European battery supply chain: Clifford Chance advises Volkswagen Group on strategic expansion of battery partnership between PowerCo and Gotion 30.9.2026 Jörg Rhiel | Clifford Chance Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Volkswagen Group on the deepening of its strategic partnership between PowerCo Group and Gotion High-tech. Building on their cooperation since 2020, the companies have agreed to expand their long-standing partnership to include the industrial production of LFP battery cells and cathode active materials, and to accelerate the development of a regional battery supply chain for Europe. The agreement remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, including approval by the Gotion shareholders’ meeting. Die globale Anwaltskanzlei Clifford Chance hat die Volkswagen Gruppe bei der Vertiefung ihrer strategischen Partnerschaft zwischen der PowerCo Gruppe und Gotion High-tech beraten. Die Unternehmen haben vereinbart, ihre seit 2020 bestehende Zusammenarbeit auf die industrielle Produktion von LFP-Batteriezellen und Kathodenmaterial auszuweiten und den Aufbau einer regionalen Batterie-Lieferkette für Europa zu beschleunigen. Die Vereinbarung steht unter dem Vorbehalt behördlicher Genehmigungen und üblicher Vollzugsbedingungen, einschließlich der Zustimmung der Hauptversammlung von Gotion. At the core of the transaction is the establishment of three joint ventures at the Valencia, Spain, Šurany, Slovak Republic, and Kenitra, Morocco sites. The international Clifford Chance team was led by partner Jörg Rhiel and included senior associate Felix Groppenbächer, of counsel Frank Scholderer (all Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), partner Thomas Voland and senior associate Laura-Isabell Dietz (both Corporate/Regulatory, Düsseldorf), partner Holger Lutz, counsel Michael Kümmel and associate Stephanie Giek (all Commercial Contracts, Frankfurt), partners Dominik Engl and tax consultant Leonie Gebauer (both Tax, Frankfurt and Munich), partner Bettina Steinhauer and partner (Germany) Christoph Nensa (both Debt Finance, Frankfurt), partner Nicolas Cookson (Project Development, Finance, Düsseldorf), counsel Amrei Fuder (Real Estate, Frankfurt), partner Claudia Milbradt, counsel Nicolas Hohn-Hein, associate Yannick Dabie (all IP, Düsseldorf). Furthermore, the firm's global team comprised partner Guillermo Guardia (Corporate, Barcelona), partner Pablo Serrano de Haro and counsel Fernando Escribano (both Tax, Madrid), partner Frédéric Giancarli, associate Aolaia Snaiba (both Corporate, Casablanca); partner Michal Jasek (Corporate/M&A), senior associate Simona Rapavá (Finance) and junior lawyer David Herich (all Prague); partner Edward Bretherton, senior associate Tom Pemberton (both Real Estate, London), partner Valerie Kong, senior associate Lewin Lim (both Corporate, Singapore) as well as partners Kelly Gregory (Corporate), Julia Peng (Disputes, both Shanghai) and counsel Fang Bao (Corporate, Beijing). Inhouse advice at Volkswagen Group was provided by Tim Jonas Haack and Sina Becker. Press contact: Nadja Fersch Kern der Transaktion ist die Gründung von drei Joint Ventures an den Standorten Valencia in Spanien, Šurany in der Slowakischen Republik und Kenitra in Marokko. Das internationale Clifford Chance Team stand unter der Leitung von Partner Dr. Jörg Rhiel und umfasste Senior Associate Felix Groppenbächer, Of Counsel Dr. Frank Scholderer (alle Corporate/M&A, Frankfurt), Partner Dr. Thomas Voland und Senior Associate Laura-Isabell Dietz (beide Corporate/Regulatory, Düsseldorf), Partner Dr. Holger Lutz, Counsel Dr. Michael Kümmel und Associate Stephanie Giek (alle Commercial Contracts, Frankfurt), Partner Dr. Dominik Engl und Tax Consultant Leonie Gebauer (beide Tax, Frankfurt und München), Partnerin Dr. Bettina Steinhauer und Partner (Germany) Christoph Nensa (beide Debt Finance, Frankfurt), Partner Nicolas Cookson (Project Development Finance, Düsseldorf), Counsel Amrei Fuder (Real Estate, Frankfurt), Partnerin Dr. Claudia Milbradt, Counsel Dr. Nicolas Hohn-Hein und Associate Yannick Dabie (alle IP, Düsseldorf). Aus dem globalen Netzwerk der Kanzlei berieten zudem Partner Guillermo Guardia (Corporate, Barcelona), Partner Pablo Serrano de Haro und Counsel Fernando Escribano (beide Tax, Madrid), Partner Frédéric Giancarli und Associate Aolaia Snaiba (beide Corporate, Casablanca); Partner Michal Jasek (Corporate/M&A), Senior Associate Simona Rapavá (Finance) und Junior Lawyer David Herich (alle Prag); Partner Edward Bretherton, Senior Associate Tom Pemberton (beide Real Estate, London), Partner Valerie Kong, Senior Associate Lewin Lim (beide Corporate, Singapur) sowie die Partner Kelly Gregory (Corporate), Julia Peng (Disputes, beide Shanghai) und Counsel Fang Bao (Corporate, Peking). Inhouse berieten bei der Volkswagen Gruppe Dr. Tim Jonas Haack und Sina Becker. Press contact: Nadja Fersch https://www.cliffordchance.com/news/news/2026/09/european-battery-supply-chain-clifford-chance-advises-volkswagen-group-on-strategic-expansion-of-battery-partnership-between-powerco-and-gotion.html