📋 Tender Overview
The Federal Ministry of Justice has evaluated the survey conducted by the legal profession in the period from 19 October to 26 November 2023 on possible relaxations of the ban on third-party ownership. The survey asked about the need and attitude of the legal profession to a change in the prohibition of third-party ownership. As part of the survey, all lawyers had the opportunity to comment on the topic and contribute ideas. A total of 7,598 people from all federal states took part in the survey (see press release no. 75/2023 of 21 December 2023).
The evaluation of the survey revealed the following:
63% of the participants generally reject a relaxation of the ban on third-party ownership and the business model of 28% of the participants does not need to be relaxed. For 80% of the participants, the inclusion of pure investors is out of the question from the outset. 73% of the participants see dangers that could not be sufficiently contained by legal requirements. The evaluation of the free text information in the survey confirms this result. An unlimited participation of pure investors is overwhelmingly rejected. If participation is considered at all, then with a participation rate of up to a maximum of 25%.
The rejection is greatest among individual lawyers and partners in small law firms. Salaried lawyers and partners in medium-sized and larger law firms are not quite as opposed to a relaxation. However, in all groups of respondents, at least 60% of the participants reject the admission of pure investors (up to approx. 80%). Patent attorneys are somewhat more open to a relaxation and also see a greater need for investment overall. However, 74% of them also reject the admission of pure investors.
In addition to the survey in the legal profession, the associations concerned were given the opportunity to comment on possible relaxations of the ban on third-party ownership. The German Insurance Association, the Legal Tech Association of Germany, the Federal Bar Association, the Chamber of Patent Attorneys, the Federal Chamber of Tax Advisors and the German Association of Tax Advisors (Deutsche Steuerberaterverband e.V.) .
