Baker McKenzie acts integrated into the international network and offers comprehensive data protection support, including clients' representation in proceedings before supervisory authorities and the advice on European regulations such as the Data Act. The team is well versed in regulated sectors, particularly the financial industry as well as the medical device and telecoms sectors. Michael Schmidl is experienced in advising software and pharmaceutical companies and also covers matters at the interface between data protection and employment law. Schmidl jointly heads the team with Michaela Nebel, who is regularly instructed by financial institutions and technology companies on international data transfers. Florian Tannen focuses on cross-border matters and new digital business models.

Bird & Bird comprehensively advises clients, which also benefit from the cooperation with the international network, on all aspects of German and European data protection law and focuses on new business models, international data transfers and data protection in the context of AI. Accordingly, the team is regularly instructed by renowned international companies from the healthcare, automotive, finance and retail sectors. Fabian Niemann is experienced in supporting domestic and international technology projects and jointly heads the practice with Lennart Schüßler, who regularly leads in damages claims proceedings and advises on the commercial use of data in connection with social media and mobile apps. Simon Assion is a key contact for issues at the interface with IT and telecommunications law.

DLA Piper's data protection practice acts integrated into the Intellectual Property and Technology team, led by Stefan Engels (IP law), and assists with technology projects, transactions and digitisation issues, including cross-practice and cross-border support, as well as in proceedings before data protection authorities. The team acts with a focus on the automotive, financial services, healthcare and technology sectors. Verena Grentzenberg routinely advises on new business models in the digital segment and also represents clients in fine proceedings; her other key strengths include the support in big data projects and compliance issues.

Latham & Watkins LLP impresses with market-leading support in fines and claims for damages in connection with data breaches, which was most recently demonstrated in various proceedings before the European Court of Justice. Other mainstays include the advice on the deletion of data and information claims as well as the support in internal investigations and cross-border administrative proceedings. Practice head Tim Wybitul comprehensively advises on all aspects of data protection, cyber and technology law and most recently took the lead in proceedings before German and European data protection authorities pertaining to the processing of biometric data in the context of iris scans. Isabelle Brams also focuses on administrative and court proceedings and complements this with expertise in employee data protection. Ulrich Wuermeling retired in 2023.

Hogan Lovells International LLP is experienced in advising clients from the automotive and financial sectors, including the regulatory advise on the use and sharing of data as well as matters at the interface with cyber security, employment law and digital healthcare. Martin Pflüger and Stefan Schuppert increasingly advise on AI-related issues and jointly lead the team with Marcus Schreibauer, who regularly acts on behalf of medical device manufacturers, and Christian Tinnefeld; the latter regularly advises on international data transfers.

WilmerHale focuses on clients' representation in litigation, including damages claims and administrative proceedings; most recently, the team took the lead in various data protection proceedings before the ECJ. Other mainstays include the advice on mass proceedings against consumer protection associations and on European laws such as the Digital Services and Data Act. Martin Braun heads the group and impresses with expertise in international data transfers and social media-related matters.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP offers comprehensive cross-border support thanks to the international network and boasts expertise at the interface with cyber security and IT law, including the advice on European legislation such as the Data Act as well as compliance and data protection issues in connection with contract design. Practice head Christian Schröder is experienced in investigations by EU supervisory authorities and the negotiation of data transfer agreements. Yumiko Olsen (data protection and cyber security) moved to an in-house position in June 2024.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB regularly acts across the energy, infrastructure, real estate, financial services and technology sectors and boasts expertise in data protection and IT law and focuses on supporting companies in digital transformation, including regulatory matters. Here, practice head Stephan Appt is a key contact, he is additionally well versed in supporting clients from the automotive segment, which were recently advised on the implementation of the EU Data Act. Ruth Maria Bousonville (fintech) left the team in October 2023 for an in-house position.

Reed Smith advises on various data protection matters and increasingly focuses on data protection litigation and EU regulations; the team most recently advised on compliance, data protection concepts in the pharmaceutical industry, contract amendments and issues pertaining to user data. Also noteworthy is the team's expertise in data protection issues in the context of HR. Co-practice head Andreas Splittgerber routinely acts at the interface between contract law and data protection and jointly leads the team with IT expert Thomas Fischl, who is well versed in digitisation, digital media and data economy matters.

SCHÜRMANN ROSENTHAL DREYER boasts noteworthy expertise in IT contract law as well as experience in the comprehensive support of cyber crime matters, including data protection, and recently increasingly assisted with disputes and the defense against fines and damages claims. The practice is jointly led by Kathrin Schürmann (IT data protection and competition law), Simone Rosenthal, who focuses on IT and data protection aspects in connection with digital projects, and Philipp Müller-Peltzer; the latter is well versed in data analytics across the financial and insurance sectors.

