Lead difficult negotiations to success with the innovative Driver’s Seat concept.
The Driver’s Seat concept is the first and only negotiation framework built on three strategies. It is both practice-oriented and grounded in scientific research.
The Driver-Seat concept
Developed by Dr. Herrmann Rock, the Driver’s Seat concept represents a rigorous and practice-proven approach to managing complex negotiations in high-stakes environments such as M&A. Combining his expertise as a lawyer, negotiation specialist, and seasoned practitioner with experience from over 150 transactions, Rock brings together legal precision, strategic clarity, and real-world applicability.
At the core of the Driver’s Seat concept are three clearly defined strategies that together form a structured framework for successful negotiation management. Rather than relying on intuition or isolated tactics, the concept provides a systematic way to prepare, steer, and close negotiations - always with a clear focus on protecting interests while fully considering legal implications. It reflects a deep understanding of competitive B2B negotiations and the dynamic nature of transactional settings.
What distinguishes the Driver’s Seat concept is its combination of scientific foundation and hands-on applicability. It explains not only which strategies and tactics to use, but why they work - enabling professionals to adapt them confidently to different negotiation scenarios. This makes it particularly relevant for M&A professionals, where decisions are complex, time-critical, and often legally sensitive.
20 Years of Expertise in Strategic Negotiation
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Hermann Rock has built extensive expertise in strategic negotiation through his work as an M&A lawyer. He has advised on more than 150 M&A transactions and has personally drafted and negotiated more than 80 share purchase agreements, guiding transactions from the Letter of Intent through to Closing.
In addition, Dr. Rock has drafted and successfully negotiated numerous shareholders' agreements with management teams, as well as a broad range of transaction-related agreements, including managing director service agreements, consulting agreements, and other key commercial contracts.
Beyond transaction structuring and contract drafting, Dr. Rock has extensive experience in dispute resolution. In particular, he has successfully resolved shareholder disputes through negotiation, avoiding court proceedings and preserving commercial relationships wherever possible.
Dr. Rock has also acted in and advised on arbitration proceedings, particularly in the area of post-M&A disputes. His deep understanding of how conflicts arise and are resolved enables him to anticipate potential issues during the drafting and negotiation process. This forward-looking approach allows him to structure agreements that not only protect his clients' interests but also minimize the risk of future disputes.
Events
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14 SEP – 17 SEP 2026 | DEmandaco EventsKommunikations- & Verhandlungstraining
St. Gallen Business School
Das 4-tägige Trainingsseminar der St. Gallen Business School bietet einen klaren Fokus auf Führungskräfte und Kommunikation im geschäftlichen Bereich.Type: Offline / LocalSign up now -
16 JUN 2026 | DEmandaco EventsVerhandlungstraining
#mandaconnect
Strategische Verhandlungen gehören zu den zentralen Erfolgsfaktoren im M&A – insbesondere in komplexen, dynamischen Transaktionsprozessen mit hohem wirtschaftlichem und rechtlichem Druck.Type: Offline / LocalSign up now
Herrmann Rock
rock@rock-negotiation.de
+49 151 240 85 629