Transport Law

Transport law is part of your logistics. In particular, transport law covers issues such as implementation, timing and liability management along the supply chain. We advise freight forwarders, carriers, shippers, logistics service providers, insurers as well as industrial and commercial companies on national and international transports – from contract drafting to claims handling and judicial enforcement.

The focus is on practical solutions, clear allocation of responsibilities and robust documentation so that your processes work smoothly in day-to-day operations and risks remain manageable.

How do you structure international transport and logistics processes in a legally compliant and efficient way?
How do you reliably manage liability risks, damages, recourse and multinational interfaces (e.g. CMR/Incoterms/ADSp)?

How we support you

1. Transport Contracts & Terms and Conditions

2. Liability & Claims Handling

3. International Carriage of Goods & Cross-Border Setup

4. Logistics, Warehousing & Multimodal Transport

5. Dispute Resolution & Litigation

   
   

Key Areas of Advice

Transport Contracts & Terms and Conditions

How do you create a contractual framework that works in day-to-day operations – and stands up in the event of a dispute?

We draft and review freight, forwarding and logistics contracts as well as terms and conditions (including market standards where appropriate), focusing on clear service descriptions, liability structures and workable operational processes, both nationally and internationally.

• Incorporation and adaptation of terms and conditions / standard conditions (e.g. ADSp)

• Service and interface descriptions (subcontractors, transhipment, pallets, slot/time window management)

• Delivery deadlines, documentation obligations, evidence and reporting

• Contract “hygiene” for audits, data rooms and liability prevention

  
  

Liability & Claims Handling

How do you keep damage costs, recourse chains and time expenditure under control?

Transport damage cases often require effective “case management”: securing evidence, analysing liability regimes, managing deadlines, and enforcing or defending recourse claims – all under time pressure.

• Liability assessment (e.g. under CMR/HGB/contractual provisions) and strategy development

• Immediate measures: evidence preservation, reservations, deadline and claim management

• Recourse against subcontractors / recovery within the supply chain

• Correspondence and negotiations with insurers / carrier liability insurers
  Settlement negotiations, claims settlement, enforcement and defence of claims

  
  

International Carriage of Goods & Cross-Border Setup

How do you avoid liability and interface issues in cross-border transport?

International trade involves the interaction of different legal systems, documentation standards and Incoterms rules. We ensure clear allocation of responsibility for risk, costs and obligations and minimise interpretation risks.

• Contractual and liability setup for cross-border transports (e.g. CMR constellations)

• Incoterms® 2020 in practice: clearly reflecting risk and cost allocation

• Interfaces with customs/foreign trade and documentation (depending on mandate/partner coordination)

• Jurisdiction and choice-of-law clauses for international partners, service and deadline management

• Coordination with logistics, procurement, sales and claims departments

  
  

Logistics, Warehousing & Multimodal Transport

How do you manage responsibilities, liabilities and handover points across several modes of transport?

Modern supply chains are often multimodal (road/rail/air/sea) and warehouse-driven. We design the legal framework so that transfer points, responsibilities and liability regimes remain transparent and comprehensible.

• Logistics and warehousing agreements: service scope, KPIs, liability, security standards

• Multimodal transport and transhipment: review of interface, handover and documentation structures

• Specific modes of transport (air/sea/rail/inland waterway): contractual and liability issues

• Subcontractor management, compliance and quality requirements
  Project-based contractual frameworks (roll-out of templates, process and policy setup)

  
  

Dispute Resolution & Litigation

How do you enforce claims quickly and economically? How do you defend claims efficiently? How do you enforce your claims abroad?

When disputes arise, structure, evidence and a robust “case” are crucial. We represent you both out of court and in court, always keeping your costs, time and reputation firmly in view.

• Out-of-court dispute resolution, settlement and escalation management

• Bringing or defending transport and logistics claims, interim legal protection

• Recourse proceedings within the transport chain

• Support with internal claims processes (claims workflow, standards, documentation)

• Coordination with insurers and experts

• Enforcement abroad

Our Full-Service Approach

Transport law is about managing interfaces: contract law, liability regimes, insurance matters, international delivery terms (Incoterms) and often customs and foreign trade issues as well as compliance interact closely. We take these interfaces into account, coordinate with trusted partners where necessary and provide clear, practical solutions for your day-to-day business.

You benefit from:

• clear communication and easy-to-understand presentation

• pragmatic implementation instead of theoretical endless loops

• structured project management (timeline, responsibilities, milestones)

• advice focused on risk minimisation, cost control and enforceability

Contact

Ulrich Baumann - Partner
+49 89 23 23 73 6-16
ulrich.baumann@oikon.law