Dr. Kessel is a partner in Bird&Bird Frankfurt office, from where he leads their German as well as international Automotive Group and co-heads their offshore wind team.
Dr. Kessel has broad experience in advising clients on commercial contracts, distribution law and corporate matters with special expertise in the automotive industry as well as the offshore wind industry.
In the automotive industry Dr. Kessel exclusively acts for suppliers in all supply chain matters and represents them in particular with regard to the serial delivery of parts to the car manufacturers (OEMs) and their purchases from other suppliers. Besides drafting of contracts Dr. Kessel specializes in providing legal support to suppliers in case of recalls or field actions by OEMs as well as the enforcement of suppliers' rights vis-à-vis their contractual partners (customers).
As regards the offshore projects, Dr. Kessel has been involved in some of the most high-profile and high-volume transactions in Germany over the last few years.
His key practice areas include drafting, reviewing, advising and negotiating complex commercial contracts, Energy, Procurement and Construction (EPC) project contracts, standard agreements required by B2B and B2C clients and advising on warranty and liability issues.
He also advises on distribution law, insolvency law and corporate law, specifically in joint ventures and corporate re-organisations and restructurings.
Apart from giving regular presentations and speeches on topics related to automotive industry matters, offshore wind and general standard terms, Dr. Kessel is the author of several articles on commercial and distribution law published in books and legal magazines in Germany and England.