A core area of our practice involves maintaining and operating public road and rail transport as well as transport infrastructures. We primarily focus on safeguarding local transport services against concessionary, subsidy, tax and labour law risks with a view to the requirements set forth by Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 and the national public transport laws.

In view of the often unsatisfactory profits in local public transport, there is an increased need to restructure transport companies and/or integrate strategic partners. We provide advice in relation to such transport-specific restructuring processes concerning all legal and taxation issues, particularly with the aim of optimising labour, company and passenger transport laws.

In the area of public transport we provide expert advice in relation to subsidy and concession rights pursuant to Regulation (EC) No. 1370/2007 and the Passenger Transport Act, as well as public procurement rights concerning the contracting of transport services and in tax law concerning the securing of tax unity across entities [Querverbund]; further areas of practice include the restructuring and privatisation of municipal transportation companies (keyword: PPP models) combined with labour law for transportation companies – with regard to drivers’ rights, driving time and rest periods, collective labour agreements etc. – as well as with the railway law with specific focus on access to the railway infrastructure, stations and railway line prices etc.

In the above mentioned legal areas, we provide expert legal advice and frequently hold seminars and conferences. We also regularly provide “In-house workshops” designed to meet companies’ individual needs.

Contact persons in this area are Dr. Christian Jung (Cologne) and Rudolf Böck (Munich).