Dr. Alexander Ehrle LL.M. (NYU)
Biography
Dr. Alexander Ehrle is a member and senior associate of the Firm‘s Sustainability & International Trade Practice in Baker McKenzie's Berlin and Brussels offices. Alexander is admitted to practice in Germany and New York.
Alexander advises clients on the international, European and public law governing international trade and geopolitics. Alexander handles the FDI and FSR applications and clearances in M&A transactions in the EU, Germany and globally and has been recognized for his work as one of 40 under 40 lawyers worldwide for foreign investment control by the Global Competition Review. His practice encompasses advising on international sanctions and export controls at all stages of investigations, audits and court proceedings. Alexander is also an expert in ESG legislation and advises client on the compliance with the CSDDD, the LkSG, the CSRD and ESRS, and other EU Green Deal Regulations, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation, the EU Forced Labor Regulation and CBAM. He advocates for a diligent approach to ESG regulation and provides his expertise to an international audience as co-chair convening the Business & Human Rights Committee of the American Bar Association’s International Law Section.
Alexander studied law at the Universities of Heidelberg, Montpellier (France), Mainz, Munich and New York (NYU) specializing in Public International and European Law. He worked as advisor and member of a delegation of a developing country at the United Nations before qualifying for the German bar. He qualified for the German bar, working with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Middle East Department in Berlin and the German embassy in Tokyo as well as with international law firms in Frankfurt, Berlin and Milan.
Alexander has been seconded to and worked with a major company in the optical industrial and manufacturing technology sector.
Practice Focus
Alexander handles FDI & FSR clearances in M&A and PE transactions globally, advises on international sanctions and export controls as well as ESG legislation (CSDDD, LkSG, CSRD, EU Taxonomy, EUDFR, EUFLR).
Representative Legal Matters
- Advising Sika on the acquisition of the construction chemicals business of MBCC and coordinating all foreign investment review filing requirements globally.
- GNMI: Advice on and representation of the client before the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection on foreign direct investment filing obligations and proceedings for the acquisition of Merck’s surface solutions business.
- Advising US industrial manufacturer on sale of carbon reinforcements business and coordinating FDI filings in multiple jurisdictions globally.
- Advising and leading an US software company in the investment review proceedings before the BMWK in relation the acquisition of G2K Group GmbH, manufacturer of the AI software solution Parsifal, the largest M&A deal in the field of artificial intelligence in 2023.
- Advising investors and vendors, including PE funds, in numerous M&A transactions on foreign investment review and EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) filing requirements globally in multiple jurisdictions.
- Advising multiple companies on ESG disclosure requirements under CSRD, Taxonomy, CSDDD, LkSG.
- Advising numerous companies, manufacturers, banks and stock exchanges on the Western sanctions adopted against Russia in the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Representing a US American defense company in the proceedings on the recognition and enforcement of a multi-million arbitral award based on the New York Convention against a Venezuelan state entity before the German courts.
- Defending German pharmaceutical company in criminal proceedings in Germany for breach of the EU Anti-Torture Regulation.
- Advising an international energy and shipping company on anti-boycott legislation and measures.
- Advising a global industrial manufacturing group company on the compliance with US sanctions targeting Iran and EU antiboycott legislation and representing the same in the license application before the EU Commission
- Advising multiple companies on their exit strategy from Russia and on sanctions related court proceedings.
- Advising automotive group on ESG and supply chain due diligence obligations and conducting investigation in numerous cases globally.
- Conducting investigation of potential violations of the international sanctions against Myanmar for German industrial group, negotiating with German sanctions enforcement authorities and devising defense strategy in the context of a criminal investigation.
- Conducting investigations of potential violations of numerous international sanctions regimes and advising clients subsequently in the context of audits and court proceedings.
- Advising a global environmental Non-Governmental Organization on human rights obligations compliance and investigating occurrences of past non-compliance.
- UNICEF: Comprehensive advice on the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive; advice on the implementation of the CSDDD in German national law; advice on the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
- Advising international rating agency comprehensively on their ESG assessment and disclosure obligations under EU Taxonomy and CSRD.
- Advising US technology corporate group on the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and the relationship ESG disclosure obligations under the CSRD and EU Taxonomy.
Professional Honors
- Ones to Watch – Public Economic Law – 2023, 2024
- GCR Foreign Investment Control (FIC) 40 Under 40 2023
- Best Lawyers – Public Economic Law – 2023
Professional Associations and Memberships
- European Society of International Law
- American Society of International Law
- German Council on Foreign Relations (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik)
Admissions
- Germany (2017)
- New York (2014)
Education
- University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-University) (PhD, Public International Law)
- Harvard University, Harvard Kennedy School, Trade Policy (Executive Education)
- International Investment Law Centre Cologne
- Hague Academy of International Law
- New York University School of Law (LL.M., International Legal Studies)
- Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy (Diploma)
- University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-University) (First State Exam)
Languages
- English
- French
- German
- Italian
- Spanish
Geschäftsführer: Dr. Alexander Wolff, Dr. Oliver Socher, Dr. Christian Vocke
Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH von Rechtsanwälten und Steuerberatern is registered with the Local Court of Frankfurt/Main (registered seat) HRB 123975. It is associated with Baker & McKenzie International, a Verein organized under the laws of Switzerland.