Dr. Werner Born studied law at Heidelberg University. After receiving his doctorate in Heidelberg, he began his work as a lawyer with a focus on family businesses. He was made partner at RITTERSHAUS in 2010. He heads the Corporate Succession and Estate Planning Practice Group, which comprises nine lawyers and notaries. In 2017, they took second place for “Exzellenz in Mediation und Konfliktmanagement” (Excellence in Mediation and Conflict Management), an award that was presented for the first time that year by the Round Table of the same name. One reason why they were chosen was the development of mediation-based succession consultancy services centred around the family charter. With this innovative consultancy approach, RITTERSHAUS has achieved a prominent, leading position in consultancy for family businesses. RITTERSHAUS is unique in Germany also because it has 10 lawyers on its legal team with additional certification in mediation. Dr. Born himself was one of the first when he completed mediation training in 2012 at Heidelberg University. He is also a member of the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Familien-Mediation e.V. (Federal Association of Family Mediators - BAFM) in Berlin. He publishes articles on inheritance tax, mediation for family businesses and has co-authored the chapter “Gestaltungen der lebzeitigen Unternehmensnachfolge” (Lifetime Company Succession Planning) for the “Handbuch Familienunternehmen” (Family Business Handbook)