CHRISTOPH VON PLANTAATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Christoph von Planta
Lawyer | PartnerSpecialist lawyer for migration law
- Migration law
- EU Blue Card
- Business start-up and investment in Germany
- Foreign skilled workers for companies
- Nationality law
BIOGRAPHIC
- Raised in Switzerland, dual citizenship
- Study abroad in London and Aix-en-Provence
- Studies at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg i.Br.
- Legal clerkship in Brandenburg and Berlin
- Foundation and establishment of the law firm vpmk Attorneys at Law in April 1998
- Specialist lawyer for migration law since the introduction of the specialist lawyer title in 2016
- Lecturer in the field of employment migration and educational migration in all specialist courses for migration law (German Lawyers Academy/ Republican Lawyers Association (RAV)). Regular
- Lectures for ARGE Migrationsrecht im Deutschen Anwaltverein and other providers
- Co-founder and co-operator of the jurisdiction portal for lawyers specializing in migration law “anwaltsdatenbank.net” since 2005
- Member of the Executive Committee of the Migration Law Working Group of the German Bar Association (DAV) since 2012
Publications
- Christoph von Planta, editing of the chapters “Erwerbsmigration” and “Bildungsmigration” in: Thomas Oberhäuser (editor) “Migrationsrecht in der Beratungspraxis”, 1st edition 2019 Nomos-Verlag. See also the book review by lawyer Sibel Simsek in: Asylmagazin 8-9/2019, p. 267 or as PDF.
- Educational migration in transition, Asylmagazin, issue 3/2019, p. 48 ff. PDF
- “New regulations brought about by the 2017 Directive Implementation Act – Part 3: Researchers and Scientists,” ANA-ZAR 04/2018 PDF.
- “New regulations brought about by the Directive Implementation Act 2017 – Part 2: Education Migration and Labor Migration (ICT),” ANA-ZAR 02/2018 PDF.
- “New regulations through the Directive Implementation Act 2017 – Part 1: Study migration,” ANA-ZAR 04/2017 PDF.
- Lars Kroidl and Christoph von Planta, editing of the chapter “Germany” in: Dennis Campbell (General Editor) “International Immigration and Nationality Law”, 2nd edition 2016 Bookstore.
- “Simplifying the labor market integration of refugees”, essay NJW, issue 1-2/2016, p.18-22 PDF.
- “Make it in Germany – The EU Blue Card in Paxis,” Asylmagazin 12/2014 PDF
- “Those who need a good lawyer should get one”, Anwaltsblatt 05/2014 PDF
- “New Work Permit Law – Overview and Criticism,” ANA-ZAR 01/2014 PDF.
KATJA PONERTATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Katja Ponert
Lawyer | PartnerSpecialist lawyer for social law
- Migration law
- EU Blue Card
- Business start-up and investment in Germany
- Foreign skilled workers for companies
- Freelance activity
- Right of free movement/ EU
- Nationality law
- Social law
Biographic
- Studies at the Albert-Ludwigs-University in Freiburg i. Br. and as a scholarship holder in
Barcelona; Focus: European & International Law. - Legal clerkship Freiburg, Offenburg, Frankfurt and Berlin;
Collaboration with Pro Asyl/Frankfurt,
UNHCR/ Berlin - Involvement in the Federal Working Group of Critical Law Groups, editor of the journal
“Forum Recht”; research associate at the Max Planck Institute for Foreign
and International Criminal Law in Freiburg i. Br. - From August 2003 to July 2004, advisor for migration and refugee policy at the
Bundestag faction Bündnis 90/Die Grünen; focus: legal support of the
Negotiations on the Immigration Act; handling of aspects of aliens law in Hartz III and IV and the Act to Combat Clandestine Employment, work permit law - Admitted to the bar in June 2004
- Partner of vpmk Attorneys at Law since January 2006
- Successful participation in the specialist course for migration law and social law
Memberships
- ARGE Migration Law in the German Bar Association
- Working group on aliens law of the RAV in Berlin
Recent publications and lectures
- Author of the chapter “Erwerbsmigration” in “Immigration Law – The Law of Labor and Education Migration”, v. Harbou / Weizsäcker (eds.), C.H. Beck Verlag, 1st edition 2018.
- Lecture at the Friedrich-Eberts-Stiftung “Erwerbstätigenzuwanderung im Klartext: Faire
Design creates perspectives”, October 2018 - Guest lecturer at the Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HsH Hannover) as part of the block course “Fundamentals of residence law, as well as delinquency and its impact on residence status”, November 2022
Volunteer
- Volunteer consultant in migration law for various initiatives and organizations
- Free legal advice for refugees and displaced persons in the action alliance “We’re doing it
STEPHANIE DUFNER ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Stephanie Dufner
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Main Areas of activity
- Migration law
- EU Blue Card
- Setting up a business and investing in Germany
- Foreign skilled workers for companies
- Citizenship law
Biographic
- Born in Freiburg i. Br.
