Lawyer for Transport Law
Global Supply Chains, Local Security: International Transport Law from Legal Experts
As a business operating in the global economy, you are familiar with the complexity of international goods transport. From freight forwarding to logistics, every link in your supply chain carries risks—risks that can directly or indirectly impact your operations. Our law firm, specialising in international transport law, helps you minimise those risks and structure your global supply chains with legal certainty.
Risks in International Goods Transport:
- Transport damage: Damage or loss of goods during transport can result in significant financial losses. Especially sensitive are refrigerated or perishable goods, whose value may drop rapidly due to delays or improper storage.
- Loss of goods: Lost cargo can lead not only to direct financial losses, but also to delivery delays and resulting claims for compensation.
- Delays in delivery: Disruptions in your supply chain can harm customer relationships and your business reputation. They may also incur extra costs for storage, handling, or emergency replacement deliveries.
Common Mistakes with Serious Consequences:
- Insufficient contractual regulation:
- Freight forwarding agreements lacking clear liability clauses
- Transport contracts not tailored to your specific business needs
- Warehouse agreements that fail to adequately protect the security or value of goods
- Multimodal transport agreements that don’t cover the full complexity of the route
- Logistics contracts that lack clear coordination and communication frameworks
- Non-compliance with international rules and standards:
- CMR Convention (for road transport)
- Montreal Convention (for air transport)
- INCOTERMS (for international trade terms)
- Short limitation periods
- Incorrect transport documentation:
- CMR consignment notes missing required information
- Inaccurate Air Waybills (AWB) causing unnecessary delays
Our Legal Expertise – Your Security:
- Tailored contract review and drafting:
We examine your existing contracts for legal gaps and liability risks. We draft new agreements tailored to your operational needs, fully compliant with international standards. - Proactive legal advice:
We assist you in selecting the appropriate contract types and legal conditions. We advise on the latest developments in international transport law to ensure that your supply chain remains legally secure. - Effective representation:
In the event of legal disputes, we represent your interests with deep expertise in international transport law. We defend against compensation and value claims—including those involving customs duties and import charges—and work towards a favourable resolution for your business.
Secure your global supply chains with local legal expertise.
Contact us today to ensure your international transport processes are legally compliant and optimally protected. Our experts in international transport law are ready to discuss your specific concerns.
Your contact person
Lawyer Inés Jakob
& Certified Dangerous Goods Safety Adviser
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We welcome your enquiry and are happy to assist!
- What is transport law?
- What types of transport are covered by transport law?
- What is the CMR and when does it apply?
The CMR (Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) is an international agreement that sets out the legal framework for cross-border road transport of goods.
The CMR applies when the place of taking over the goods and the place designated for delivery are located in two different countries, both of which are parties to the CMR Convention.
- Which international conventions exist in transport law?
In addition to the CMR Convention for international road transport, there are several other key international agreements in transport law:
- The Montreal Convention (MC) for air freight
- The CIM (Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods by Rail) for rail freight transport
- The CMNI (Budapest Convention on the Contract for the Carriage of Goods by Inland Waterways) for international inland waterway transport
- What is multimodal transport and how is it regulated?
Multimodal transport refers to the carriage of goods using different modes of transport—such as road, rail, sea, and air—within a single transport chain.
Its legal treatment depends on the specific circumstances of the shipment and may involve the application of various legal regimes, including international conventions such as the CMR, the Montreal Convention, or national laws like the German Commercial Code (HGB).
- What is the carrier’s liability in the event of loss or damage to the goods?
The carrier’s liability is governed by the provisions of the German Commercial Code (§§ 425 et seq. HGB) or the applicable international conventions (e.g. CMR, Montreal Convention, CIM, etc.).
As a general rule, liability is limited to a maximum amount unless the carrier or its employees have caused the damage intentionally or through so-called gross negligence (“qualified fault”). The applicable liability limits vary depending on the mode of transport.
- What is qualified fault in the context of transport law?
- What is a notice of liability (Haftbarhaltung)?
- How is compensation calculated under transport law?
In the event of loss or damage, the carrier is obligated to pay compensation for the value of the goods.
- In case of loss, the compensation corresponds to the value of the goods at the place and time they were taken over for transport.
- In case of damage, the compensation equals the difference between the value of the undamaged goods and the value of the damaged goods at the place and time of acceptance for carriage.
The value of the goods is generally based on the market price—or the invoice price, if the goods were sold immediately before shipment.
It is important to note that liability is typically limited to a maximum amount, which varies depending on the mode of transport—unless the carrier has acted with qualified fault.
- What are the ADSp and when do they apply?
The ADSp (German Freight Forwarders’ Standard Terms and Conditions) are widely used general terms and conditions in the transport and logistics industry. They govern the legal relationship between freight forwarders/carriers and their clients.
The ADSp apply when their use has been expressly agreed between the parties or when the forwarder/carrier provides its services exclusively on the basis of these terms.
- How is liability regulated in multimodal transport?
Liability in multimodal transport is governed by the provisions of the German Commercial Code (§§ 452 et seq. HGB) or by the applicable international conventions (e.g. CMR, Montreal Convention), depending on the segment of the transport during which the damage occurred and whether the location of the damage can be identified.
- What is the difference between a freight forwarder and a carrier?
A carrier is responsible for the physical transport of goods from the place of collection to the place of delivery and is liable for any damage that occurs during the carriage.
A freight forwarder, on the other hand, organises the transport, including concluding contracts with carriers.
However, the freight forwarder may also act as a carrier—for example, if they perform the transport themselves, operate as a fixed-cost forwarder, or consolidate shipments and carry them on their own account.
- In which cases is the sender liable for damage?
- Which defect frequently causes damage in road freight transport?
Damage in road freight transport is often caused by inadequate load securing. If proper securing equipment such as lashing straps, anti-slip mats, etc., is not used, goods may shift, tip over, or collide during cornering or emergency braking.
The sender is generally responsible for securing the load for transport, unless the parties have agreed otherwise.
