In our TransporTrends series, we provide information together with the Kompetenznetz Logistik.NRW / LOG-IT Club e.V. we regularly inform you about current topics, decisions and trends in transport and logistics law – today it’s about the new special jurisdiction for freight, forwarding and warehousing business in NRW at Aachen Regional Court and Cologne Higher Regional Court. What is important for companies in the freight, forwarding and warehousing sector to know here is summarized by Dr. Jan Hermeling from our Transport & Logistics competence team.
Since 01.07.2025, companies in the freight, forwarding and warehousing business must be prepared for the fact that legal disputes in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) must be conducted primarily before the Regional Court of Aachen and the Higher Regional Court of Cologne.
The Ministry of Justice of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia has stipulated in the second ordinance amending the Ordinance on Jurisdiction of the Courts of 3 June 2025 that the Regional Court of Aachen will have jurisdiction for all legal disputes (insofar as the regional court limit of EUR 5,000.00 is exceeded) arising from forwarding and freight transactions relating to cross-border freight transport by road (CMR) and rail (CIM). In addition, the Cologne Higher Regional Court will be responsible for all appeal and complaint proceedings in cross-border and national legal disputes arising from freight, forwarding and warehousing transactions. The two special jurisdictions result from the newly created Section 28a JuZuVO NRW and apply to proceedings initiated after 01.07.2025.
The regulation is intended to restructure logistics and transport law in NRW by focusing on expertise, process optimization and legal reliability. The aim: clarity for companies, faster procedures and expert jurisdiction – with Aachen and Cologne as the new central points of contact for the industry.
What needs to be considered in practice?
Contractual partners can continue to determine the jurisdiction of any court within the framework of agreements on the place of jurisdiction. However, if this is a court in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Regional Court of Aachen must be called upon in cross-border CMR and CIM cases. The special jurisdiction takes precedence. Since short limitation periods must always be observed, even in cross-border transport law, it is highly relevant in practice to observe this special feature in disputes.
The author and your usual contacts will be happy to answer any questions you may have!
Dr. Jan Hermeling
hermeling@tigges.legal
+49 211 8687 138