My Profile

Dr. Ulrich Müller

Interim General Counsel · M&A Advisor · Legal Transformation Expert

My Approach

Experience that delivers directly.

I have spent over 25 years in the legal departments of some of Germany's most recognised companies — as Senior Legal Counsel at BMW, as Group General Counsel at Süd-Chemie/Clariant, and finally as Group GC and Head of IP at OSRAM.

I have built and led international legal departments with more than 100 staff, guided over 50 M&A transactions on buy and sell side, and served as Chief Compliance Officer for several years.

Since 2020, I put this experience to work as an independent consultant — for companies that need genuine Legal Leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. I take over, negotiate and execute. Not just advisory.

What sets me apart: I have advised DAX corporations, but I speak the language of the mid-market. I understand complex legal matters — and explain them in a way that enables decision-makers to act.

Dr. Ulrich Müller
At a Glance
Location
Munich | DACH-wide
Independent since
Jan. 2020
Languages
German (native)
English (business fluent)
Degrees
Dr. jur. magna cum laude
College of Europe
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Career

Three Decades at the Top

Jan. 2020 – present
Interim General Counsel | M&A Advisor | Legal Transformation Expert
Dr. Müller Law · Independent · Munich Metropolitan Area

Advising Private Equity portfolios, mid-market companies and scale-ups as Interim General Counsel, M&A Advisor and strategic legal partner on demand. Flexible engagement from 2 days/week to full-time, remote or on-site, DACH-wide and international.

Jan. 2020 – May 2023
General Counsel / Chief Compliance Officer
PharmaLex (PE Portfolio) · Munich · Hybrid

General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for an internationally growing PE portfolio company in the Regulatory & Compliance Services sector for the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry.

Oct. 2011 – Jan. 2020 · 8 years 4 months
Group General Counsel / Head of Legal / Head of IP
OSRAM · MDAX Corporation · Munich

Group General Counsel, Head of Legal and Head of IP for the international lighting technology group OSRAM (MDAX, up to €4.1bn revenue, over 30,000 group employees). Responsibility for the global legal function (Legal, IP, Compliance, Insurance, Corporate Office) with 120+ direct staff.

Dec. 2004 – Oct. 2011 · 6 years 11 months
Group General Counsel
Süd-Chemie AG (later Clariant) · Munich

Group General Counsel for the international speciality chemicals group Süd-Chemie (later acquired by Clariant, 4,000+ group employees, €1.2bn revenue). Building and leading the legal department, as well as guiding the acquisition by Clariant.

Dec. 1994 – Dec. 2004 · 10 years 1 month
Senior Legal Counsel
BMW Group · DAX Corporation · Munich

Ten years as Senior Legal Counsel for the global automotive group BMW Group. Foundation for deep corporate legal practice at one of Germany's most significant DAX companies.

Academic Background

Education & Qualifications

1993 – 1995

Dr. jur. magna cum laude

Goethe University Frankfurt

Doctorate in commercial and competition law with distinction (magna cum laude). Dissertation: "Die Handelsvertretung im EG-Kartellrecht" (Commercial Agency in EC Competition Law)

1989 – 1990

Diploma in European Law

College of Europe, Bruges

Postgraduate studies in European Law at one of Europe's most prestigious institutions for European legal studies.

April 2026

Master Business with AI (MBAI)

Leaders of AI / Hochschule Fresenius

Practice-oriented programme on the strategic integration of generative AI in organisations and legal processes. Learn more →

Let's get acquainted.

An initial conversation is without obligation and strictly confidential. I listen.

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