Baker McKenzie follows an interdisciplinary approach, which focuses on advising clients from regulated industries such as the pharmaceutical sector, and covers regulatory matters, digital platforms and distribution models as well as AI. The team is also experienced across the financial and automotive sectors, where it recently advised on issues pertaining to connected cars. Michael Schmidl is renowned for his longstanding and comprehensive expertise in data protection and IT law, which is complemented by competencies at the interface with employment law, and jointly heads the practice with Michaela Nebel, who, in addition to data protection, has particular expertise in the Digital Services Act. Florian Tannen is well versed in the introduction of digital products and software solutions.

Bird & Bird's team acts in close cooperation with IT experts across the international network and advises multinational companies from various industries on matters with a pronounced technology focus; the mainstays include cloud computing, machine learning and robotics. Noteworthy is the combination of comprehensive IT law capacities with financial regulatory expertise as well as matters pertaining to the Cyber ​​Resilience Act. The practice is headed by Fabian Niemann, whose international technology and data protection project support also covers related contract design, and Henriette Picot, who is well versed in software development as well as litigation. Lennart Schüßler is a key contact for contractual and regulatory matters pertaining to digital media and e-commerce.

Hogan Lovells International LLP covers various topics, including the advice on the implementation of the NIS-2 Directive and other aspects of cyber security as well as the drafting of licensing agreements, the latter frequently pertain to software use as well as products from the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain segments. Among the client roster are companies from the automotive and healthcare sectors, which also benefit from IT-related transaction support. Christian Tinnefeld covers matters pertaining to machine learning, software development and cloud computing, while Marcus Schreibauer is a key contact for clients from the insurance and finance segments. Both jointly lead the group with Martin Pflüger and Stefan Schuppert, who also head the firm’s AI practice. Counsel Sarah-Lena Kreutzmann is well versed in negotiating technology-related contracts.

DLA Piper follows a full-service approach, which includes cross-border capacities and longstanding expertise across the finance, regulatory, tax and M&A areas. Led by Stefan Engels (IP law), the firm offers comprehensive support and is well versed in transactions in connection with transitional services agreements and feasibility studies as well as digital business models and clients' representation in disputes. Jan Geert Meents is experienced in cloud computing issues, while Jan Pohle focuses on cyber security and data protection.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB routinely acts across the energy, infrastructure, real estate, financial services and technology sectors and impresses with expertise in e-mobility, software licensing and technologically-related contracts, which forms a part of the comprehensive and cross-border advisory offering. Practice head Stephan Appt focuses on the automotive industry and also heads the firm's cyber practice.

Most recently, Reed Smith advised on platforms,including regulatory aspects in the context of the Digital Services Act, and also focused on litigation, such as proceedings regarding reimbursement and licensing, while also comprehensively covering interfacing data protection matters. Thomas Fischl is experienced in supporting digitisation projects and negotiating cloud and licensing agreements; the latter jointly leads the team with Andreas Splittgerber, who is well versed in the legal assessment of new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).

 

White & Case LLP impresses with particular expertise in the automotive and financial industries, where the team recently advised on software updates in diesel vehicles and regulatory requirements for payment service providers, including matters pertaining to the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). Other mainstays include the advice on cloud computing, outsourcing and the comprehensive support in contract drafting, such as software licensing and R&D agreements; clients also benefit from cross-border competencies thanks to the international network. Practice head Jost Kotthoff is well versed in technology transactions and IT infrastructure outsourcing and regularly takes the lead in cross-border matters.

Covington & Burling LLP routinely acts across the financial and life sciences sectors and focuses on cloud issues and European legislation such as the Digital Services Act as well as the Digital Markets Act. Lars Lensdorf boasts expertise at the interface between IT and banking supervisory law and jointly leads the team with Moritz Hüsch; the latter is well versed in technology transactions and licensing agreements.

Greenberg Traurig Germany offers a full-service approach, which is based on interdisciplinary advice and the cooperation with experts from the firm's international network. Among the client roster are start-ups as well as international technology companies, which the team supports in IT-related transactions, the regulatory framework in connection with product launches as well as clients' representation in litigation. Practice head Viola Bensinger covers various topics and is experienced in technology transactions, digitisation and software development projects.

Lindenpartners focuses on supporting data-driven financial industry players, where the team, led by Jan Schmidt-Seidl and Moritz Indenhuck, advises on regulatory and technological aspects in the context of new technologies. The latter is a key strength of Indenhuck, who is a qualified software developer; he also focuses on IT contract design. Most recently, the team advised on the development and sale of software solutions in the logistics sector as well as a business model pertaining to the Internet of Things (IoT) in the industrial segment.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP focuses on the healthcare and media sectors, where the team boasts expertise in IT-related market entries as well as clients' representation in contentious proceedings, most recently in connection with a browser extension for suppressing advertising; further mainstays include the drafting of licensing, end-user and e-commerce agreements. Practice head Wolfgang von Frentz regularly supports transactions and new business models.

Oppenhoff offers combined expertise in IT law and data protection and supports clients with cyber security, outsourcing and compliance matters and is particularly well versed in contractual matters such as the negotiation of software implementation agreements . The team focuses on the insurance sector, where the support for the outsourcing of insurance activities and digitisation projects are among the core topics. Marc Hilber jointly heads the practice with Jürgen Hartung and is experienced in technology transactions, while Hartung advises on data protection, outsourcing and e-commerce. Valentino Halim joined from WilmerHale in April 2024 and strengthened the team's capacities in data protection and IT security law.

TCI Rechtsanwälte recently increasingly assisted with cloud computing, digitisation projects and dispute resolution and impresses with expertise at the interface with procurement law. Carsten Gerlach, Stephan Schmidt and Thomas Stögmüller jointly head the practice and are all experienced in IT contract law, which is a core focus and regularly demonstrated in the drafting of licensing and project agreements.

Deloitte Legal Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH combines expertise in data protection and IT law with IP capacities and is experienced in advising on red teaming assignments, software licensing disputes and provider contracts. Till Contzen assists with the outsourcing of IT services and the digitisation of business processes and also focuses on IT solutions such as ERP and CRM systems.

SCHÜRMANN ROSENTHAL DREYER comprehensively covers the entire spectrum of IT contract law issues and focuses on digital healthcare and AI. The team fields a dispute resolution group, where clients are supported in the enforcement of as well as defense against claims, such as in connection with SaaS contracts. The group is headed by Kathrin Schürmann (IT, data protection and competition law), Jan O. Baier (copyright and media law) and Simone Rosenthal; the latter is well versed in IT and licensing contracts as well as digital projects.