Björn Paulsen is mainly advising on German and Russian corporate and commercial law. He advises on the establishment and implementation of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions (including VC and distressed M&A) and the structuring of international transactions. As head of Noerr’s Russia Desk Björn’s practice further comprises advice to listed and midsized companies regarding their investment projects in the Russian Federation (as from 24 February 2022 in particular on winding down operations in Russia, on compliance and risk mitigation with respect to sanctions and Russian countermeasures, on exits from the Russian market, MBOs etc.). Clients benefit from his more than 20 years’ experience and in dept-knowledge of the Russian market.

Distinctions

  • “Björn Paulsen possesses an intuitive business acumen and is able to translate even the most complex legal issues into practical business solutions”, Legal 500 (2020)
  • “The firm has particular expertise in the M&A and corporate area, with managing partner Björn Paulsen boasting a particularly ‘stellar reputation’ for his work. Recently, he ‘brilliantly led’ the team advising Siemens on its joint venture with Russian Machines Corporation […]. Clients especially value his ‘sound judgement, efficiency and deep knowledge of the Russia market’”, Who’s Who Legal Russia Special
  • “Clients benefit from Björn Paulsen’s extensive experience in cross-border M&A transactions involving Russia and Germany, as well as in corporate law issues”, Chambers Global (2018)
  • Leaders in their field for corporate/M&A in Russia and Germany, Chambers Global
  • Recommended for corporate/M&A in Russia, The Legal 500 EMEA
  • Leading M&A expert in Russia, Who’s Who Legal
  • One of the best experts in corporate law in Russia, Best Lawyers
  • One of the top 20 Corporate lawyers in Russia, Kommersant
  • Leaders in their Field for Restructuring/Insolvency in Russia, Chambers Global

Career

Legal studies at the Universities of Hamburg and Zürich (Switzerland)
Director of legal and business affairs of a midsized media group
Working with a major international law firm in its offices in Moscow (Russia) and Barcelona (Spain)
German Embassy in Moscow (Russia)
At Noerr since 2002
Admitted to the Berlin Chamber of Lawyers

Memberships

  • Member of the Executive Committee of the Association of European Lawyers

Lectures

  • Worked as a senior lecturer at the State University of Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) (2001 - 2002)

Publications

  • Russischen Gerichten die Stirn bieten (with Dr. Anke Meier), in FAZ vom 21.02.2024
  • Russische Regierungskommission stellt Grundsätze für die Zustimmung zu Transaktionen und Dividendenzahlungen auf, in UKuR 2023, 12
  • Unternehmensrückzug aus Russland – russische Manager ausländischer Tochtergesellschaften verstärkt im Visier der russischen Staatsanwaltschaft? (mit Viktor Gerbutov), in ZASA 2023, 357
  • (Freiwillige) Liquidation einer russischen GmbH, in UKuR 2022, 268
  • Neue Gegenmaßnahmen – Russland beschränkt Zahlung von Lizenzgebühren, in UKuR 2022, 203
  • Dividendenausschüttungen durch russische Gesellschaften – Update, in UKuR 2022, 159
  • Auszahlung von Dividenden durch russische Gesellschaften an ausländische Aktionäre/Gesellschafter – regulatorische Beschränkungen, in UKuR 2022, 103
  • Neuer Gesetzesentwurf in Russland – Strafbarkeit der Befolgung von Sanktionen, in UKuR 2022, 39
  • Interview, in Arbitrazhnaya Praktika journal, 12/2014
  • New Civil Code amendments signed into law (with Olga Mokhonko, Hannes Lubitzsch), in International Law Office, 06/2013
  • M&A in Russia (with Evgeny Maslennikov) in The Mergers & Acquisitions Review, 6th edition, 2012, 545
  • Partners in Tiers – structuring of joint ventures with Russian partners (with Carsten Heinz), in Finance, CFO Summit Special 10/2010, 36
  • Russische Föderation: Föderales Gesetz „Über das Verfahren der Durchführung ausländischer Investitionen in Unternehmen, die eine strategische Bedeutung für die Sicherung der Landesverteidigung und Sicherheit des Staates haben” (with Anna Saenko), WiRO 2009, 78, 110