Expertise

Michael specialises in complex, cross-border M&A transactions including advising on strategic corporate structuring issues, particularly as they relate to German limited liability companies and stock corporations. His corporate expertise extends to national and international arbitration and litigation. Michael regularly advises corporations with regard to complex operational issues as well as management/shareholder disputes, including capital increases, domination agreements, profit and loss pooling agreements, listings, de-listings and public offerings, shareholders meetings and protection against and defence of shareholder activism. 

Michael has built a leading transportation (rail) and infrastructure practice covering all aspects of public transport by rail and bus, including corporate structures, acquisitions, regulatory issues, concessions, procurement, rail finance and dispute resolution.

Michael has also served on supervisory boards of public and private companies in a wide range of industries, including renewable energy, private equity, luxury goods, information technology construction equipment to media and advertising.

Before joining Addleshaw Goddard, Michael founded the Germany offices of an interna-tional law firm and served as Managing Partner Germany. He also sat on the Strategic Planning Committee and the firm’s Executive Committee.

Education

Michael trained and worked at Germany’s largest security issuer and real estate fi-nancing bank (Deutsche Pfandbriefanstalt K.d.ö.R.). Michael earned a LL.M. degree at the University of Edinburgh and completed his bar training in Hamburg thereafter and during which he worked at the Organisation for Security and co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna as well as at the predecessor firm of White & Case in Hamburg. He built his international practice at Buse Heberer Fromm, one of the largest national law firms in Germany. He represented the firm in international networks (e.g. IAG and TELFA) and is building the European Legal Alliance (700+ lawyers), was a member of the firm's Executive Committee and led the Corporate Group and the North American Group.

Languages
  • German
  • English
Publications

Die Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) und Ihre Instrumente zur friedlichen Streitbeilegung.

Memberships
  • Hamburg Bar Association
  • International Bar Association
  • German British Lawyers Association
  • American Bar Association
Awards
  • "TOP Lawyer" for M&A (WirtschaftsWoche, since 2023)
  • Michael Leue is one of "Germany’s best lawyers" for M&A (Handelsblatt & Best Lawyers, since 2020)