The region is home to a dynamic business community, supported by Germany’s banking and financial industry and by an internationally oriented legal services sector. Over the time, this environment has fostered outstanding expertise in commercial law, particularly in corporate and business law. This expertise is reflected in 16 chambers for commercial matters at the Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main. At the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main, two senates focus on commercial disputes and corporate litigation, including shareholder disputes and corporate dissolution. Since 2018, the Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main has also offered parties the option to bring cases with an international dimension before the Chamber for International Commercial Matters.

At large, the courts in Frankfurt enjoy strong confidence and a high reputation as a forum for business disputes. This is based in part on its comprehensive approach to dispute resolution. Throughout civil proceedings, both the Regional Court and the Higher Regional Court provide trained judges to act as mediator judges (Güterichter). These judges are also qualified with practical experience in commercial law.

The expertise in adjudication and mediation is now concentrated in the new Commercial Court and the Commercial Chambers. The Commercial Court at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main consists of two designated senates. The Commercial Chambers at the Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main include three chambers for commercial matters and three civil chambers.

Parties can choose between different procedural options to achieve a binding dispute resolution efficiently. They also benefit from the strengths of the internationally highly respected German judicial system, applied under specialized procedural rules. The Commercial Court and the Commercial Chambers are located together under one roof in newly established facilities in Frankfurt am Main. In addition to state-of-the-art courtrooms, the premises include modern conference and meeting rooms. These spaces are available not only to judges, but also to counsels and parties for confidential discussions and preparation.

For certain commercial disputes with an amount in dispute of EUR 500,000 or more, the parties now have two options:

The Commercial Court at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main has jurisdiction when the parties agree – explicitly, implicitly, or through appearance without objection to jurisdiction (rügelose Einlassung). In such cases, it serves as court of first instance.

If the parties do not choose to bring a case before the Commercial Court at the Higher Regional Court, commercial disputes may be brought before the Commercial Chambers at the Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main. These Chambers likewise have jurisdiction if the parties do not specifically agree to it, but the case falls under the subjects as listed. Appeals from decisions of the Commercial Chambers are heard by the Commercial Court at the Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main.