Dr. Manfred Stopfkuchen-Menzel

Presiding Judge at Higher Administrative Court (VGH) (retired)

Dr. Manfred Stopfkuchen-Menzel is now a practising lawyer after many years in administrative jurisdiction - most recently as Presiding Judge at the Higher Administrative Court (VGH) of Baden-Württemberg on a building senate. He advises developers, neighbours, communities and approval authorities on all aspects of construction planning law and building law. He supports the establishment of development plans, inspects building applications and drafts building-law related rulings.

Practice areas

Environmental law and planning law
Project support in real estate utilisation plans and building permit proceedings
Consulting for and acting on behalf of towns and communities in planning processes
Litigation

Vita

1960 - 1964 Law studies in Freiburg and Kiel
1968 - 1970 Graduate civil servant at Biberach district office and at the state prosecutor's office
1970 - 1977 Judge at Sigmaringen Administrative Court
1972 PhD (Dr. iur.) at Freiburg University
1977 - 1994 Judge at the Higher Administrative Court (VGH) of Baden-Württemberg
1980 - 1994 Member of the building land senate at the Higher Regional Court of Karlsruhe
1994 - 2005 Presiding Judge at the Higher Administrative Court of Baden-Württemberg, responsible in particular for environmental law, construction law and law on regional development
2006 Admitted to the German bar

Other activities and memberships

Teaching appointment at Mannheim University of Cooperative Education
Examiner for first law board examinations
Permanent advisor on building regulations and planning law

Plans, dreams, goals

Travelling to the capitals of the world and attending a production at every new opera house in Europe.