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  • Axel Godron
Dr. Axel Godron
Dr. Axel Godron

Dr. Axel Godron

Partner

  • Munich Germany
Contact Me Today
+49 89 21038-0
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Featured award

The Best Lawyers™ in Germany 2025

Beste lawyers: Trusts and Succession Planning

Scroll to featured award

Axel is Head of the Private Client Practice Area and specialises in private and business succession planning, foundations and advising the shareholders of family owned companies.

His expertise in succession matters extends to international estate planning, tax optimized estate structures as well as handling the German probate process for foreign Clients (many from the US, the UK and southern European countries). His clients include numerous German entrepreneurial families, their foundations and family offices, as well as well-known artists and athletes. Family businesses, foundations and family offices are also accompanied by Axel Godron in his function as a member of the advisory board.

Expertise

Services and Groups

Private client
Wills and succession planning
Trusts (contentious and non-contentious) and foundations
Family governance
Private investment & family owned businesses

Sectors

Private wealth

CV

Since 2008 Partner, Taylor Wessing
2005 – 2008 Associate, Taylor Wessing
2003 – 2004 Associate, another international law firm
2001 – 2002 Legal clerkship, Munich, Würzburg and Chicago
2005 Doctoral degree, Universität Köln
2003 Established as a lawyer, Düsseldorf, from 2005 in Munich
2003 Admitted as a lawyer, Düsseldorf
2002 Second state examination, Munich
2000 First state examination, Munich
1994 Diploma, business administration, University Würzburg

Career

Since 2008 Partner, Taylor Wessing
2005 – 2008 Associate, Taylor Wessing
2003 – 2004 Associate, another international law firm
2001 – 2002 Legal clerkship, Munich, Würzburg and Chicago

Education

2005 Doctoral degree, Universität Köln
2003 Established as a lawyer, Düsseldorf, from 2005 in Munich
2003 Admitted as a lawyer, Düsseldorf
2002 Second state examination, Munich
2000 First state examination, Munich
1994 Diploma, business administration, University Würzburg

Publications

Das Wichtigste zur gesonderten Covid-19-Erklärung, in: private banking magazin, 03/2021, gemeinsam mit Jessica Wöppel

beck-online, Großkommentar zum HGB, Bearbeiter der Vorschriften zur erbrechtlichen Nachfolge in Gesellschaften (§§ 139, 177 HGB), together with Dr. Carsten Müller

Stiftungsrecht, Handbuch, C.H. Beck-Verlag, 2019, Mitautor, Hrsg. Richter

The Legal 500: Private Client Country Comparative Guide, The Legal 500 & The Inhouse Lawyer (publisher), 19.12.2017, together with Prof. Dr. Jens Escher

Stiftung als Nachfolgeinstrument, C.H. Beck-Verlag, 2015, Bearbeiter u.a. der Kapitel zur Familienstiftung, Doppelstiftung und Stiftungs–GmbH

Asset Protection – Vermögen schützen, Walhalla Fachverlag, 2014, Mitherausgeber und Mitautor

Handbuch für die Praxis, Erich Schmidt Verlag, 2010, Bearbeiter der Kapitel „Die gemeinnützige Stiftung als Instrument der Unternehmensnachfolge“ und „Finanzierung von Familienunternehmen“ (together with Dr. Michael Sommer)

„Finanzierung von Familienunternehmen“, in: DSWR 2005, p. 348 ff. (together with Dr. Michael Sommer)

„Planung der Unternehmensnachfolge“, in: DSWR 2005, p. 221 ff. (together with Dr. Michael Sommer)

Additional languages

English

Awards

The Best Lawyers™ in Germany 2025

Featured

Beste lawyers: Trusts and Succession Planning

Legal 500 2025

Leading Partner for Private Clients for Nonprofits

Legal 500 Germany 2025

Leading individual for Private Clients and Nonprofits

JUVE 2024/2025

“highly recommended succession planning, takes care intensively”, competitor

Leading individual for Succession, Wealth, Foundations

Frequently recommended lawyer for Succession, Wealth, Foundations

Private Wealth Law – Band 2: „Axel handles matters perfectly; he has strong nerves and provides bulletproof explanations.”

Leading Individual: Trusts and Succession Planning

Lawyer of the year: Trusts and Succession Planning

Key lawyer: Private Clients and Nonprofits

Frequently recommended lawyer for succession/assets/foundations

Leading advisor for succession/assets/foundations

Leading individual: Succession, Wealth, Foundations

Recommended Lawyer: Germany - Private Client

Law Firm of the Year for Succession, Wealth, Foundations

Leading individual: Trusts and Succession Planning

National Leader - Germany - Private Client

Ranked with Chambers and Partners for Private Wealth Law in Germany

Recommended for Private Client with sources noting his “particularly great reputation in inheritance law matters”

Leading advisor for Succession Planning and Trusts

Frequently recommended lawyer for succession/assets/foundations

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