CBBL Cross Border Business Law

CBBL Cross Border Business Law is a network of German-speaking commercial law firms, tax advisers and selected business partners that supports companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland in their cross-border and international business. According to its own description, it is the only worldwide network of German-speaking commercial law firms, with member firms and partner offices in more than 60 countries. The network presents itself as a single point of contact for legal advice in German across many jurisdictions, allowing clients to obtain counsel in their own language when doing business abroad. The network was founded in 2005 and initially focused on legal advice. Since 2023 it has expanded beyond law firms to include tax advisers and other independent service providers, bringing all services relevant to foreign business together on one portal. CBBL coordinates multinational activities for clients who need advice in several countries at the same time, and it organizes practice groups that specialize in different areas of law within the worldwide network. It also offers tailor-made in-house training and seminars on foreign law for companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. CBBL's service offering covers core areas of international commercial law, including antitrust and EU law, and the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) together with Incoterms. Its country coverage spans Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, with listed locations such as the United States (Chicago and New York), China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Mexico and many European jurisdictions. The network is aimed at companies and their advisers who need German-language legal and tax support in foreign markets. CBBL operates as a private, non-listed network rather than a single law firm. Its public presence is centered on its website, which provides country selection, information about the network, practice groups, in-house training and a newsletter on international commercial law. The brand is positioned as a German-language gateway to cross-border legal and tax advice.

CBBL Cross Border Business Law was established in 2005 as a network of German-speaking commercial law firms abroad. Its founding purpose was to give companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland access to legal advice in German when operating in foreign jurisdictions, at a time when cross-border business was increasing and language barriers in legal services were a practical obstacle for mid-sized and larger companies. From the outset, the network was organized as a cooperative alliance of independent law firms rather than a single international firm. Member firms in different countries could refer clients to one another and coordinate advice, while clients retained a single German-language point of contact. Over the years the network expanded its geographic reach and, according to its own presentation, came to cover more than 60 countries, including major markets in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Listed locations include the United States (Chicago and New York), China, Hong Kong, Japan, India, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Mexico, and numerous European countries. Within the network, CBBL established practice groups that specialize in different areas of law, enabling multinational teams to be assembled for specific mandates. The network also developed services beyond direct legal advice, such as tailor-made in-house training and seminars on foreign law for companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and a newsletter on international commercial law. A significant expansion occurred in 2023, when CBBL began adding tax advisers and other independent service providers to its network. This step was intended to bring all areas relevant to foreign business together on a single portal, so that clients could access legal, tax and related services through one coordinated structure. The move reflected a broader trend among professional services networks to offer multidisciplinary support for cross-border operations. As of the available evidence, CBBL continues to operate as a private network with a German-language focus. Its public communications emphasize its role as the only worldwide network of German-speaking commercial law firms and its ability to coordinate multinational activities for clients seeking advice in several countries simultaneously.

• 2023

  CBBL expands its network to include tax advisers and other independent service providers.

• 2005

  CBBL is founded as a network of German-speaking commercial law firms abroad.

The only worldwide network of German-speaking commercial law firms, offering German-language legal and tax advice for German, Austrian and Swiss companies doing business abroad.

• Cross-border legal advice in German

  Legal advice for German, Austrian and Swiss companies doing business abroad, delivered in German.

• Antitrust and EU law

  Advisory services in antitrust and European Union law.

• CISG and Incoterms

  Advice on the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods and Incoterms.

• In-house training and seminars

  Tailor-made in-house training and seminars on foreign law for companies from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

• Tax advisory services

  Tax advisory services added to the network from 2023.

1. 1CBBL: Ihre deutschsprachigen Rechtsanwälte für Wirtschaftsrechtcbbl-lawyers.de
2. 2CBBL: Über uns – Weltweites Netzwerk deutschsprachiger Anwältecbbl-lawyers.de
3. 3Wikidata: CBBL Cross Border Business Lawwikidata.org