The law of opposites Sven Burchartz
Lawyer, motorsport enthusiast, and heartfelt Porsche lover, Sven Burchartz has a passion for engineering and fast cars. Sven traces his path from childhood to the present – including Porsche’s enduring impact on his life.
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ven is now a veteran of his profession. ‘Starting when I was 23, my career in law now spans 34 years,’ he says. ‘Beginning as a litigation lawyer, I went on to also become a commercial lawyer and negotiator. ‘I left the firm I began with 10 years ago to start my own boutique commercial law firm and shortly after, together with a couple of colleagues we formed Kalus Kenny Intelex,’ Sven continues. ‘I now act for a range of businesses large and small, investment funds, advising their owners and managers on a range of commercial disputes and transactions.’ As Partner with his own firm, Sven encounters a diverse range of daily challenges. ‘The core of my job is fixing problems,’ he says. ‘I handle commercial disputes, which are multi-faceted, both legally and emotionally. Working with corporate groups as well as large families, I help people navigate through these conflicts, overseeing outcomes where everyone looks to walk away satisfied.’
Although his clientele ranges from families to international venture capital funds, some aspects of Sven’s work remain constant. ‘The most enjoyable part of being a lawyer is learning so much about how things work in the world,’ he says. Always keen to expand his interests, Sven is also Director and part-owner of Tickford Racing, a leading Supercars team. While law and motorsport may seem like an unusual combination, Sven expertly combines them. ‘Tickford has a very strong management and ingenuity team,’ he says. ‘My other Director and co-owner, Rod Nash, is responsible for how the team operates, with my technical involvement mainly extending to congratulating the drivers on their results!’ Yet this isn’t the whole story of Sven’s motorsport involvement, as we’ll soon learn.
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