourse constellation due to a serial damage and world-wide OEM field actions affecting several jurisdictions.
• Advising on a high-volume warranty case in the offshore-wind-sector (< EUR 300 million)
• Secondment with an international electric car manufacturer and ongoing legal advice during the entry phase into the European market.
• Ongoing legal advice to numerous Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers on complex commercial law liability issues, supply chain constellations and court proceedings, including price adjustment claims and delivery stops (including interim injunctions and protective briefs).
• Drafting and review of complex commercial contracts and general terms and conditions (B2B), e.g. general terms and conditions of purchase and sale as well as special contract types (e.g. prototype contracts).
• Advising on and coordinating numerous multi-jurisdictional contract projects and liability cases in cross-border legal relations.