Dr Ute Jasper has been an attorney with Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek since 1991 and a partner since 1994. Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek is an independent law firm with more than 400 lawyers. Ute Jasper heads the public sector and procurement department. Working with the department, she has organised and implemented numerous projects for the government, as well as for large cities, counties and municipalities. These include large procurement procedures and investor competitions, as well as strategic partnerships in the fields of public transport, real estate, culture, sport, water, energy, construction, hospitals and waste disposal.

What inspired you to pursue a career in government contract law?
I was inspired by public-procurement law issues. Projects where legal advice was needed and that were subsidised by the public sector – that means paid through our taxes – were always interesting and complex. I wanted to be part of the political decisions and approaches in that area and decided for that reason to focus on it.

How has the coronavirus pandemic affected public procurement? Do you anticipate that some of these changes will be long term?
In our field, the coronavirus pandemic has, in fact, not had just a negative effect. We have been retained in many engaging and urgent cases – for instance, from federal ministries – involving expedited supplies of masks, PPE, etc. Throughout the pandemic we have been able to keep very many clients, and have received many new major projects as well.

Since 90 per cent of our projects are from returning clients, I am certain that some of these changes will be long term.

How is the increasing focus on sustainability and social impact influencing public procurement and contracts?
A lot! Sustainability is a huge responsibility for all of us! We ourselves have made it our responsibility in our team to integrate the subject “Green Procurement” into our projects. Sustainability, environmental protection and economical use of existing resources are incorporated into all of our projects.

What types of projects do you most enjoy working on?
To be honest, those that are difficult and complex, that require lots of creativity, problem-solving and a clear structure. I enjoy those the most!

To what extent has the shift to online working affected networking and business development opportunities?
As I mentioned above, 90 per cent of our team’s work is with repeat clients. For that reason, working online does not result in any great changes in business development. The market knows us and knows that we are available at all times online, and this helps to bring us new clients as well, especially at the federal level.

What are the advantages of having multiple domestic offices handling government contracts work?
It’s positive for both sides. One good example we’re working on right now. We are advising both of the universities of the German Federal Armed Forces, in Munich and Hamburg, with regard to various projects. The advantage is that we can apply some of the tested approaches for the respective other university, which saves time and money for both. Our teams can regularly consult with one another and there is a unified approach.

What challenges are you anticipating the field to encounter in the next couple of years?
The greatest challenge will be to promote the subjects of sustainability and energy efficiency and to ensure sensible ways to use new technologies.

What is the best piece of advice you have received?
Start with the most difficult things first and the rest will come.