Gleiss Lutz
- Founded
- 1949-01-01 in Stuttgart, Germany
- Headquarters
- Stuttgart, Germany
- Phone
- +49 30 800 9790
Gleiss Lutz is a leading German full-service business law firm with a storied history dating back to 1949, when antitrust lawyer Alfred Gleiss founded the practice in Stuttgart. The firm has grown organically and through office openings to operate eight locations worldwide, including Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart, Brussels, and London. With over 400 lawyers, including 92 partners, Gleiss Lutz advises clients across all major areas of business law, particularly excelling in mergers and acquisitions, competition/antitrust, labour law, litigation, and arbitration. The firm is recognized for its early adoption of legal technology, having developed proprietary tools such as the Client Collaboration Platform, FactTracker, and Rocket, and is a founding member of the European Legal Tech Association (ELTA). Gleiss Lutz maintains a non-exclusive network of independent international law firms and strategic alliances with leading European firms like Chiomenti, Cuatrecasas, and Gide Loyrette Nouel. With revenue reaching approximately €318.9 million in 2025, the firm consistently ranks among the top German law firms in domestic and international league tables, handling high-stakes cross-border mandates for clients ranging from multinational corporations to financial institutions.
Detailed Review
History and Founding
Gleiss Lutz was founded on 1 April 1949 by Alfred Gleiss in Stuttgart, focusing on decartelisation matters for the newly formed Federal Cartel Office. The firm's name evolved through partnerships, becoming Gleiss Lutz Hootz Hirsch in 1962 after Helmuth Lutz, Christian Hootz, and Martin Hirsch joined. Over the decades, it expanded through organic growth and office openings: Berlin and Frankfurt in 1990, Munich in 2001, Düsseldorf in 2009, Hamburg in 2018, and international outposts in Brussels and London in 2024. Today, it is a full-service provider covering corporate/M&A, antitrust, labour, tax, regulatory, real estate, IP/IT, litigation, and arbitration, with focused industry groups for automotive, healthcare, energy, retail, and financial services.
Practice Areas and Market Position
Gleiss Lutz is particularly renowned for its antitrust and competition law practice, reflecting its origins, and is consistently ranked among the top German law firms by Chambers and Legal 500. Its corporate/M&A practice regularly handles complex cross-border transactions, while its labour, litigation, and arbitration teams are highly regarded. The firm's banking and finance practice also receives strong recognition. Recent high-profile mandates include advising the Volkswagen Supervisory Board on the sale of Everllence, advising the Commerzbank Supervisory Board on the UniCredit takeover bid, and representing SURTECO Group in a refinancing and restructuring.
Legal Technology and Innovation
Gleiss Lutz has been an early mover in legal tech. Its "Digital Future" think tank, launched in 2017, drives innovation across the firm. Proprietary tools include the Client Collaboration Platform (secure document sharing and workflow automation), FactTracker (a structured repository for factual evidence in complex cases), and Rocket (a chatbot for class‑action claims). The firm also integrates third‑party solutions such as OpenText eDiscovery and works with the no‑code automation platform BRYTER to create client‑facing applications. Gleiss Lutz is a founding member of the European Legal Tech Association (ELTA).
International Network and Strategic Alliances
Internationally, Gleiss Lutz operates through a non‑exclusive network of independent firms and is a member of a European alliance alongside Chiomenti (Italy), Cuatrecasas (Spain/Portugal), and Gide Loyrette Nouel (France). It also maintains close relationships with Stibbe (Benelux), Slaughter and May (UK), and Cravath, Swaine & Moore (USA). This network allows the firm to handle cross-border mandates seamlessly.
Recent Developments and Leadership
In December 2025, Gleiss Lutz announced its largest‑ever partner promotion round, appointing nine new partners and four counsel effective 1 January 2026, reflecting a strong talent pipeline. The firm's revenue rose to €318.9 million in 2025, underscoring sustained growth. Strategic leadership is vested in the Co‑Managing Partners, currently Ralf Morshäuser and Johann Wagner, along with the partner body. The founder, Alfred Gleiss, remains a historic figure.
Key Products
Client Collaboration Platform
In-house developed platform for secure document processing, task management, and process automation.
FactTracker
Proprietary tool for storing, structuring, and processing factual information in large projects and litigation.
Rocket
Claim bot developed in-house for class-action case management.
OpenText eDiscovery
Integrated eDiscovery solution for document review and metadata handling.
Digital Future Think Tank
Cross-disciplinary initiative exploring digitalisation and legal tech innovation.
Key Persons
- Alfred Gleiss
Founder