GERMAN & EUROPEAN CONSTRUCTION LAW
Construction lawyers for the decisions that shape your project — from contracts and planning permission to defects, payment and dispute resolution.
horak. Attorneys at Law advises on German public and private construction law, with English-language support for businesses, developers and international project participants.
Public & private lawContracts, planning and enforcement in one project context.
German & European perspectiveLocal requirements and cross-border interfaces.
Practical next stepsEvidence, deadlines and commercially useful options.
FIND THE RIGHT STARTING POINT
Building projects bring together owners, contractors, architects, engineers, authorities and neighbours. A problem in one relationship can quickly affect the rest: a permit condition changes the design; a late instruction affects completion; a defect delays payment. Our advice connects the legal question with its effect on delivery, cost and risk.
Choose one of the 16 routes below. Each explains the relevant legal framework, the steps to consider and four practical scenarios. For a broader view, explore our private construction law and public construction law guides.
Test the assumptions that determine price and delivery: permitted use, scope, design responsibilities, interfaces and the ability to enforce payment or performance.
Identify the immediate deadline, preserve the evidence and assess the available response. A prompt, documented decision can protect both the claim and the remaining work.
Illustrative scenarios: the appropriate steps depend on the contract, evidence and applicable law. These are not reports of client matters.
A commercial scheme faces a restrictive planning condition. Review the approval route and its consequences for the building contract before the design is fixed.
Separate earned payments, disputed variations and the available security. The response should account for both legal entitlement and the project’s cash flow.
Document the condition, identify potential causes and preserve the opportunity to pursue the correct remedy before repairs change the evidence.
Coordinate governing law, German site requirements, notices and dispute procedures before different contract layers pull the project in different directions.
PEOPLE & TECHNICAL UNDERSTANDING
Construction disputes often turn on technical facts as much as contractual wording. Our work connects the legal analysis with the project documents and, where needed, the findings of independent technical advisers.
Please include the location, the parties involved, a short description of the issue and any approaching deadline. We will clarify the proposed scope of work and fee arrangements before an engagement is agreed.
YOUR PROJECT. YOUR NEXT STEP.
Use the form to discuss a construction contract, a payment or defect issue, planning permission or a public tender. A short description and any approaching deadline will help us assess your enquiry.
No required fields. For a reply, you may leave an email address or phone number.
For urgent matters, please also call us. An enquiry does not itself confirm an engagement or acceptance of a deadline.
+49 511 357356-0INSIGHTS & DEVELOPMENTS
Current developments and practical guidance, with earlier articles available in the searchable archive.
The German Building Type E reform concerns how simpler construction standards may be agreed. Project teams must distinguish the reform process from the law already governing their contracts.
Read articleThe revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive reached its general national transposition deadline on 29 May 2026. Individual projects still need a careful check of the national rules applicable to…
Read articleThe revised Construction Products Regulation is a major change to the EU framework. Its application must be assessed product by product, including the transitional provisions.
Read articleThe EU public works threshold under Directive 2014/24/EU is EUR 5,404,000 excluding VAT for 2026–2027. Project teams should update valuation and procurement planning accordingly.
Read article