Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Sebastian advises his clients on the legal integration of sustainability aspects into their compliance management systems. As a trained CSR Manager (IHK) and Co-Head of the newly established Industry Group Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) at Taylor Wessing Germany, he coordinates and develops the topic of ESG on a cross-practice group level.

Long before the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz - LkSG) came into force, Sebastian was the first lawyer at Taylor Wessing to build his business case in this area. As a "pioneer" in this field of law, he has developed practical guides, implementation route plans, electronic gap analyses, risk analysis checklists and contract law toolboxes for his clients and has continued to refine them in line with the latest legislation.

His portfolio with regard to the LkSG includes international corporations as well as medium-sized companies.

He regularly shares his expertise on ESG/CSR and in particular on the LkSG in internal and external events as well as via media formats. In this context, he is co-initiator of the podcast Jetzt erst Recht | Der Podcast rund um Nachhaltigkeit and of Taylor Wessing's first digital ESG Academy. Sebastian is also a regular lecturer, e.g. at the Nuremberg Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Sebastian is also an expert in advising on production, purchasing, sales, distribution as well as a specialist in compliance. His work also includes representing clients in disputes.

CV

Since 2022 Salary Partner, Taylor Wessing

2019 – 2021 Senior Associate, Taylor Wessing

2016 – 2019 Associate, Taylor Wessing

Career

Since 2022 Salary Partner, Taylor Wessing

2019 – 2021 Senior Associate, Taylor Wessing

2016 – 2019 Associate, Taylor Wessing

Education

2021 Certified course CSR-Manager (IHK)

2015 Second state examination, Düsseldorf

2013 – 2015 Legal clerkship, District Court in Wuppertal with stage in São Paulo

Publications

Praktische Hinweise und Maßnahmen zur Umsetzung des Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetzes im Unternehmen, in: Der Betrieb, 12/2021, S. 3078-3084.

Klimaklagen in Deutschland, in: comply, 12/2021. S. 50-52.

Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz, in: comply, 10/2021, S. 60-61.

Die Verantwortlichkeit für Menschenrechts- und Umweltschutzverschutzverletzungen in der Lieferkette als neue Gesetzesvorhaben in Deutschland und auf EU-Ebene, in: Nachhaltigkeitsrecht, 06/2021, S. 255-258.

Lieferketten im Blick, in: Umweltmagazin, S. 55, 05/2021.

Der Gesetzesentwurf des Lieferkettengesetzes im Überblick, in: comply, 05/2021, S. 21-23.

Neue Sorgfaltspflichten und Haftungsrisiken in der Lieferkette – Aktuelles zu deutschen und europäischen Gesetzesvorhaben, in: Zeitschrift für Vertriebsrecht, 5/2020, S. 291-297.

Additional languages

Awards

Legal 500 2026

Featured

Legal 500 2025

Legal 500 Germany 2024

Experience

Taylor Wessing advises US-Based Grant Thornton Advisors in the bidding process for Grant Thornton Germany

Provided comprehensive German legal advice to US-Based Grant Thornton Advisors LLC in the bidding process for the audit firm Grant Thornton Germany.

Press release

Dr. Christian Traichel

Dr. Rebekka Krause

Dr. Ralf B. Tietz, LL.M. (Chicago)

Dr. Christian Dietz

Dr. Marco Hartmann-Rüppel, Dipl.-Volkswirt

Juliane Dost, LL.M. (Medizinrecht)

Katharina Häberle, LL.M. (Medizinrecht)

Dr. Klara Pototzky

Annika Rahn

Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Judith Schüler, LL.M.

Lara Nonnenmühlen

Leonard Raphael, LL.M. (Krakau)

Felix Kokorsch

Phillip Heske

Advising Mitel on its transaction to acquire Unify from Atos

We have advised Mitel, a global leader in business communications, on its transaction to acquire Unify, the Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) and Communication and Collaboration Services businesses (CCS) of the Atos group.

Press release

Mark Barron

Dr. Christian Traichel

Gilles Amsallem

Elinor Picton

Dr. Rebekka Krause

Dr. Christian Dietz

Marc André Gimmy

Dr. Klara Pototzky

Dr. Michael Kieffer

Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Dr. Adrian Birnbach, LL.M. (Stellenbosch)

Dr. Marco Hartmann-Rüppel, Dipl.-Volkswirt

Dr. Nicolai Wiegand, LL.M. (NYU)

Taylor Wessing advises various DAX companies on the German LkSG

Advising various DAX companies as well as other companies from all sectors on legal aspects related to the German Supply Chain Sourcing Obligations Act (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz - LkSG). The scope of our advisory services ranges from needs analysis, implementation and ongoing advice in day-to-day business to strategic, tactical and operational anticipation and support of conflicts and disputes.

Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Dr. Martin Rothermel

Taylor Wessing advises an International Chain of Department Stores on the German LkSG

Advising a German international retail chain on various legal issues relating to the LkSG. In particular, advice on examining the scope of application of the LkSG, on conducting a GAP analysis to identify legal gaps, on the involvement of the purchasing department by developing instructions for action in terms of a LkSG-compliant procurement strategy, on checklists for several business areas as well as on liability issues of the management and the purchasing department.

Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Dr. Martin Rothermel

Steadfast Capital Fund IV on the acquisition of a majority stake in Söhngen Group

Steadfast Capital Fund IV on the acquisition of a majority stake in Söhngen Group. The transaction included both W. Söhngen GmbH based in Taunusstein (Hesse) and Silva GmbH based in Mainhausen (Hesse). The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price. The majority acquisition aims to support further growth of the Söhngen Group with its internationally recognised brands and premium products in the market for first aid and emergency medical products both organically and through acquisitions. We also advised on the financing of the acquisition.

Press release

Maria Weiers

Ulf Gosejacob

Dr. Marcel Leines

Daniel Mursa, LL.M. (Köln/Paris I)

Johannes Simon, LL.M. (Durham)

Dr. Tim Eickmanns

Dr. Jan Kern

Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Sebastian's news & insights

View Sebastian's insights

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Environmental, social & governance (ESG)

Supply Chain Resilience: The ability to act in uncertain times: using the Hormuz blockade as an example

23 March 2026

by Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto) and Louis Warnking

Commercial & consumer contracts

LkSG: Transition phase until CSDDD implementation

16 February 2026

Briefing

by multiple authors

Click here to find out more

Environmental, social & governance (ESG)

EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) – Proposed amendments to reduce bureaucratic burden

30 October 2025

Quick read

by multiple authors

Click here to find out more

Sebastian Rünz, LL.M. (Toronto)

Legal 500 2026

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