Christian Sprang celebrates anniversary

Dear Christian, you have been with the Börsenverein for 25 years now. That is a long time. When you started with us, did you think you would stay with the Börsenverein for so long?

Historically, the position of legal advisor to the Börsenverein has tended to be a long-term one, which was generally considered helpful. After all, as Goethe said, law and legislation drag on like an eternal illness. In this respect, various contacts made it clear to me during my application process that they were looking for someone who saw being a legal advisor not as a job, but as a lifelong position – and that's how it turned out for me.

How did it all start? How did you come to the Börsenverein?

I entered the industry in 1994. The Mainz-based music publisher Schott was looking for a legal advisor to serve as the publisher's right-hand man and found my profile as a lawyer and (doctoral) musicologist appealing. That's why, unlike all the other potential employers I interviewed with at the time, the publisher didn't even wait for me to finish my second state law exam, but offered me a contract right away. And I had six wonderful years at Schott Verlag, to which I still feel very connected today.

The move to the Börsenverein came about not least through a headhunter. After my time at the publishing house, I wanted to see something different again.

Do you remember your first day at work?

That was 2 January 2001. My predecessor, Dr Heker, who had just been promoted to managing director, showed me around the Buchhändlerhaus on Großer Hirschgraben, but on the day after New Year's Day, there was hardly anyone working there whom he could introduce me to.

In the autumn before – I had already signed my employment contract with the Börsenverein – all the media reported that the European Commission and the Federal Cartel Office had carried out a search of the Börsenverein's premises on suspicion of forming an illegal cartel to enforce fixed book prices. My brother, who had seen this on the news, called me in outrage, asking how I could leave a reputable music publisher to join such a band of thieves. And indeed, one of my first major tasks at the Börsenverein was to oversee the Brussels antitrust proceedings, which ended with a dismissal after a memorable course of events.

What were some particular highlights for you personally during these years?

There are so many that it is difficult to single out just a few. From a professional standpoint, these include various legislative procedures that I accompanied with statements and expert hearings in the Bundestag, as well as appearing as an expert witness in the Federal Constitutional Court's hearing on data retention. One highlight was certainly the successful fight orchestrated by the legal department on behalf of the German publisher industry against the Google Book Settlement, in which Jessica Sänger in particular rendered outstanding services. And, of course, the current issues surrounding artificial intelligence, which are being handled by Susanne Barwick in our team, are also exciting from a legal perspective.

I know you have a great passion for music. Do you spend your free time doing that? What do you like to do most when you're not working?

Due to increasing health problems, sport (swimming, gym and hiking) is not just a hobby for me, but also therapy, and it takes up a lot of time, even more than music. I also put a lot of effort into my share portfolio, since I discovered in recent years what interesting worlds lie behind the stock market. And after writing four booklets on unusual obituaries with my old university friend Matthias Nöllke for Kiepenheuer & Witsch, we want to publish a guide to quick-wittedness for lawyers with C.H. Beck this year. Not to mention: I've been a season ticket holder for Mainz 05 for over 30 years and spend a lot of time watching football.

What would your colleagues say about you?

As a manager? I'm quite sceptical about the effectiveness of management coaching etc. But there is one principle I believe in wholeheartedly: ‘Trust leads!’ I am convinced that trust in and appreciation of colleagues always comes back – and I think that's why everyone enjoys working in the legal department as much as I do.

What my colleagues would probably also say about me is that I am one of the biggest gluttons in the industry – and I'm afraid that might be true.