Berlin
Dr. Karl Schwarz
Real Estate and Construction
T +49 (30) 880 331-225
F +49 (30) 880 331-100
E zrawhcs.k@zirn@gibl.de
Office:
Cora Malsch
c.malsch@zirngibl.de
Attorney at Law / Partner
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
English, German
PRACTICE AREA
Dr Schwarz has specialised in advising on construction, architectural and real estate law since the beginning of his career. He acts for all parties involved in projects, for investors, project developers, architectural and engineering firms, project managers and construction companies.
In addition to representing clients in court proceedings, he primarily acts as an out-of-court advisor for his clients, particularly in the context of providing legal advice during the construction phase of major building projects. A particular focus of his work is the structuring, drafting and negotiation of all contracts required for project realisation. In providing advice during construction, he pursues the goal of realising his clients’ interests and claims comprehensively and effectively, thereby avoiding litigation as far as possible.
Dr Schwarz is a permanent contributor to the journal IBR Immobilien- & Baurecht. He is also a regular speaker on construction and property law topics for seminar organisers and as part of in-house training courses.
RECOMMENDATIONS
WirtschaftsWoche has named Dr Schwarz as TOP lawyer 2022 for the legal field of private construction law.
CAREER
- Studied at the Humboldt University of Berlin
- Legal clerkship at the Court of Appeal, including a stint at the Senate Department for Urban Development
- Admitted to the bar since 2002
- 2002 – 2008 Lawyer at the law firm CMS Hasche Sigle, Berlin, specialising in real estate, construction and the environment
- 2004 Doctorate at the Humboldt University of Berlin under Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Ulrich Battis
- 2008 – 2024 Partner in the law firm KNH Rechtsanwälte Hochstadt und Partner PartGmbB, Berlin
- Partner at Zirngibl Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB since 2025
MEMBERSHIPS
- AIV Architects‘ and Engineers’ Association of Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.
- German Construction Court Conference e.V.
- ARGE Construction Law in the German Bar Association (DAV) e.V.
- Berlin Bar Association e.V.
- Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
- Legal advice to the client during the construction phase of the revitalisation of leading international department stores in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich
- Legal advice to an association on the construction of a large office building in Berlin
- Legal advice to a national daily newspaper on the construction of a new publishing and editorial building in Berlin
- Advising a real estate company on the realisation of a large industrial estate in Berlin
- Representation of a construction group in a damage matter concerning an important infrastructure facility in the centre of Berlin
- Representation of a large planning and construction management office in a claims matter concerning a new parliament building in the centre of Berlin
- Legal advice to private investors in connection with the construction of apartment blocks in Berlin
- Comprehensive construction and property law advice to a public law institution (bank) on the construction of office buildings in Berlin and Frankfurt am Main
- Advising a US-American bank on its property portfolio in Germany (in particular private construction law)
- Ongoing advice to a renowned international architectural firm on projects in Germany and abroad
- Representing a large road construction company in and out of court and providing in-house training for the company's employees
- VOB-Kommentar - Bauvergaberecht, Bauvertragsrecht, Bauprozessrecht, 7th edition 2020, Cologne (Werner Verlag), editor of § 17 VOB/B and §§ 648, 648a BGB
- Practical handbook on engineering and architectural law, 2017, Cologne (Verlag Rudolf Müller), co-editor and co-author
- Construction law for construction companies, 2nd edition 2010, Cologne (Werner Verlag), author of chapters 3 (contract deadlines) and 4 (impediments)
- Security pursuant to Section 648a BGB also for disputed supplementary claims?, BauR 2017, 1
- OLG Koblenz - Interior designer must point out limited authorisation to submit building plans, IBR 2023, 358
- LG Bielefeld - Energy efficiency expert not liable for lost KfW subsidies, IBR 2023, 296
- OLG Koblenz/BGH - Façade functional despite defects: New construction disproportionate!, IBR 2022, 621
- OLG Oldenburg/BGH - Client chooses more cost-effective design: Architect is not liable, IBR 2022, 354
- OLG Dresden - Expert costs for renovation planning and monitoring are reimbursable, IBR 2021, 527
- OLG Brandenburg - No agreement on invoicing according to HOAI: No contract has been concluded!, IBR 2020, 464
- OLG Celle - Predominant planning error: Architect cannot take recourse!, IBR 2020, 186
- OLG Koblenz - Building occupied for six months: Architect's work accepted!, IBR 2020, 78
