PhD Marko Oldenburger

About PhD Marko Oldenburger

PhD Marko Oldenburger is a highly regarded German lawyer specializing in family and medical law. With decades of experience advising on parentage, surrogacy, and complex family law cases, he combines deep legal scholarship with practical expertise. 

His work spans private practice, academic research, and legislative advisory roles, making him a leading voice in the modernization of family law in Germany and beyond.

Education & Credentials

• Social Sciences  –  Hanover (1989 – 1996)
• Law Studies  –  Hanover (1990 – 1995)
• Legal Clerkship  –  OLG Celle (1995 – 1997)
• Admission to the Bar  –  1998
• Doctorate in Family Law  –  Child maintenance in England, Leibniz University Hannover (2013)
• Specialist Lawyer for Family Law (since 2006)
• Specialist Lawyer for Medical Law (since 2011)
• Specialist course in Mediation (2003)
• Specialist lawyer course in Tax Law (2008)

Professional Experience & Focus

• Self-employed Lawyer – Celle, specializing in family and medical law (1998–2010)
• Partner – Lehmann und Partner, Hannover (2010–2016)
• Specialist Lawyer – artvocati, Hannover (2016–2022)
• Head of Family Law Department – Rose & Partner, Hamburg (2019–2024)
• Academic & Research Roles:
  • Staff Member – Chair of Prof. Dr. Kühne, Leibniz University Hannover
  • Researcher – VW Foundation scholarship (impact research on court decisions)
  • Lecturer – ZEW, Leibniz University Hannover (2015–2019)
  • Lecturer – University of Münster, Institute for German and International Family Law (since 2023)

Specialties / Key Interests

• International family law and parentage law reform
• Surrogacy and cross-border parenthood recognition
• Medical law in reproductive contexts
• Child maintenance and custody law
• Modernization of family law systems in Germany and Europe
• Legal risk assessment for intended parents

Approach / Philosophy

Oldenburger combines deep academic research with practical case experience to offer clear, well-grounded legal solutions. His work focuses on making complex family and reproductive law accessible and secure for families navigating international systems.

How He Can Help Our Members

Within Family By Choice, Oldenburger advises on complex family and medical law issues, with a focus on surrogacy, parentage recognition, and cross-border legal strategies for intended parents.

Community Impact

• Member  –  Legislative Committee on Family Law, German Bar Association (DAV)
• Member  –  German Family Court Conference e.V.
• Member  –  Medical Law Working Group of the German Bar Association
• Lecturer and speaker at leading legal institutions and professional conferences, including Deutsche Anwaltsakademie and JFBA
• Frequent media expert on surrogacy and family law reforms (e.g., ARD, Deutsche Welle, Der Spiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung)
• Author of numerous monographs, commentaries, and journal articles on family and medical law, including modern parentage and surrogacy recognition
• LinkedIn profile