Regulation, product safety, and liability in the defence sector
Companies operating in the defence and security sector face a highly complex environment where product regulation, political considerations, and specific procurement structures are closely intertwined.
At the same time, an increasing number of companies from industries such as automotive, mechanical engineering, or textiles are entering this market — often without fully understanding its specific legal and regulatory requirements.
In addition to traditional defence products, this includes a growing number of dual-use goods, software solutions, and components originating from civilian industries.
We support companies in integrating legal and regulatory requirements early into product development, supply chain design, and distribution strategies — ensuring that products are compliant, robust, and fit for use in sensitive and highly regulated environments.
Our approach combines deep expertise in European product law with a strong understanding of industrial value chains and security-related applications.
Our Services
- Advice on product safety and marketability of defence and dual-use products within the EU
- Support with conformity assessments and regulatory compliance processes
- Product liability and risk assessment in safety-critical environments
- Drafting and negotiation of contracts across complex supply and value chains
- Legal support for integrating civilian components into defence systems
- Interface advice on export control, public procurement, and foreign investment regulations (in cooperation with partner law firms)
New market entrants and dual-use technologies
Alongside established defence companies, new market participants are increasingly entering the sector, often originating from civilian industries.
In particular, dual-use technologies — products and technologies that can be used for both civilian and military purposes — are driving new business models and raising complex legal questions.
The integration of such technologies into existing systems creates challenges in product safety, liability, and compliance. In addition, companies must navigate adjacent regulatory areas such as export controls, public procurement law, and ESG-related requirements.
We support our clients in addressing these challenges and ensure that relevant regulatory requirements are identified early and implemented in a legally sound manner.
Our Clients
Our Defence & Security practice advises companies that develop, manufacture, or supply products and technologies for military or security-related applications — ranging from established multinational corporations to start-ups.
We work both with traditional defence companies and with clients entering the sector from other industries, such as automotive, mechanical engineering, or apparel and equipment manufacturing.
In addition, we advise companies providing components, software, or technologies that are integrated into safety-critical or defence-related systems.
Contact us
Please feel free to reach out at any time if you have questions or would like to explore how we can support you. We are happy to discuss our approach with you in a personal conversation, answer your questions, and provide a tailored proposal for your organization.
