Hengeler Mueller's fintech expertise extends to cover transaction support, regulatory and financial market supervisory issues as well as IT and data protection. The team is regularly instructed by major banks, fintechs and other financial services providers and most recently advised on issues pertaining to payment services. Fintech expert Christian Schmies boasts longstanding expertise in the development of novel payment systems, litigation as well as blockchain and crypto-related issues. Data protection and AI matters are key strengths of Vera Jungkind.

Latham & Watkins LLP's fintech experts act integrated into the financial institutions group, which is jointly headed by Axel Schiemann (crypto assets and fintech innovations) and Markus Krüger, who is well versed in transaction support to financial and fintech companies. Thanks to the international network, the team regularly acts across borders on behalf of investors, financial institutions and fintech companies and has recently increasingly been instructed by crypto trading platforms. Other mainstays include the advice on blockchain and cryptocurrency, the Payment Service Directive, transactions, data protection and the implementation of new business models; the practice also impresses with client-oriented tools.

Osborne Clarke's general expertise in technology and digitisation is regularly demonstrated by its banking and capital markets practice. Eric Romba leads the team, which advises various fintechs on BaFin licensing procedures, platform development and implementation as well as products and cooperations. These topics are also key strengths of Robert Oppenheim, who is well versed in regulatory matters, distributed ledger technologies and robo-advisors. Cryptocurrencies and digital distribution systems are another focus.

Led by Michael Jünemann, who is well versed in DLT, crypto and initial coin offerings (ICO), Bird & Bird LLP's team covers various fintech matters, including the support for international start-ups as well as credit and payment companies in BaFin procedures, the structuring and implementation of platforms and business models, including regulatory issues, as well as matters pertaining to blockchain and crypto assets. The latter area is a focus of Johannes Wirtz (fintech, insurtech and regtech) and associate Timo Förster, who offers additional expertise in tokenisation and smart contracts.

Greenberg Traurig Germany acts integrated into the international fintech practice and boasts expertise in licensing, product development, digital payment services and their structuring, cryptocurrencies and blockchain, including cross-border matters; these competencies are regularly drawn on by European and US companies as well as fintechs. Practice head Carsten Kociok was recently appointed co-chair of the international fintech practice and focuses on e-money, payment regulation, crypto, data protection and digital investments. The practice also covers regulatory aspects of market expansions and transactions, here, Viola Bensinger is a key contact.

Lindenpartners supports both banks in the digital transformation of their products and digital distribution processes, as well as fintechs, which draw on the team's regulatory, supervisory and licensing expertise as well as the support in business model structuring. Frank Zingel is a key contact here, he jointly heads the practice with Brigitta Varadinek, who focuses on digital fintech solutions. Jan Schmidt-Seidl is well versed in data protection law and regularly advises on organisational and regulatory issues in connection with fintech applications.

Linklaters follows an interdisciplinary approach and covers various financial technology issues, including capital markets and acquisition transactions, data protection and cyber security, digitisation projects as well as regulatory and licensing issues. Matters pertaining to DLT, cryptocurrencies and assets as well as tokenisation are core topics, where practice head and capital markets lawyer Christian Storck as well as Andreas Dehio frequently lead. The client roster consists of major banks, fintech start-ups, technology companies and financial infrastructure providers. Thomas Broichhausen boasts expertise in transaction support.

White & Case LLP traditionally focuses on transaction support, which also extends to the fintech sector, where the team advises national and international fintechs as well as various major banks and investors on acquisitions, financing rounds and capital markets transactions. Most recent instructions include the assistance with digitisation projects as well as regulatory and supervisory issues. Further competencies are crypto and blockchain-related matters, where renowned capital markets lawyer Karsten Wöckener regularly leads. Woldemar Häring is experienced in banking supervisory law, transactions as well as regulatory matters.

YPOG routinely advises a large number of fintechs on corporate and regulatory issues as well as financing rounds. The practice is well versed in the DLT and crypto context, where it advises on product-related issues, licensing and regulatory matters. Practice head Lennart Lorenz is a key contact for investment law matters and licensing procedures, while Carola Rathke and Anika Patz boast longstanding expertise in blockchain and crypto.

GSK Stockmann offers longstanding digitisation expertise, which is regularly requested by banks and fund companies as well as various fintechs. The team is led by Timo Bernau, who is experienced in robo-advice, and advises on blockchain, tokenisation and crypto-related matters as well as regulatory issues and the refinancing of platforms and start-ups. Financial regulatory lawyer Volker Baas moved to GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB as of counsel in December 2023.

Hogan Lovells International LLP advises associations, fintechs and banks as well as technology companies, which distribute products across the financial sector. The team advises on various topics in the fintech and banking segment, including product design and development, DLT, crypto issues as well as financing rounds. Banking supervisory lawyer and practice head Richard Reimer has longstanding expertise in licensing procedures pertaining to banking, financial and payment services. Financial market regulatory lawyer Sarah Wrage was appointed to partner in January 2024.