International law firm Bird & Bird announces the appointment of lawyer Heiko Heppner as a partner in the Dispute Resolution practice in Frankfurt. He joins Bird & Bird on 1 January 2026 with a team including Senior Counsel Prof. Dr. Friedrich Toepel, who joined Bird & Bird in October 2025, as well as Counsel Sebastian Gratz.
Heiko Heppner is admitted to practice law in Germany, England, and the United States (New York). He joins from Dentons, where he was a partner and a member of the Global Arbitration Leadership Group since 2017. As a specialist in international arbitration and litigation, he works globally. He represents clients worldwide in cross-border disputes that involve both civil law and common law jurisdictions. His focus is on the energy, life sciences, healthcare, and aerospace and defense sectors. In addition, Heiko Heppner represents clients in investment arbitration cases.
Heiko also advises clients in cross-border litigation both domestically and internationally. Thanks to his legal training in the United States, he has particular experience with court proceedings in the US, as well as in England, Hong Kong, and other common law jurisdictions. As an English barrister, he also has extensive experience with the cross-examination of experts in technical and financial matters. In addition to cases in continental Europe, Heiko Heppner has handled numerous proceedings in China and North America, as well as cases related to Africa and the Middle East. Beyond disputes involving energy and digital projects, Heiko was recently involved in an arbitration concerning drone technology. He is also active as an arbitrator himself and teaches international arbitration law at universities in Europe and China.
Dr. Philipp Egler, Co-Head of the German Dispute Resolution Practice, says: “Heiko Heppner brings a unique combination of German and US qualifications and extensive experience in international arbitration. Heiko expands our offering, particularly with regard to investment arbitration. His expertise in common law jurisdictions and his experience in China perfectly complement our commercial litigation team and enable us to provide our clients with even better support in cross-border disputes.”
Dr. Uwe Lüken, Managing Partner of Bird & Bird in Germany, says: “Litigation has been part of Bird & Bird’s DNA from the very beginning. In our specialist areas of IP, data, and procurement law, we have long been among the leading litigation experts. With Heiko and his team, our Commercial Litigation team led by Jiri Jaeger and Philipp Egler receives a significant boost, which will greatly enhance our visibility in the German and international dispute resolution sector. Heiko’s dual legal qualifications in Germany and the US, as well as his expertise in China, provide our clients with a distinct advantage in complex cases, especially at the intersection of common law and civil law. We are very pleased to welcome Heiko, Friedrich, Sebastian, and the team to our firm.”
Heiko Heppner adds: “Bird & Bird’s focus on all legal matters related to technology, digitalisation, and regulation, combined with its strong international presence and One-Firm-Spirit, as well as the impressive range and expertise of the lawyers, provides an excellent platform to further develop my practice. I look forward to contributing my transatlantic experience and sector expertise at Bird & Bird, and I see great potential for our joint growth.”
