Markus S. Rieder

Markus Rieder is a partner in the Munich office of Gibson Dunn and Co-Chair of the firm's Transnational Litigation practice. He is also a member of the firm’s Class Actions, Securities Litigation, and International Arbitration Groups.

Markus focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, both domestic and cross-border, and national and international arbitration, as well as on compliance and white collar defense. He has substantial experience in the automotive, industrial, and manufacturing sectors.

He also advises related to the increased risks of ESG litigation, encompassing a variety of issues including climate and environmental protection matters, human rights and the new German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, and represents clients in major cutting-edge issues such as climate protection lawsuits.

Markus is regularly recommended by the leading legal publications. Handelsblatt / The Best Lawyers™ 2025/2026 list him among the best lawyers in Germany for Arbitration and Mediation, Corporate Governance and Compliance, International Arbitration, and Litigation and recognized him in 2023/2024 as Lawyer of the Year for Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice and International Arbitration. Previously he was recognized as Lawyer of the Year for Arbitration and Mediation in 2021 and, for the third consecutive time in 2020, for Corporate Governance and Compliance. Lawdragon Global Litigation 500 2025 includes him among the world’s leading dispute lawyers for Transnational Litigation & Arbitration. JUVE Handbook 2025/2026 lists him as “frequently recommended” for Dispute Resolution – Litigation and cites a client who described him as “a very good strategist”. Competitors previously remarked that he “covers cases very deeply” and recognized him as “Top lawyer – if he bites the bullet, it’ll be good” (JUVE Handbooks 2023/2024 and 2022/2023). The Legal 500 Germany and The Legal 500 EMEA 2025 recommend him for Dispute Resolution – Commercial Litigation, and cites a testimonial praising his team: “Markus Rieder’s team specializes in complex disputes, both nationally and internationally.” References described him over the years as “a true litigator through and through, very perceptive, yet able to compromise where necessary and very pleasant to work with,” as “an excellent litigator with bite, vision and stamina as well as a great understanding of process strategy and tactics,” and as “a top litigator and an excellent advisor for all disputes and arbitration proceedings.”

His recent experience includes advising *:

• Mercedes-Benz and other clients in climate change litigation
• Mercedes-Benz in diesel-related litigation
• UniCredit S.p.A. in multijurisdictional shareholder litigation following corporate restructuring
• Deutsche Bank regarding complex management liability and governance issues, including FIRREA settlement with US Department of Justice
• A German PE fund in ICC arbitration regarding compliance violation in Italian target company
• Korean and German defendants in DIS arbitration proceedings in relation to windpark project in the German North Sea
• Daimler AG regarding all aspects of the disposal of Chrysler to Cerberus and the bankruptcy of Chrysler
• Daimler AG in favorably settled ad hoc arbitration proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany in connection with the introduction of a truck toll in Germany (Toll Collect) with an amount in dispute in excess of €10B (largest-ever reported arbitration seated in Germany)
• Toll Collect GmbH in successfully settled ad hoc arbitration proceedings against the Federal Republic of Germany regarding compensation for toll collection services (amount in dispute in excess of €4 billion)

Markus regularly publishes on legal matters. Among others, he is co-editor of the volumes covering commercial law within the standard publication “Münchener Vertragshandbuch,” a handbook on model contracts and agreements (8th edition, 2018/ 2020 published at Beck Verlag), and co-author of the “Münchener Kommentar” regarding the Act on Limited Liability Companies (5th edition, 2025, published by Beck Verlag).

Since 2011, Markus is lecturing at the Faculty of German and European Private Law, Civil Procedure and Legal Theory at the University of Passau, where he has been appointed honorary professor in 2025.

Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Markus was a litigation partner in the Munich office of a renowned U.S. law firm.

Markus studied law at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where he also obtained his doctor’s degree in 2003. In 1996, he earned his LL.M. from the University of Michigan. He is dual-qualified and has been admitted to the New York State Bar since 1998 and as a German lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) since 1999.

In addition to his native German, Markus is fluent in English.

*Includes Experience Prior To Joining Gibson Dunn

Capabilities

• Litigation
• Class Actions
• Consumer Protection
• Crisis Management
• ESG: Risk, Litigation, and Reporting
• Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort
• International Arbitration
• Product Liability
• Securities Litigation
• Transnational Litigation
• White Collar Defense and Investigations

Credentials

Education:

• Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich - 2003 Dr. iur.
• University of Michigan - 1996 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich - 1995 Law Degree

Admissions:

• Germany - Rechtsanwalt
• New York Bar