Guido Kleve

Partner

Excellent expertise with fast and efficient advisory practice

— Client, Legal 500 2022

About

Guido Kleve is Office Managing Partner of the Cologne office of DLA Piper. He advises public authorities and companies from various economic sectors on all regulatory and public law issues. He focuses on product and environmental law, infrastructure law, subsidy and state aid law. He has particular experience in conducting public law proceedings before authorities and courts and is also engaged in sports law. Guido Kleve is responsible for the Consumer Goods, Food and Retail sector in Germany.

Guido advises national and international clients from the automotive, consumer goods and manufacturing industries, the technology, transport and energy sectors on various regulatory issues in approval law, environmental and product law, product responsibility and safety as well as product recalls. A particular focus is on ESG and supply chain integrity issues.

In addition to issues relating to the energy and mobility transformation, Guido Kleve has particular experience in the area of infrastructure law. He advises his clients on the implementation of complex infrastructure projects (transport, ports, airports, rail and road transport, waste infrastructures, energy), including licensing law, financing, implementation of legal requirements and contract design, compliance and sustainability strategies.

He also deals with issues of public subsidies, public contracts and state liability. Guido Kleve represents clients in proceedings before national and European authorities and has extensive experience in public law disputes and damages proceedings, in which he represents clients before national and European courts.

Finally, another focus of his practice is advising companies and public authorities in crisis situations such as industrial accidents, environmental breaches or other compliance violations.
Guido Kleve is the author of numerous publications and a sought-after speaker and keynote speaker. In addition to his work as a lawyer, he has been a referee in professional football for almost 20 years.

Areas of FocusRegulatory and Government Affairs Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations Environment, Health and Safety Consumer Goods, Food and Retail Energy and Natural Resources Industrials Infrastructure, Construction and Transport Life Sciences Media, Sport and Entertainment

Professional QualificationsRechtsanwalt admitted with Rechtsanwaltskammer Cologne

EXPERIENCE

Languages

Awards

Education

University of Osnabrück, First State Examination

Higher Regional Court of Oldenburg, Second State Examination

Publications

Seminars

Current developments in product safety law and practical challenges in online trade, German Market Surveillance Conference, 18.09.2025, Berlin
Practical challenges and current legal developments in EU product safety and product liability law, 13th Globalnorm Conference Product Compliance, 16.09.2025, Berlin
Error culture in significant decisions, closed-door meeting of the Lower Saxony state parliament, 21.08.2025, Hannover
DLA Piper Compliance & Investigations Messe, 06 February 2025

Prior Experience

Guido worked for an international law firm as an Associate before he joined DLA Piper in 2008. Between 2002 and 2005, he was Assistant Lecturer at the European Legal Studies Institute in Osnabrück.

Memberships And Affiliations