SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz appoints three new partners and five new counsel

Effective 1 January 2026, Dr. Marcus Schnabelrauch, Dr. Micha Brechtel, and Dr. Simon Apel will become partners of SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz. In addition, Dr. Michael M. Cohen, Dr. Tobias Krause, Dr. Robert Opris, and Alexander Stolz have been promoted to counsel. On 1 November 2025, SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz strengthened its antitrust and competition law team in Munich with the addition of counsel Dr. Maria Held.

“The appointments reflect the successful development of our firm and the outstanding quality of our next-generation lawyers,” says SZA partner Professor Dr. Jochem Reichert. “Our new partners and promoted counsel have contributed significantly to the expansion and strengthening of our practice groups in recent years.” SZA partner Dr. Marc Löbbe adds: “We are particularly pleased to appoint Dr. Marcus Schnabelrauch, Dr. Micha Brechtel, and Dr. Simon Apel, three partners who started their careers with us or have been part of our team for many years. The appointments once again demonstrate our commitment to promoting our own talent and offering them attractive career prospects.”

New partners:

Dr. Marcus Schnabelrauch (tax law / Mannheim) is a Certified Expert Attorney for tax law who advises companies and private clients on all aspects of national and international tax law. His practice focuses on providing tax advice on restructuring and M&A transactions, tax succession planning and representation in fiscal court and administrative tax proceedings. Another focus is advising on exit and disentanglement taxation.

Dr. Micha Brechtel (corporate law, commercial law, litigation and arbitration / Mannheim) advises national and international clients on corporate law, complex commercial and contractual matters and litigation. His practice focuses on commercial, ESG and arbitration proceedings, as well as advising on issues of directors’ and officers’ liability and D&O insurance law.

Dr. Simon Apel (intellectual property, privacy and data security / Mannheim) advises on intellectual property law, IT law and data protection law, including legal issues relating to artificial intelligence. A key focus of his practice is drafting and negotiating license and development agreements. He also regularly advises start-ups in all phases of their development and assists with M&A transactions relating to the aforementioned areas of law.

New counsel:

Dr. Maria Held (antitrust and competition law / Munich) joined the antitrust and competition law team at SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz in November. She has extensive experience advising on European and German antitrust law, in particular in merger control and investment review proceedings, compliance consulting and internal investigations. Previously, she was counsel at Ashurst, where she worked closely with partner Dr. Michael Holzhäuser, who joined SZA in August.

Dr. Michael M. Cohen, Dr. Tobias Krause, Dr. Robert Opris, and Alexander Stolz, LL.M. (Dresden / Exeter) have been appointed counsel effective 1 January 2026.

Dr. Michael M. Cohen (M&A, corporate law / Frankfurt) advises on M&A transactions, corporate restructuring and venture capital investments. He has extensive expertise in advising strategic and private equity investors on national and international corporate acquisitions, as well as on corporate restructuring and capital markets matters.

Dr. Tobias Krause (private clients, tax law, Mannheim) is a Certified Expert Attorney for inheritance law and for tax law and advises companies, private clients and foundations on complex and contentious issues at the interface of inheritance and tax law. One focus of his work is tax-optimized asset and corporate succession planning, as well as estate administration and the enforcement of inheritance claims.

Dr. Robert Opris (private clients, tax law / Mannheim) is a Certified Expert Attorney in the field of family law who advises entrepreneurial families, managers and wealthy individuals on all issues relating to family law and succession planning. He specializes in drafting marriage contracts and wills and provides procedural support in divorce and inheritance disputes.

Alexander Stolz, LL.M. (Dresden / Exeter) (commercial, privacy and data security, intellectual property, IT law / Mannheim) advises and represents clients primarily in intellectual property disputes and assists companies with strategic contract drafting and transaction-related matters. He also has in-depth expertise in data protection, IT and media law, as well as unfair competition law.

SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz has been one of the most respected German business law firms for over one century. With its lawyers and offices in Frankfurt, Mannheim, Munich, and Brussels, the firm advises national and international clients on all complex legal issues arising in business.