In his capacity as portfolio manager of complex finance products, Mr. Balz has worked in the field of German and international commercial law for many years. He held executive positions in financial institutions and currently is a Managing Director with Erste Abwicklungsanstalt (wind-down agency of former WestLB). His responsibilities focus among others on the development of litigation strategies in connection with the initiation or defense of lawsuits. This includes the selection of external counsel as well as the steering of international project teams in context of complex litigation cases. Throughout his professional carrier, Mr. Balz has steered lawsuits in all relevant U.S. jurisdictions as well as in the U.K. in the areas of structured finance and anti-trust laws.

Following his intermediate diploma in industrial engineering in Hamburg, Mr. Balz obtained a Master of Economics degree from Universite Aix-Marseille as well as an MBA degree in Banking and Finance.