Our Of Counsel, Dr Reinhard Dallmayr, was recently honoured with the Chambers Lifetime Achievement Award. We took this opportunity to speak to him.
Of Counsel Dr Reinhard Dallmayr explains what it means to him to be recognised for his outstanding commitment to insurance law, the principles that have guided him throughout his decades-long career as a lawyer – and what aspirations he still has on his personal agenda. Furthermore, he shares with us the advice he would give to young lawyers today.
What does it mean to you to have been awarded the "Chambers Lifetime Achievement Award"?
I am truly delighted by the recognition it represents from the legal profession and my clients, which I have received through this award for my more than 40 years' work in insurance law. This is not least because it came completely out of the blue, without any prior indication, and took me entirely by surprise.
What was the most significant moment in your career – if there was one?
Looking back, I would say that the merger of the Cologne and Munich offices in 1990, which paved the way for our success, was a very significant moment in my career.
Did you, when you joined BLD in 1990, ever imagine that BLD would one day become the national market leader in insurance and liability law?
We had probably already achieved that status following the merger of the Cologne and Munich offices, but of course not on this scale. I never expected, nor did I dare to dream, that we would reach the size that we are today. At that time, even the large international full-service law firms in Germany were smaller than we are now. However, the intention was to create the kind of pull effect we have today thanks to our size and specialisation.
Which cases have been particularly unforgettable for you because they were highly unusual, significant or challenging?
There are three cases that spring to mind. The first was a case of fraudulent arson committed by a calf farmer, who sought to win the case with the help of a witness who had been in the same prison cell as him. There was also a case of W&I arbitration proceedings involving 700,000 pages of documents, and then the review of cyber insurance terms and conditions in English, the technical content of which I found extremely challenging to understand – these cases really stood out.
Do you have a motto that has guided you throughout your professional career?
Every single case is important (especially for the client), irrespective of the amount in dispute. Beyond that, I attach great importance to reliability and integrity in my work.
What advice would you give to young colleagues today?
I would advise younger colleagues to do exactly what I've said: to always keep in mind that every case is of great importance to the client – regardless of the amount in dispute. Anyone who combines this commitment with reliability and professionalism, and who also specialises in a particular field early on, lays the foundations for a trusting working relationship and, ultimately, a successful career.
How has your role at BLD changed over the years?
When I first joined the law firm, I mainly handled legal proceedings across almost all sectors, including those involving small amounts in dispute. Then, and most recently, my work has focused on advisory services (e.g. reviewing general terms and conditions of insurance), representing clients in arbitration proceedings, reinsurance companies and financial lines. In other words, if you like, I have moved from handling a large number of cases to dealing with individual cases that each have a considerable scope.
What would you like to see in the future – both professionally and personally?
In terms of my career, I hope to be able to continue working at my current level for a few more years, handling challenging and exciting cases. Privately, I mainly hope to watch my grandchildren grow up and to be able to accompany them for part of their journey.
We would like to once again offer our warmest congratulations to Dr Reinhard Dallmayr on this special honour and thank him for his decades of service, his professional excellence and his great personal commitment – to BLD, our clients and the entire industry.
