Andreas Geiger (lobbyist)

Andreas Geiger is a German lawyer and lobbyist specializing in government relations within the European Union (EU).
==Life and Career==
Andreas Geiger is the founder and managing partner of Alber & Geiger, a Brussels-based lobbying law firm, which is recognized as the first law firm specializing in government relations in the EU. The firm is ranked as one of the leading lobbying firms in Germany and the EU.
====Early Career====
He began his career in the cabinet of the Advocate General at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. He then became a lawyer at the international law firm Taylor Wessing, based in Düsseldorf and Brussels, focusing on competition and state aid issues. Later, he became head of the EU Law Center at Ernst & Young in Brussels, where he worked on EU competition policy, telecommunications, tax harmonization, right of establishment, transport policy, free movement of services, free movement of goods, consumer protection, and environmental policy.
====Lobbying Career====
Before founding Alber & Geiger, Andreas Geiger was the European head of the American lobbying firm Cassidy & Associates in Brussels.
==Founding of Alber & Geiger==
In 2007, Andreas Geiger co-founded a new government relations law firm named Alber & Geiger with former Advocate General Siegbert Alber. The firm is regarded as one of the leading EU lobbying firms and is known for representing both foreign governments and blue-chip companies in politically sensitive matters. In an interview with journalist Paul Holmes, Geiger explained that he was convinced "this step allows us to create a fully lobbying-focused law firm, which is common in Washington D.C. but completely new in Brussels." The motivation for this venture was his belief that "this kind of legal lobbying provides greater value to our clients."
===Professional Views===
Throughout his lobbying career, Andreas Geiger has taken a clear stance on the EU Transparency Register. He advocated for requiring lawyers to disclose clients and meetings with EU officials, and called for a lobbying register in Germany as well. His firm is one of the few in the European Union that publicly discloses the lobbying work done for clients.Emilia Korkea-aho: . In: . Band 22, Nr. 1, Januar 2021, ISSN 2071-8322, S. 65–84, doi:10.1017/glj.2020.97.
Geiger has commented on the issue of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and the EU in an article for The Hill. He emphasized that TTIP was an opportunity to overcome the EU's opposition to GMOs by working directly and meaningfully with EU institutions and regulators.
In the book Lobbykratie, Andreas Geiger is mentioned as an exception among lobbyists due to his openness and willingness to speak publicly about his work.
He is frequently consulted by major publications and others for his expert insights on lobbying and EU government relations.
===Profile as an EU Lobbyist===
Geiger served as the managing partner representing the Bulgarian government on EU funds matters. Under his leadership, the firm won the Flock case against Microsoft.
His clients also include Chinese technology companies Huawei and Xiaomi, whom he represented on computer security and EU relations. After the release of the Panama Papers, he represented the state of Panama.
He has also represented Morocco in the Western Sahara conflict, the Teflon manufacturer Chemours, as well as the tobacco and gambling industries. Additionally, his firm has represented American energy interests in the Balkan region against Russian influence and supported the Indian government in free trade agreement negotiations with the EU.
==Publications==
In 2012, Geiger published the EU Lobbying Handbook, a guide to lobbying in Brussels. The book is based on his personal lobbying experiences and provides readers with insights into the intricacies of European politics and the daily challenges of an EU lobbyist.Andreas Geiger: 1. Auflage. Helios Media, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-9811316-0-4.
Category:German lawyers
Category:German people
Category:Lobbyists