Working as an attorney, in-house lawyer and General Counsel, member ofthe management board and managing director of group companies with approximately 17 years of experience in these areas are decisive factors for generating maximum added value for the client when providing our consultancy services.
After two years of working as an academic assistant at the Institute for Commercial and Economic Law of the University of Bonn and subsequent graduation to the Doctor of Laws (PhD), Dr. Hirschmann joined the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2000 where he advised small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and owner-operated companies in particular, as well as individual entrepreneurs, on a broad range of legal matters. In addition, he participated in numerous mid-sized and large M&A and Outsourcing transactions.
At the beginning of 2005, Dr. Hirschmann moved to the medium-sized law firm B.B.O.R.S. in Düsseldorf, receiving soon after “the call” of a multinational MDAX share index company. In mid-2005, he joined GEA Group AG and, hence, changed focus. From 2005 to 2007, Dr. Hirschmann worked in the corporate legal department of GEA Group. After various positions as area manager, chief legal counsel and member of the management board of various group companies, he was appointed General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of the GEA Heat Exchangers Group in 2010, where he played an important role in the divestment of this group to the Private Equity firm Triton in 2014.
Dr. Hirschmann has demonstrated solid expertise in the area of Compliance. In his function as Chief Compliance Officer, he played a significant role in the design and implementation of the Compliance Management Systems (CMS). He developedi.a. an integrated Risk Management Area including Legal, Compliance, Insurance, Export Control and Environment – Health – Safety (EHS).
Having served many years as in-housecounsel, Dr. Hirschmann is well familiar with the daily and particular challenges ofmid-sized and large companies. One key factor is the ability to take the broader view and to collaborateeffectively with other corporate areas such as Tax, Accounting, Finance or Corporate Development.
On the basis of these experiences, legal precision and a pragmatic approach, Dr. Hirschmann offers tailored legal advice based on economic and entrepreneurial understanding, taking into consideration the client’s KPI-relevant circumstances, such as Working-Capital-Driver.
Christoph Hirschmann speaks German, English and French. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the German-French Association for Lawyers (DFJ), a member of the International Bar Association (IBA), a member of the German Scientific Association for Business and Corporate Law (VGR), and a member of the Professional Association of Compliance Managers (BCM).