Dr David Mattern, LL.M.

Dr Mattern advises on all legal issues regarding the realization of construction projects. In addition to the minimization of disruption potential through appropriate contract drafting, this includes in particular strategic support in the enforcement or defence of claims during the execution of the project (claim management / anti-claim management) as well as representation in arbitration or court proceedings. The aim is always to work out the most economical solution for the client, which is usually based on a fair and cooperative approach. One consulting focus lies on FIDIC based projects in the field of offshore wind energy and plant construction. In addition to private building law, Dr Mattern regularly advises and publishes on architectural and engineering law. The main area here is the enforcement of remuneration claims as well as issues concerning the liability of the planner.

Recent work

• Offshore wind energy: Representation of different employers in (English-speaking) contract negotiations and in DAB and arbitration proceedings as well as advising a general contractor on all legal issues during the entire implementation phase
• Plant Construction: Legal support for Beiersdorf AG and its affiliates in the construction or expansion of production facilities and other construction projects in Germany and abroad
• Infrastructure: Contract drafting and bidder negotiation for a large German network expansion project
• Project development: Advice on construction law issues for the Hamburg office of the SIGNA Group
• Classical building projects: Regular consulting for Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung during and after the construction phase
• Planning: Regular consulting for HDR GmbH during and after the project realization and here especially on questions regarding the enforcement / defence of claims against the employer / sub-planners

Curriculum vitae 

• Studied law at the University of Trier, 2002 to 2008
• Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), 2008 to 2009
• Project Administrator at the European Legal Academy in Trier, 2009 to 2010
• PhD on international tax law at the University of Trier, 2012
• Legal clerkship at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court Hamburg with secondments to Berlin and Hanoi, 2011 to 2013
• Lawyer at Kapellmann since 2013

Further qualifications and memberships

• Member of the Working Group on Construction Law within the German Lawyers’ Association (ARGE Baurecht im Deutschen Anwaltverein)
• Member of the Hamburg Lawyers’ Association (HAV)
• Regular in-house seminars and workshops on (anti-)claim management, law of architects as well as the new civil construction law