Impressions of the 2024 summit

In 2024, the Rechtskommunikationsgipfel took place in Berlin.

At the Commerzbank headquarters, located directly next to the Brandenburg Gate, attorneys, corporate spokespersons, and journalists exchanged views on industry trends and discussed current topics across a wide range of legal fields: antitrust and competition law, M & A, white-collar crime, freedom of the press, and many more.

Speakers included former Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann, former GDL leader Claus Weselsky, rbb Director General Ulrike Demmer, and Dr. Simone Kämpfer, a partner at Freshfields.

This year's speakers included the former Federal Minister of Justice: Dr Marco Buschmann

The stage discussion also provided an opportunity for direct exchange

Our Managing Director Martin Wohlrabe welcomed all participants of the 2024 Summit

Discussing the summit topics was a constant companion during the coffee breaks

The summit was moderated by our consultant Daria Gladkov

Always up to date in the background: Live reports directly from the summit on our social media channels

The numerous guests who attended filled the rows

All guests were welcome to exchange views on and about the summit

After the presentations, there was time to talk to the speakers

A concentrated, open atmosphere characterised the entire summit day

The coffee break was rounded off with cakes and pastries

The questions following the discussion with Ulrike Demmer, director of rbb, provided an opportunity for open dialogue

During the break, the presentations offered numerous topics for dialogue

Michael Sell from APAS spoke about the Wirecard case and gave exciting insights into the world of the supervisory authority

The Wirecard case - still highly topical and interesting

Guests could fortify themselves for the second half of the summit over lunch

This year's summit was moderated by our consultant Maximilian Schwärecke, among others

On stage with Philipp Encz and Dr. Christian Wagner from Commerzbank

Our consultant Maximilian Schwärecke in dialogue with the judge Anne Meier-Göring

A dialogue about changing perspectives – we gained insights into the transformation of the relationship between communications and legal

Something for everyone – a snack in between

Volker Troche gave us an insight into his work as spokesman for the Executive Board of the Krupp Foundation

Our guests followed the RKG 2025 with full attention

Melanie Riley, Managing Director of Bell Yard Communications, with international insights - direct from London

Together with Barbara Wolf, Head of Communication at the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, the main focus was on the right way to communicate the foundation's past

In cooperation with The Crisis & Litigation Communicators Alliance (CLCA), Melanie Riley was speaking at our RKG event

Dr. Wolf Bussian, A&O Shearman, spoke about challenges for large law firms in his presentation "From merger to leadership"

Good atmosphere between the presentations

One of our many high-profile speakers at the 2024 summit: Dr. Marco Buschmann

Dr. Simone Kämpfer, partner at Freshfields and experienced lawyer, provided insights into both corporate communications and her time at the public prosecutor's office

In a joint discussion with Anne Meier-Göring, a judge in a juvenile chamber at Hamburg Regional Court, it was possible to gain a comprehensive and exclusive insight into the world of case law

The presentations and impressions of the speakers generated enthusiasm

The summit programme was duly rounded off with Claus Weselsky, Federal Honorary Chairman of the GDL

We started the evening before with our annual summit get-together

As usual, RKG 2025 began with our get-together the evening before at the Commerzbank premises

Looking forward to the upcoming summit day and the varied presentations

Dr. Felix Zimmermann's keynote speech on Correctiv research the evening before ensured a lively exchange during the get-together

Our Managing Director Martin Wohlrabe always in dialogue with guests

What a view – right next to the Commerzbank building: the illuminated Brandenburg Gate

The name says it all: communication among and with the guests was already the focus the evening before

Dr. Felix Zimmermann (LTO) gave a foretaste of what was to come in the evening before the event

The champagne reception invited guests to engage in conversation

A great time for guests at the get-together

Companion of the RKG 2025: Our crisis bears

The guests arrived at the Commerzbank building on the eve of the event with anticipation and excitement

Inspiring discussions with our Managing Director Martin Wohlrabe

The exchange began even before the start of the summit day

Dr. Felix Zimmermann shared his views on the instrumentalization of courts through litigation PR

