Overview
Rupert is a seasoned litigator with almost 30 years of experience in international arbitration, litigation and mediation. He has extensive knowledge of post-M&A and infrastructure arbitration, product liability defence, corporate litigation, D&O liability, cartel damage claims and class actions.
Rupert has industry expertise in the healthcare, automotive, food, infrastructure, consumer goods and chemical sectors.
Who’s Who Legal 2024 lists Rupert as Global Elite Thought Leader in Commercial Litigation and as Recommended in Arbitration, the Wirtschaftswoche 2024 lists him as Legal Allstar in Litigation. He is a long-term member of the Civil Law Committee of the German Bar Association.
Work highlights
Rupert has advised on a full range of confidential international arbitration and litigation matters. Publicly known examples are:
- LIXIL: representing in a post-M&A arbitration against 20 W&I insurers.
- Flex-N-Gate: representing in a post-M&A arbitration against a German DAX company and parallel U.S. litigation.
- Air France KLM Group: representing in a €3bn cartel damage case.
- Sal. Oppenheim: representing in D&O liability litigation against former board members and insurers.
- Zimmer Biomet: representing in a series of product liability disputes, including coordination in various jurisdictions.
Professional experience
Rupert worked for the predecessor firm Oppenhoff & Rädler from 1996. He joined Linklaters in 1999 and was appointed partner in 2002. From 2009 to 2019, he was also head of the German Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations department.
He is a long-standing member of the DAV's Civil Law Committee.
Rupert frequently speaks at seminars on the subjects of international arbitration, directors’ and officers’ liability, international contract law, product safety and liability.
Education and qualifications
Rupert studied law at the Universities of Bonn and Geneva, completed a doctorate in law at the University of Bonn and spent part of his education and career in Toronto and London.
He speaks German, English and French.