- Studies at the Westphalian-Wilhelms University of Münster and at the Universidad de Barcelona
- Specialised foreign language training in English at the Westfälische-Wilhelms-Universität Münster
- E.MA Master in Human Rights and Democratisation at the EIUC in Venice and at the University of Lisbon (topic of the Master’s thesis: “Women in the European asylum law system”)
- Legal clerkship in Berlin with stations at the Federal Foreign Office, the German Institute for Human Rights and the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
- International Law Officer at the General Secretariat of Amnesty International Germany
- Admitted to the bar since 2012
- Parental leave representation at vpmk Attorneys at Law
- Lawyer and Manager at Fragomen Global LLP, Frankfurt
- Partner at vpmk since 2016
- Opening of the Stuttgart office of vpmk in 2017
- Successful completion of the specialist lawyer course in migration law in 2019
- Voluntary advisor on migration law to various initiatives and organisations
MEMBERSHIPS
- Migration Law Network
- ARGE Migration Law in the German Bar Association
- German Women Lawyers Association
- Amnesty International, Pro Asyl
REBECCA MÜLLER ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Rebecca Müller
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Specialist lawyer for family law
Main Areas of activity
- Family law
- Divorce
- Property division
- parental custody and contact with joint children, prenuptial agreements and agreements on the consequences of
divorce - migration law
- Family reunification
- Right of residence for artists and freelancers from abroad in Germany
- Blue card
- Nationality law
- Right to freedom of movement for EU citizens and their family members
biographic
- Two years working as a freelance journalist after graduating from high school.
- Studied law at the University of Trier
- Legal clerkship in Brandenburg and Berlin
- distinction examination
- Foundation and establishment of the law firm vpmk Rechtsanwälte in April 1998
- Since then specialised in the field of migration law
- Specialist in family law since 2007
- Worked as an expert in migration law at the High Court London, Family Division
- Various communication trainings and many years of further education and training in creative writing, meditation/energy work and martial art T’ai Chi
ANDREAS CONZELMANN ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Andreas Conzelmann
ATTORNEY AT LAW | PARTNER
Andreas Conzelmann is part of our immigration team.
He represents international clients at all German authorities and foreign agencies. After studying at the University of Heidelberg and the Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao, he spent time abroad in Kuala Lumpur.
Andreas was admitted to the bar in 2018 and became a partner at vpmk in 2022.
Andreas offers consultation in German and English.
Main Areas of activity
- immigration of skilled workers
- General residence law
- Right of Free movement of persons
- Entrepreneurs and investors
- Freelancers and artists
- Family reunion
- Citizenship
PUBLICATIONS AND LECTURES:
- Lecture on 09.07.2020 on the Skilled Workers Immigration Act at the Ulm Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK)
- Lecture on citizenship law at the 6th Speyr Migration Law Days 2022
SARAH ATIYA
Sarah Atiya
Associate LawyerImmigration & Citizenship
at vpmk since 06.21
EDUCATION
Law studies at the University of Constance
Legal clerkship at the OLG Stuttgart
CONTACT
atiya(at)vpmk.com
ANTJE WEBER HEAD OF IMMIGRATION & CITIZENSHIP
Antje Weber
Head of Immigration & Citizenship
At vpmk since 10/2016
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Social and Cultural Anthropology
Political Science and Latin American Studies at the Free University of Berlin
LANGUAGES
German, French, English
CONTACT
weber [at] vpmk.de
RAHIMA ODILOVA LEGAL ASSISTENT | GENERAL OFFICE Assistant Immigration & Citizenship
Rahima Odilova
General Office
Assistentin Immigration & Citizenship
bei vpmk seit 01/2020
AUSBILDUNG
Studentin der Rechtswissenschaften an der Humboldt-Universität Berlin
SPRACHEN:
Deutsch, Russisch, Englisch
KONTAKT:
odilova [at] vpmk.de
VERA FRANSKEVICH LEGAL ASSISTANT
Vera Franskevich
Legal AssistantImmigration & Citizenship
At vpmk since 04/2022
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor of Arts in Cultural and Theatre Studies at the Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3
- Master of Arts – Euromaster in French and Francophone Studies at Humboldt University Berlin
LANGUAGES:
German, English, French, Russian
CONTACT:
franskevich[at]vpmk.de
LENA KUECK LEGAL ASSISTANT
Lena Kueck
LEGAL ASSISTANTIMMIGRATION & CITIZENSHIP
at vpmk since 5/22
EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts in “Humanities, the Arts and Social Thought” at Bard College Berlin
Master of Arts in “Human Rights and Humanitarian Action” at Sciences Po Paris
LANGUAGES:
German, English, French
CONTACT:
kueck(at)vpmk.de