White & Case LLP follows a cross-location approach thanks to the international network and is regularly instructed by international companies on various issues, including expertise in intra-group data transfers and clients' representation in fine proceedings as well as the support in data protection matters in the course of M&A transactions. Practice head Detlev Gabel combines know-how in technology law with expertise in data protection and routinely advises on cross-border data transfers.

Covington & Burling LLP is experienced in data protection and IT law and advises on autonomous driving, digital healthcare and also focuses on patient data protection in the context of clinical trials. Lars Lensdorf regularly acts across the banking and financial services sectors and jointly leads the team with Moritz Hüsch, who is experienced in technology transactions and data protection aspects of licensing agreements.

Eversheds Sutherland advises companies from the aviation and automotive industries on digitisation projects, including the support in recent legislation such as the Data Act, as well as on compliance issues. The team follows an interdisciplinary approach, which includes the expertise in data protection as well as IT and cyber security, and is well versed in the TMT, retail and life sciences sectors. Practice head Alexander Niethammer is a key contact for cross-border matters, including M&A transactions and technology transfers.

Morrison Foerster focuses on cross-border matters, particularly in connection with Asia and the US, and is also experienced in dealing with German and European data protection authorities. Most recently, the team was instructed by national and international companies on data protection matters pertaining to product launches as well as clients' representation in various fine proceedings. Another mainstay and key strength of practice head Hanno Timner is the advice on matters at the interface with employment law, such as works council agreements and whistleblowing tools.

Ashurst LLP is well versed in advising on data-driven business models and service offerings. Further mainstays include the support in current legislation matters and international data transfers. Andreas Mauroschat heads the data protection practice, which acts integrated into the firm's Digital Economy Group led by Alexander Duisberg (IT and data law). Roman Brtka (IP law) joined the group from Bird & Bird LLP in May 2024.

Clifford Chance significantly strengthened its advisory capacities in 2023 with the addition of new practice head Holger Lutz and various team members from Baker McKenzie. The team advises on employee data protection, whistleblowing and big data. Lutz covers various topics, including comprehensive support in IP issues as well as the design of hardware and software contracts; he most recently assisted with data collection reporting obligations in the context of autonomous driving.

Dentons is experienced in data protection governance structures, data breach response as well as clients' representation in disputes; the most recent instruction also include the support in various individual data protection issues such as access to personal data or the use of patient data. Practice head Christian Schefold focuses on compliance and corporate governance, while the arrival of Philipp Byers in May 2023 from Watson Farley & Williams LLP strengthened the team's existing competencies in employee data protection.

Greenberg Traurig Germany covers a wide range of topics, including focus areas such as the support in international data transfers and data-driven business models as well as contract design and the assessment of data analytics models. Practice head Viola Bensinger comprehensively covers data protection matters with a focus on the use of data, compliance and data protection in the context of corporate transactions.

GSK Stockmann focuses on advising technology companies and start-ups from the financial and mobility sectors as well as the support in GDPR compliance and the data protection compliant design of digital business models and platforms, which was most recently demonstrated in the context of data protection declarations and advice on the Data Act. The practice is jointly led by Jörg Kahler (IT and data protection law) and Katy Ritzmann, who is well versed in cyber security matters.

lindenpartners demonstrates particular expertise in advising clients from the financial industry, which includes both banking groups and fintech players, on data protection in connection with digitisation projects and the representation in official proceedings and subsequent court, fine and administrative proceedings. The team is jointly led by Jan Schmidt-Seidl, who regularly acts at the interface between data protection and banking law, and Moritz Indenhuck, who focuses on the use of training data for new AI models.

Oppenhoff offers an interdisciplinary approach, which includes the support in outsourcing projects as well as the advice to clients from the insurance sector on data-driven business models and the use of healthcare data. Most recently, the team took the lead in appeals proceedings against authorities' decisions and also increasingly advised on compliance issues. Jürgen Hartung jointly heads the practice with Marc Hilber (technology transactions) and is well versed in internal investigations and matters pertaining to data misuse.

Redeker Sellner Dahs focuses on public law and regulatory issues and offers additional expertise in current European legislation as well as the support in disputes. Practice head Cornelius Böllhoff regularly leads in regulatory proceedings and is experienced in digitisation projects as well as matters pertaining to the healthcare sector.