CHRISTOPH VON PLANTAATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Christoph von Planta
Lawyer | PartnerSpecialist lawyer for migration law
- Migration law
- EU Blue Card
- Business start-up and investment in Germany
- Foreign skilled workers for companies
- Nationality law
BIOGRAPHIC
- Raised in Switzerland, dual citizenship
- Study abroad in London and Aix-en-Provence
- Studies at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg i.Br.
- Legal clerkship in Brandenburg and Berlin
- Foundation and establishment of the law firm vpmk Attorneys at Law in April 1998
- Specialist lawyer for migration law since the introduction of the specialist lawyer title in 2016
- Lecturer in the field of employment migration and educational migration in all specialist courses for migration law (German Lawyers Academy/ Republican Lawyers Association (RAV)). Regular
- Lectures for ARGE Migrationsrecht im Deutschen Anwaltverein and other providers
- Co-founder and co-operator of the jurisdiction portal for lawyers specializing in migration law “anwaltsdatenbank.net” since 2005
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Migration Law Working Group of the German Bar Association (DAV) since 2012
Publications
- Christoph von Planta, editing of the chapters “Erwerbsmigration” and “Bildungsmigration” in: Thomas Oberhäuser (editor) “Migrationsrecht in der Beratungspraxis”, 1st edition 2019 Nomos-Verlag. See also the book review by lawyer Sibel Simsek in: Asylmagazin 8-9/2019, p. 267 or as PDF.
- Educational migration in transition, Asylmagazin, issue 3/2019, p. 48 ff. PDF
- “New regulations brought about by the 2017 Directive Implementation Act – Part 3: Researchers and Scientists,” ANA-ZAR 04/2018 PDF.
- “New regulations brought about by the Directive Implementation Act 2017 – Part 2: Education Migration and Labor Migration (ICT),” ANA-ZAR 02/2018 PDF.
- “New regulations through the Directive Implementation Act 2017 – Part 1: Study migration,” ANA-ZAR 04/2017 PDF.
- Lars Kroidl and Christoph von Planta, editing of the chapter “Germany” in: Dennis Campbell (General Editor) “International Immigration and Nationality Law”, 2nd edition 2016 Bookstore.
- “Simplifying the labor market integration of refugees”, essay NJW, issue 1-2/2016, p.18-22 PDF.
- “Make it in Germany – The EU Blue Card in Paxis,” Asylmagazin 12/2014 PDF
- “Those who need a good lawyer should get one”, Anwaltsblatt 05/2014 PDF
- “New Work Permit Law – Overview and Criticism,” ANA-ZAR 01/2014 PDF.
KATJA PONERTATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Katja Ponert
Lawyer | PartnerSpecialist lawyer for social law
- Migration law
- EU Blue Card
- Business start-up and investment in Germany
- Foreign skilled workers for companies
- Freelance activity
- Right of free movement/ EU
- Nationality law
- Social law
Biographic
- Studies at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg i. Br. and as a scholarship holder in
Barcelona; Focus: European & International Law. - Legal clerkship Freiburg, Offenburg, Frankfurt and Berlin;
Collaboration with Pro Asyl/Frankfurt,
UNHCR/ Berlin - Involvement in the Federal Working Group of Critical Law Groups, editor of the journal
“Forum Recht”; research associate at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign
and International Criminal Law in Freiburg i. Br. - From August 2003 to July 2004, advisor for migration and refugee policy at the
Bundestag faction Bündnis 90/Die Grünen; focus: legal support of the
Negotiations on the Immigration Act; handling of aspects of aliens law in Hartz III and IV and the Act to Combat Clandestine Employment, work permit law - Admitted to the bar in June 2004
- Partner of vpmk Attorneys at Law since January 2006
- Successful participation in the specialist course for migration law and social law
Memberships
- ARGE Migration Law in the German Bar Association
- Working group on aliens law of the RAV in Berlin
Recent publications and lectures
- Author of the chapter “Erwerbsmigration” in “Immigration Law – The Law of Labor and Education Migration”, v. Harbou / Weizsäcker (eds.), C.H. Beck Verlag, 1st edition 2018.
