Frankfurt starts international Commercial Court in English from July!

Frankfurt starts international Commercial Court in English from July!

On July 1st, a new section of the German judicial system will open in Frankfurt: The Commercial Court will begin its work and will now enable international companies to hear disputes in business and commercial law in English. This is a decisive step towards strengthening Frankfurt as a judicial location stern.de reported.

This new court will be responsible for commercial disputes with a value of over 500,000 euros and will also handle appeals against decisions of the Commercial Chambers at the Frankfurt Regional Court. A total of 18 judges, 11 of whom work at the Commercial Court and 7 at the Commercial Chambers, bring international experience in commercial law. “Like a good hand for international companies,” you could say. In addition to the legal aspect, new hearing rooms will also be set up in a rented property near the Frankfurt Justice Center.

An attractive location for companies

Justice Minister Christian Heinz emphasizes how important these innovations are for the attractiveness of Frankfurt as a location. Many cases that were previously sent to London or Paris could now remain in Germany and be legally resolved there. By hearing complex disputes in English, both the quality of the proceedings and the speed of justice should be increased. These efforts are part of a larger plan to position Germany as an economic hub in Europe.

The introduction of the commercial courts was decided by the Bundestag in October 2024. From April 2023, state governments could be authorized to set up commercial courts in their regions, such as grantthornton.de reports. The Rules of Procedure allow disputes between entrepreneurs and even post-M&A disputes to be dealt with in these special courts. However, family matters and shareholder resolutions are explicitly excluded.

Improved protection for trade secrets

Another important aspect of these innovations is the improved protection of trade secrets, which is regulated by a new paragraph in the Code of Civil Procedure. This stipulates that information can be classified as requiring confidentiality, which significantly improves the legal situation for companies. Violations can result in fines of up to 100,000 euros or even imprisonment, which shows that sensitive information is taken seriously. This is particularly relevant at a time when data protection and corporate confidentiality are more important than ever.

Although the Commercial Court in Frankfurt am Main is already well on its way to becoming a showcase project, Berlin has also set up its own Commercial Court at the Kammergericht, which specializes in construction and architectural law and has already offered negotiations in English from April 1, 2025. These trends paint a picture of Germany actively striving for a central position in international commercial law Federal Bar Association underlined.