Dr David Mattern, LL.M.

Dr Mattern advises on all legal issues relating to the realisation of construction projects. In addition to minimising potential disruptions by drafting contracts accordingly, this particularly includes strategic support in the assessment, enforcement and defense of claims during the execution of the contract (claim management / anti-claim management) as well as representation in arbitration or court proceedings. The goal is always to develop the most economical and sustainable solution for the client, which is regularly based on fair and cooperative dealings with the other party.

FIDIC-based projects in the field of plant construction are one of Dr Mattern’s main areas of expertise. In addition to the construction and expansion of logistics centers and production facilities in Germany and abroad, he focuses on offshore wind energy projects. Dr Mattern also regularly advises and publishes on architectural and engineering law, in particular on the enforcement of remuneration claims and on issues relating to the liability of planners.

Recent work

• Offshore wind energy: advising in particular employers, but also contractors, in the drafting and negotiation of contracts for the various packages, support on all legal issues during the construction phase and enforcement or defense of claims in DAAB and arbitration proceedings
• Plant construction: legal support in the construction or expansion of production facilities in Germany and abroad (e.g. Beiersdorf AG and its subsidiaries, Gebrüder Karstens Bauunternehmung for hydrogen plant Lubmin, expansion of a cement plant)
• Logistics centres: contract drafting and negotiation as well as legal support during the construction phase of employers and contractors (Tholey and other logistics projects of the Fricke Group, Leipzig Beiersdorf logistics centre, various logistics projects of Köster GmbH)
• Infrastructure: contract drafting and bidding negotiations for a large German grid expansion project
• Project development: legal advice on construction contracts for the Hamburg office of the SIGNA Group
• Classic building construction and civil engineering projects: Contract drafting and advice during construction for Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung, the Born Group and other mid-sized construction companies
• Planning: Regular advice to a Swedish architectural firm on its German projects, to a leading infrastructure planner or Telluride Architektur GmbH (formerly HDR GmbH)

Curriculum vitae 

• Studied law at the University of Trier, 2002 to 2008
• Master of Laws (LL.M.) at the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa), 2008 to 2009
• Project Administrator at the European Legal Academy in Trier, 2009 to 2010
• PhD on international tax law at the University of Trier, 2012
• Legal clerkship at the Hanseatic Higher Regional Court Hamburg with seats in Berlin and Hanoi, 2011 to 2013
• Lawyer at Kapellmann since 2013, partner since 2022

Further qualifications and memberships

• Member of the Legal Council BWO - Bundesverband Windenergie Offshore e.V.
• Member of the Working Group on International Construction Law within the German Lawyers’ Association (ARGE Internationales Baurecht beim Deutschen Anwaltverein)
• Member of the Hamburg Lawyers’ Association (HAV)
• Regular in-house seminars and workshops on FIDIC, VOB/B or construction contract (anti-)claim management