Dr Markus Kaum, LL M (Cantab) is a German Rechtsanwalt
(attorney at law) since 1991. He studied law in Regensburg,
Munich and Cambridge, passed his 2nd state examination in
1990, and in 1992 his Master of Laws in Cambridge, England,
and his Juris Doctor in Munich.
He has worked in London and Brussels for a first tier German
law firm and joined Siemens AG as Head of Corporate and M &
A Law in 1996. 2001 he moved to Infineon Technologies AG as
Head of Corporate, Finance and Capital Markets Laws and in
2006 to Munich Re AG as Head of Corporate Governance,
Company Law, Capital Markets and Finance Law, General
Meeting and Retail Investor Relations. In December 2019 he
joined Mariacher.
Markus Kaum is a leading expert in corporate governance, stock corporation and general company law, capital markets and finance law. He advises entreprises and investors in all aspects of governance, among those Dax 30 companies and start up companies which are on the going public path in structuring their corporate governance. He also advises investors, both institutional and private, from their governance and engagement guidelines to questions of exercising their shareholders rights with the goal of establishing a better governance at portfolio companies to create sustainable value. He uses a holistic approach which addresses the strengths and weaknesses of an entreprise in the concrete situation as well as the interests of stake holders to create the best solution for his clients.
His company law work is focussed on advising management and supervisory boards on „high end“ legal questions including investigations of management responsibility and providing expert opinions to the institutions of a stock corporation and/or its owners. Basis of this work is the holistic approach which combines best legal quality with economic creativity and common sense of judgement. He also structures innovative management share and option plans which combine the incentive effect on the beneficiaries with the protection of the financial statements of the companies.
Markus Kaum is also a leading expert in European company and capital markets law with a focus on „post trade“, i.e. the legal questions around the cross border exercise of shareholders rights and the provision of services by and for intermediaries. He is Chairman of the „Joint Working Group on General Meetings“ and is or was a member of several other European expert and working groups (e.g. the „Corporate Actions Joint Working Group“, the „Expert Group on Technical Aspects of Corporate Governance“ of the European Commission, the „European Post Trade Group“ and the „European Post Trade Forum“). His profound knowledge oft he European framework and landscape not only of all its legal aspects but also relevant market practices and voluntary rules are the basis of comprehensive and pragmatic advice to companies, investors and associations.
Markus Kaum advises private investors and family offices in the structuring of their portfolios and companies and the exercise of their owners rights. He also works on questions of succession planning and adequate solutions for complex family structures. One option he provides is individual support and mentoring (also in the legal sense) if this is asked for by private individuals.