Our consultant Marlen Fasold in dialogue with our guests

Reunions are a pleasure – we welcomed familiar faces again this year

Exchange of experiences as part of the Get-Together

A fine selection and presentation of snacks accompanied the evening

The evening increased the anticipation for the coming summit day

The evening before the Summit began with drinks for guests

The highlight of the Get-Togethers: the presentation by LTO editor-in-chief Dr. Felix Zimmermann

Let's get started: Our managing director Martin Wohlrabe welcomed all participants to the get-together

Organizer

Event contact

Host

Excerpt of our Speakers 2024

Foto: BPA/ Steffen Kugler

Dr. Marco Buschmann

Dr. Wolf Bussian

Ulrike Demmer

Foto: GDL

Claus Weselsky

Dr. Simone Kämpfer

Dr. Felix Zimmermann

Volker Troche

Philipp Encz

Daria Gladkov

Anne Meier-Göring

Melanie Riley

Maximilian Schwärecke, LL.M.

Michael Sell

Dr. Christian Wagner

Barbara Wolf

All Speakers in Detail

Program 2024

Venue for the Get-Together and the Summit Day:
Commerzbank Building, Pariser Platz 1, 10117 Berlin

Monday, November 18, 2024

7:00 p.m.

Get-together
with drinks and finger food

including RKG evening impulse:
“Instrumentalization of Courts through Litigation PR - Using the Example of the Correctiv Report on the Meeting in Potsdam”
Dr. Felix Zimmermann, LTO editor-in-chief

This year's moderators are Daria Gladkov and Max Schwärecke (CONSILIUM)

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

8:15 a.m.

Registration with coffee reception

9:00 a.m.

Welcome
Martin Wohlrabe, Managing Director of CONSILIUM
Philipp Encz, Divisional Board Member Group Management Communications at Commerzbank

9:15 a.m.

Opening lecture:
„Reducing Bureaucracy and Improving Legislation: Simpler Business, More Efficient Government“
Dr. Marco Buschmann, former Federal Minister of Justice

9:45 a.m.

Stage discussion:
„Legal Protection as a Foundation – how does Public Broadcasting Communicate the Enforcement of its Rights?“
Ulrike Demmer, Director of rbb

10:15 a.m.

Coffee break

10:45 a.m.

„The Wirecard Case - Press Work from the Perspective of the Supervisory Authority“
Michael Sell, Head of the Auditor Oversight Body (APAS)

11:15 a.m.

Stage talk:
„Change of Perspective: How has the Relationship between Communications and Legal Changed?“
Dr. Christian Wagner, Divisional Board Member Group Management Legal, General Counsel of Commerzbank
Philipp Encz, Divisional Board Member Group Management Communications of Commerzbank

12:00 p.m.

Lunch

1:00 p.m.

Stage discussion:
„Coming to Terms with the Past in the Present: Communication at Krupp“
Volker Troche, Speaker of the Board of the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation
Barbara Wolf, Head of Communications at the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation

1:30 p.m.

In cooperation with The Crisis & Litigation Communicators Alliance (CLCA):
„Insights from Fleet Street: Navigating Privacy, Defamation and Data Breaches as Reputation Advisor in the City of London”
Melanie Riley, Managing Director Bell Yard

2:00 p.m.

Coffee break

2:30 p.m.

Impulse:
„WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal – and the Public Prosecutor Reads Everything? Some Notes on Corporate Communication 2.0.“
Dr. Simone Kämpfer, Partner at Freshfields

2:45 p.m.

Impulse:
„Case Law in the Spotlight and yet Independent. A Brief Report on Experiences."
Anne Meier-Göring, judge at the youth chamber of the Hamburg Regional Court

3:00 p.m.

Panel discussion:
„Between MeToo and Fake News - how the Rule of Law can (also) be Protected in the Media“
Dr. Simone Kämpfer, Partner at Freshfields
Anne Meier-Göring, Judge at the Youth Chamber of the Hamburg Regional Court

3:45 p.m.

„From Merger to Leadership: Opportunities and Challenges for Large Law Firms on their Way to the Top“
Dr. Wolf Bussian, Managing Partner of Germany at A&O Shearman

4:15 p.m.

Coffee break

4:30 p.m.

„Between Law and Resistance: GDL Leader Claus Weselsky on Communication Strategies in Labor Disputes“
Claus Weselsky, National Chairman of the German Train Drivers' Union

5:15 p.m.

End