- Lecture at the Friedrich-Eberts-Stiftung “Erwerbstätigenzuwanderung im Klartext: Faire
Design creates perspectives”, October 2018 - Guest lecturer at the Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HsH Hannover) as part of the block course “Fundamentals of residence law, as well as delinquency and its impact on residence status”, November 2022
Volunteer
- Volunteer consultant in migration law for various initiatives and organizations
- Free legal advice for refugees and displaced persons in the action alliance “We’re doing it
STEPHANIE DUFNER ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Stephanie Dufner
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Main Areas of activity
- Migration law
- EU Blue Card
- Setting up a business and investing in Germany
- Foreign skilled workers for companies
- Citizenship law
Biographic
- Born in Freiburg i. Br.
- Studies at the Westphalian-Wilhelms University of Münster and at the Universidad de Barcelona
- Specialised foreign language training in English at the Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- E.MA Master in Human Rights and Democratisation at the EIUC in Venice and at the University of Lisbon (topic of the Master’s thesis: “Women in the European asylum law system”)
- Legal clerkship in Berlin with stations at the Federal Foreign Office, the German Institute for Human Rights and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
- International Law Officer at the General Secretariat of Amnesty International Germany
- Admitted to the bar since 2012
- Parental leave representation at vpmk Attorneys at Law
- Lawyer and Manager at Fragomen Global LLP, Frankfurt
- Partner at vpmk since 2016
- Opening of the Stuttgart office of vpmk in 2017
- Successful completion of the specialist lawyer course in migration law in 2019
- Voluntary advisor on migration law to various initiatives and organisations
MEMBERSHIPS
- Migration Law Network
- ARGE Migration Law in the German Bar Association
- German Women Lawyers Association
- Amnesty International, Pro Asyl
REBECCA MÜLLER ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Rebecca Müller
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Specialist lawyer for family law
Main Areas of activity
- Family law
- Divorce
- Property division
- parental custody and contact with joint children, prenuptial agreements and agreements on the consequences of
divorce - migration law
- Family reunification
- Right of residence for artists and freelancers from abroad in Germany
- Blue card
- Nationality law
- Right to freedom of movement for EU citizens and their family members
biographic
- Two years working as a freelance journalist after graduating from high school.
- Studied law at the University of Trier
- Legal clerkship in Brandenburg and Berlin
- distinction examination
- Foundation and establishment of the law firm vpmk Rechtsanwälte in April 1998
- Since then specialised in the field of migration law
- Specialist in family law since 2007
- Worked as an expert in migration law at the High Court London, Family Division
- Various communication trainings and many years of further education and training in creative writing, meditation/energy work and martial art T’ai Chi
VOLKER MAUCH ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Volker Mauch
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNERSPECIALIST IN LABOUR LAW
biographical
- Born 1971
- 1990 – 1995: Law studies at the University of Hamburg (focus: private international law)
- 1995 – 1997: Legal clerkship in the State of Brandenburg
- April 1998: Admitted to the Berlin Bar
- May 1998: Founding partner of vpmk Rechtsanwälte
- 2005: Further training as specialist lawyer for tax law
- 2006: Further training as specialist solicitor for labour law
- 2007: Admission as specialist lawyer for labour law
- 2007: Entry into the real estate department of vpmk and focus on international investors
LECTURES
- Lectures in China/Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Moscow, on civil and tax law issues in connection with investments in German real estate;
- Berliner Immobilienrunde 27.02.2012 “Advising foreign real estate investors in Berlin”.
- 6 July 2022 – 4th Berlin Real Estate Talk – Tax Law for Foreign Real Estate Owners
- 24 May 2022 – IVD Profit Meeting – Lecture on the acquisition of real estate by non-residents
- 13 September 2022 – 36th Berlin Real Estate Talks
- Since 27 October 2022 BGI – Balms Group International – Member of the Board
LARS KROIDL ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Lars Kroidl
ATTORNEY AT LAW, L.L.M | PARTNERLawyer | Specialist in Administrative Law
MAIN AREAS OF ACTIVITY
- Business start-up and investment in Germany
- Real Estate Law
- Tenancy law
- Corporate Law
- Administrative Law
BIOGRAPHIC
- Born in Wisconsin/USA
- Studies in Göttingen and Leiden/Netherlands
- Master of Laws at the University of San Diego/USA
- Scholarships: Erasmus scholarship from Leiden University/Netherlands, Merit scholarship from the
University of San Diego/USA - Traineeship: Bremen Regional Court | Department of International Law of the German Foreign Office (assistance at the hearing on forced labour compensation) | international: Heskia-Hacmun, Law Firm in Tel-Aviv/Israel
- Partner at vpmk since May 2003
- Specialist in administrative law since 2008
MEMBERSHIPS
German Bar Association, pro asyl e.V., Zeuthener Segler-Verein e.V. Berlin-Wannsee, CFB Hasenheide e. V.
