Karl Wach

Practice Areas

Dr. Karl J.T. Wach is a founding partner of WACH UND MECKES. With over 35 years of experience Karl’s practice covers a broad spectrum of national and international arbitration and (cross-border) commercial litigation.

His expertise includes corporate and commercial law including banking and financial, energy and capital market claims. He also advises clients on post M&A, manager liability and cartel damage disputes.

Karl represents clients across a broad range of industry sectors including banks/financial institutions, investors, trade, machine engineering, infrastructure, commodities, energy, health science, aviation and the automotive industry.

Dr. Karl J.T. Wach has conducted arbitration proceedings as counsel and arbitrator (co-arbitrator, presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator) under the auspices of various renowned arbitral institutions (DIS, ICC, UNCITRAL) and in ad-hoc arbitrations.

JUVE consistently recommends Karl as a top lawyer in the field of Litigation and Arbitration. Colleagues describe him as a well-prepared, fair, and calm arbitrator who possesses a unique ability to consider multiple perspectives. His strategic acumen and negotiation skills are highly regarded, making him an extraordinary and tenacious advocate for his clients.

Best Lawyers has recognized Karl as one of the best Lawyers for Arbitration and Mediation, International Arbitration and Litigation since 2009. In 2012, he was honored as "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation. Karl has also been recognized by Leaders League in the categories Best Arbitrators, International Arbitration and Commercial Litigation and as TOP Lawyer for Litigation by WirtschaftsWoche. Karl has also been recognized by Who’s Who Legal in Arbitration.

Karl is a member of the academic advisory board of the Munich Center for Dispute Resolution (MuCDR) and is a regular speaker or panel member at national and international conferences. He is widely acclaimed for his contributions to legal literature, having published extensively on topics including arbitration, capital market law, procedural law, cartel damages and post-M&A disputes.

Most recently, Karl has been the driving force behind the introduction of The Munich Rules, a new set of regulations for arbitration proceedings that enable the involvement of third parties in arbitration.

Languages Spoken

German, English

Work Highlights

Defending a middle-east airline (with operations worldwide) against a multi-billion Euro damages claim by the insolvency administrator of a German carrier.

Representing a US-based institutional investor, with a focus on technology, media and communications, in a post-M&A dispute with three listed German automotive groups relating to an eight-figure claim for profit participation and damages.

Defending a former board member of Hypo Real Estate Holding AG against 200+ parallel investor proceedings and in proceedings under the German Capital Markets Model Case Act (KapMuG) for a nine-digit figure in damages due to an alleged breach of ad hoc obligations.

Defending a public entity in a dispute with an energy producer concerning price adjustments as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

DIS arbitration: Advising a group of independent internationally acting investment companies in a Post-M&A dispute with the buyer of a medical- and care company relating to an eight-figure earn-out for manip­ulative continuation of the target company in breach of the agreement.

DIS arbitration: Presiding arbitrator in an eight figure shareholder dispute.

ICC arbitration: Representing a Swiss-based international service provider and trade corporation in a dispute and in annulment proceedings before the Austrian Supreme Court with a German subsidiary of a Japan-based pharma corporation relating to a long-term supply agreement for pharmaceutical substances.

ICC arbitration: Party appointed arbitrator in a post M&A dispute in the technology sector