Subsequently, he held a scholarship from the Studienstiftung, with whose support he graduated with a master's degree from the Harvard Law School in 1974.
Until 1993, he was a partner at a law firm in Munich and until 1997, managing director of a real estate and hotel company.
[3][7] He specialized in advising family businesses, corporate acquisitions, tax law, foundations and trusts.
[9] Pöllath became known as an advisor to the Herz family, which appointed him interim chief executive officer of Tchibo Holding AG, in 2002.
The tax rebate negotiated with the authorities by the Engelhorn family is said to amount to around 135 million Euro.