GRP Rainer LLP

For termination of an employment relationship with immediate effect to be effective, there needs to be good cause. This is true whether notice of dismissal is issued by the employer or the employee.

It is only possible to rescind acceptance of an inheritance on account of an error concerning the estate's over-indebtedness if the heir assumed that the estate was of value.

In order for a trade mark to be capable of being registered as a European Union trade mark it needs to be highly distinctive. The slogan "Bester Papa" ("Best dad(dy)/papa") lacks this distinctive character.

Mistakes made by managers can prove costly both for the company as well as the managers themselves. For this reason, many companies take out D&O insurance policies for their executive personnel.

Last summer, the European Commission imposed heavy fines on five truck manufacturers for violations of antirust law. The Swedish truck manufacturer Scania is now being asked to pay up as well.

Three-dimensional symbols that represent the shape of a product can be protected as a trademark.That was the verdict of the Bundesgerichtshof (BGH), Germany's Federal Supreme Court, in two rulings from October 18, 2017 (Az. I ZB 3/17 and I ZB 4/17)

Taking out a D&O insurance policy is supposed to reduce executives' risk of liability. Experience shows that it is crucial to pay attention to details when taking out a policy.

Serious breaches of duty by an employee may justify dismissal with immediate effect. Damage to property can constitute good cause justifying exceptional notice of dismissal with immediate effect.

Exceptional notice of dismissal with immediate effect needs to be well prepared if it is to be issued effectively. To this end, it needs to be assessed whether sufficient grounds for dismissal exist.

In exceptional circumstances, retrospective amendments to a will may be valid even in the absence of a signature. That was the verdict of the Kammergericht (KG) Berlin [Berlin Court of Appeal] in its ruling of March 28, 2017 (Az.: 6 W 97/16).