A FIRM THAT KEEPS GROWING.
BERLICHINGEN – established in the seventies, into the future with enthusiasm
Our history begins in 1975 when Götz-Ekkehart Freiherr von Berlichingen, who gave our firm its name, established an individual tax consultancy. What started out as a small firm has today become a modern professional partnership with four partners and a strong team. A team that has always aspired to be there for its clients on a personal level and in a reliable manner.
LOVER OF BALANCE SHEETS & POSITIVE THINKER
Hans Dohrndorf
Hans Dohrndorf has shaped Berlichingen since the early years of today’s partnership. After studying Business Administration in Lüneburg, he starts out as assistant auditor in a small auditing/tax consultancy firm in the city centre of Hamburg. Then and now, he enjoys working with balance sheets. At the same time, tax consultancy and the prospect of assuming entrepreneurial responsibility appeal to him.
In 1995, Götz-Ekkehart Freiherr von Berlichingen becomes aware of him through a “situation wanted” advertisement in the local newspaper Hamburger Abendblatt. The job in the relatively small firm at the time quickly develops into a real partnership: about two years after passing the examination for tax consultants, Hans Dohrndorf and Götz-Ekkehart Freiherr von Berlichingen set up today’s professional partnership and take over a tax consultancy practice together a short time later.
In terms of cooperation, Dohrndorf attaches great importance to communication and consensus. For him, different opinions are part of the game, but going it alone isn’t. This respectful approach and the trust placed in other people’ s abilities represent the Berlichingen spirit to this day.
As regards his private life, Hans Dohrndorf is married and father to four sons. He describes himself as calm, positive and down-to-earth. As somebody who likes to laugh, who loves his family and friends and is grateful for the life he has.
A FAN OF COMMUNICATION & GLOBETROTTER
André Karwath
André Karwath has been a partner at Berlichingen since 2007. When asked about his career, he replies: “I took the classic path”. What he means is that he underwent training, studied Business Administration in Wilhelmshaven, graduated with an MBA (Diplom-Kaufmann (FH)), then he worked as a tax consultant for one of the Big Four for almost ten years. However, figures alone have never been the most important thing in life to him – rather, the people behind them.
His hobby-horse is private asset management. In this connection, he especially values the individuality of his clients: “Each person is different, each family unique. This is what makes my profession so fascinating. There is no standard solution, you always have to take new paths.”
In general, families as clients are very important to him, e.g. in connection with a change of generation in the management of companies, capital accumulation and long-term planning.
Personal proximity is particularly important to him. He says: “Only when you really listen can you understand the whole situation, and only then are you able to develop good decisions jointly.”
As regards his private life, André Karwath is in a steady relationship and enjoys travelling with his partner to discover foreign countries and cultures.
DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTER & GROUP PERSON
Philipp Blank
Philipp Blank already becomes interested in tax consultancy while he is still at school, doing work experience in the city centre of Hamburg. He is fascinated by the combination of professional diversity, contact with clients and development prospects.
Although he already has a training contract with another firm in his pocket, he starts his three-part training consisting of vocational school, university and employment at Berlichingen in 2010. During the interview with Mr von Berlichingen and Hans Dohrndorf, it is apparent right from the start that both sides are interested in joint development.
This successful cooperation guides him all the way through his training as a tax assistant, the Bachelor’s degree course, the examination for tax consultants and the Master of Arts in Taxation obtained while working part-time, up to his partnership in the firm in 2023. His career path symbolizes openness, support, decisiveness and the possibility of continuous development.
It gives him great pleasure to actively support ambitious people who are eager to develop their skills and to assist and encourage them in their career in the firm – just as he experienced it.
In everyday work at the firm, Philipp Blank appreciates the common basis of values among the partners and the appreciative collaboration with employees and clients based on trust..
In his private life, Philipp Blank is a devoted uncle who has close ties with family and friends. He draws energy from community, journeys, new impressions and cultures. Standing still is not an option, neither privately nor professionally.
A FAN OF TECHNOLOGY & SPORT ENTHUSIAST
Stefan Cornils
Stefan Cornils has been with us since 2013 and became a partner in 2023. Having grown up in the small town of Husum, he feels the need to go out into the world. The three-part training in taxation consisting of vocational school, university and employment enables him to gain varied experience.
After transferring to a major tax consultancy firm in Hamburg, he quickly realizes that a flat hierarchy and the flexibility to translate new ideas into action are just as important to him as a family-like working environment. He found all these aspects in the firm of Berlichingen and has already been part of the team for more than 10 years.
At Berlichingen, Stefan Cornils mainly deals with assignments involving family structures and supports families and companies when a new generation takes over. In this context, he places special emphasis on an individual, personally tailored approach.
Since he started out as a tax consultant, he has been interested in the technical developments in the tax advice market. He looks closely to find out which digital solutions are suitable for which client and which innovations create real added value both for the clients and the firm.
Our clients appreciate his ability to develop practical solutions. He combines professional precision with a good eye for everything that really makes everyday work easier.
In his free time, Stefan Cornils enjoys doing sport. However, spending time with his two children is his top priority.
COMPANY VALUES
What makes us special
There is more to successful tax advice than just expertise. One important aspect is how you deal with people. For many years, we have promoted a culture of professionalism and humanity. A culture characterized by trust, openness and work on an equal footing – both within the team and with our clients.
SOCIAL COMMITMENT
Happiness multiplies when you share it
For us, social commitment is an essential part of our entrepreneurial responsibility. We want to provide support where help has a lasting effect and benefits people in concrete terms.
Our social commitment mainly focuses on donations to Hamburgische Kulturstiftung, Sternenbrücke, Kindsein Stiftung and the Herzensretter project. Each of these organizations makes a valuable contribution to our society in its own way – whether by promoting art and culture, by caring for children who are terminally ill as well as their families or by supporting children and teenagers.
We have additionally supported the Herzensretter project by arranging first aid courses for our employees. The special aspect of this training is that employers pay more than the usual fee on a voluntary basis in order to specifically support the initiative. As a result, Herzensretter is able to offer free first-aid courses in schools as well as nursery schools, among other things, thus raising awareness of life-saving measures among children and teenagers at an early stage.
CONTACT
The direct link for questions, communication or job applications
No matter what your query is – we are here for you. By telephone or e-mail, whichever you prefer.