Bettina Mertgen

Partner at GvW Graf von Westphalen

Speaker

Bettina Mertgen is Partner in the Frankfurt office of GvW Graf von Westphalen and has more than 20 years of experience in customs and foreign trade law. She serves as Co-Lead of the Defence focus area, advising companies operating in security-sensitive and highly regulated sectors.

She advises national and international clients on all aspects of German and European foreign trade regulation, with a particular focus on export controls, sanctions, foreign direct investment (FDI) and compliance. Bettina has extensive experience with the German investment control regime and regularly advises on FDI filings as well as complex pre-transaction and pre- and post-merger due diligence processes. She represents clients in audits, administrative proceedings, and litigation and provides strategic advice throughout the entire transaction lifecycle.

A further key focus of her practice is compliance management systems (CMS). Bettina regularly conducts compliance reviews and advises on the design, optimization, and implementation of CMS in the areas of foreign trade, customs, and export control. She also supports clients in establishing appropriate business and compliance structures at both company and group level to prevent violations of trade and customs regulations.

Bettina is widely recognized as a trusted advisor in her field. In addition to her advisory work, she regularly publishes and lectures at universities. She is co-author of the leading practitioner’s textbook “Compliance im Außenwirtschaftsrecht”. Bettina has been recognized as “Women in Tax” and “Highly Regarded Practitioner” by ITR and as a Leading Advisor by Legal 500 in recent years.