Publications
Lars Kroidl and Christoph von Planta,
editing of the chapter “Germany” in: Dennis Campbell (General Editor) “International Immigration and Nationality Law”, 2nd edition 2016
ANDREAS CONZELMANN ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Andreas Conzelmann
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Andreas Conzelmann is part of our immigration team.
He represents international clients at all German authorities and foreign agencies. After studying at the University of Heidelberg and the Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, he spent time abroad in Kuala Lumpur.
Andreas was admitted to the bar in 2018 and became a partner at vpmk in 2022.
Andreas offers consultation in German and English.
Main Areas of activity
- immigration of skilled workers
- General residence law
- Right of Free movement of persons
- Entrepreneurs and investors
- Freelancers and artists
- Family reunion
- Citizenship
PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES:
- Lecture on 09.07.2020 on the Skilled Workers Immigration Act at the Ulm Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK)
- Lecture on citizenship law at the 6th Speyr Migration Law Days 2022
TILL HEINRICH ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Till Heinrich
Lawyer | PartnerSpecialist lawyer for copyright and media law
Corporation Contract Law Intellectual Property & Media Venture Capital Litigation
BIOGRAPHIC
Studies at the Eberhardt – Karls – University of Tübingen
2010 Admission to the bar
Since 2012 Lecturer at the fashion and graphic design school MF Mannheim
2010-2015 Employed as lawyer in a law firm for music and
media law
2015 – 2017 Self – employed lawyer for copyright and media law
2018 Joined the l aw firm vpmk as a partner
2018 Certification as data protection officer DEVK
2022 Designation as specialist lawyer for copyright and media law
MEMBERSHIPS
- Member of the Working Group on Information Technology (DAVIT)
- Member of the Working Group Intellectual Property & Media
(AGEM) - Member of the German Bar Association and the Stuttgart Bar Association
PUBLICATIONS
Sustainable data protection management, in: FOODTEC 2019
Data protection as an opportunity, in: Prozesstechnik 1/19
Lecture “Copyright in digital art” in: Digitale Kunst 0711,
Stuttgart 09.22
BASTIAN HENNIGFELD ATTORNEY AT LAW
Bastian Hennigfeld
Attorney at law
- Immigration of skilled workers / skilled workers for companies
- General residence law / migration law
- Blue Card EU
- Free movement of persons EU
- Entrepreneurs and investors
- Freelancer and Artists
- Family reunion
- Citizenship
Languages: German / English / Turkish (B2)
BIOGRAPHY
- Born in Munich, raised in Murnau am Staffelsee in Bavaria
- Social Service (Zivildienst) at berufsgenossenschaftlichen Unfallkrankenhaus in Murnau am Staffelsee
- Political science studies and German language studies at Universität Regensburg (Bachelor of Arts)
- Legal studies with focus on International – and European law at Freie Universität in Berlin
- Internships a.o. at ifb – Institut zur Fortbildung von Betriebsräten (work councils) – Seehausen, Institut für Europäische Politik e.V. in Berlin, Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes in Berlin (Federal Anti-Discrimination Office)
- Voluntary work at Fabrik Osloer Straße (PASCH – Patenschaft für Schulkinder) in Berlin
- Research Assistant at Hanyang Law IPLC International Law / Pfaff-Hofmann & Lee lawyers in Berlin with focus on migration and asylum law
- Clerk at Landesamt für Einwanderung LEA – Berlin (Immigration Office Berlin)
- Legal Clerk at Kammergericht Berlin (Berlin Court of Appeal)
- Stations a.o. at Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge BAMF (Federal Office for Migration and Refugees) – Berlin, vpmk Rechtsanwälte Legal Services in Berlin, Human rights NGO Equal Rights Beyond Borders on Kos – Greece
- Language studies abroad in Istanbul – Türkiye
- Since 07/2023 admitted to the bar
- Lawyer at vpmk – Rechtsanwälte Legal Services Berlin
