Volker Schmitz

Volker’s professional experience includes:

Selected Dispute Resolution Experience

• Offshore Wind Park, Northern Sea: Quantum and delay analysis regarding a delayed serial fabrication and transportation program for 49 offshore steel foundations during an arbitration on behalf of a Norwegian EPC contractor.
• Wood Processing Plant, U.S.: Quantum and delay analysis concerning potential C-level liabilities and pecuniary losses during a litigation regarding a plant relocation from Canada to the U.S. on behalf of a leading company in the wood-processing industry.
• High-Rise Building, Germany: Quantum and delay analysis in connection with a delayed construction of a 40-story high-rise building on behalf of the developer with special focus on delays and productivity losses associated to COVID-19.
• Pipeline Project, Switzerland: Quantum analysis on behalf of the higher court of Bern, regarding a subcontractor-claim due to reduced contribution margins because of the main contractor’s subsequently altered calculation-assumptions in connection with a large pipeline project.
• Train Fabrication, Czech Republic: Delay analysis regarding a delayed manufacturing of several railway trains (rolling stock) with special regard to delays associated to COVID-19 on behalf of a Czech transportation company in Prague.
• Nuclear Research Facility, Germany: Delay analysis in connection with a delayed planning and construction process of a nuclear research facility in terms of ongoing mediation proceedings on behalf of an U.S. EPC contractor.
• Offshore Wind Park, Northern Sea: Quantum analysis of more than 80 VORs concerning the fabrication and transport of tripods and wind-energy-converters as well as lost feed-in-remuneration and liquidated damages because of an early contract termination, on behalf of a German EPC Contractor during an arbitration.
• Potash Mining Project, Germany: Contract and claim management on behalf of a mining company for the construction of several pipelines and pipeline-supporting structures in Germany, including evaluation of changed works, breaches of duty, resulting quantum and liquidated damages.
• Hospital Project, Germany: Contract and claim management as well as strategic tendering support for the construction of a hospital and research facilities on behalf of the hospital operator with special focus on subcontractor EOT claims.
• Airport Extension, Germany: Contract and claim management for the construction of a new runway and the extension of an existing terminal at a major German airport. Pre-action advice and support in the strategic decision making concerning a major dispute with the general planer.

Selected Advisory Experience

• Fabrication of Railway Maintenance Trains (Rolling Stock), Germany/Switzerland: Root cause analysis to identify the actual project status in terms of budgets, costs, and schedules as well as breaches of duty in connection with a rail and transport company’s delayed investment program.
• Interconnector and Converter Station, Kenya/Ethiopia: Project Audit concerning the construction of an interconnector and converter station behalf of a German EPC contractor. Special regard to financial projections, cost and time estimates as well as project related governance structures.
• Five-Star Hotel, Macau: Project Audit and schedule review regarding the feasibility of contractual milestones and baselines for the construction of a five-star hotel on behalf of the developer.
• Tunnel Renovation, Switzerland: Forensic investigation for a delayed tunnel renovation project focusing on the maturity of compliance frameworks and potential breaches of duty as well as cost overruns and delays.
• Potash Mining Project, Canada: Set-up advisory and continuous project assurance for the construction of a large-scaled potash mine on behalf of a mining company.
• Production Plant, Denmark: Organizational set up advisory, design, and implementation of the risk management framework on behalf of a sugar producing company in Copenhagen.
• Airport, Germany: Design and implementation of a new Central Infrastructure Management business unit at a major international Airport and support with continuous improvement of business activities and ongoing CAPEX/OPEX reduction.
• Railway Line, Germany: Organizational advisory concerning project structures, risk management and CAPEX/OPEX optimization in terms of the construction and operation of a new railway line in the greater Frankfurt area.