IT & Telecommunications

Digitalization is ubiquitous. IT has become a central area of corporate development and infrastructure and thus a major success factor. The networking that accompanies digitalization represents opportunity and risk. Marketing and sales based on new business models and the optimizing of efficiency potential through the digitalization of internal business processes are the playing field on which to safely move.

Particular attention needs to be paid to the aspects of IT governance, IT and data security, data protection, and the efficient protection of trade secrets, which must always be considered. In addition to these substantive challenges, it is frequently a particular challenge to find experts who are able to successfully plan and implement the IT projects.

Our range of services in IT and Telecommunications

Our highly specialized IT lawyers serve our clients in all areas of IT law. From infrastructureprojects in telecommunications (landlines and mobile phones) and regulation to support for the construction and marketing of data centers, hardware and software development, purchasing, sales and leasing, or complex IT outsourcing and insourcing projects. In the context of all these projects, data protection and IT security aspects form a core part of our advisory services. Issues relating to IP, such as copyright issues in connection with software, are also an integral part of our advice.

In addition to our practice’s in-depth legal expertise in all areas of IT law, the advising lawyers attach great importance to the practical understanding of technical fundamentals and interrelationships that this technically-driven field of advice entails. We are also networked in the industry beyond pure legal advice.

This experience in collaborating with the business units who are technically responsible for IT, as well as with engineers and technicians, is a key factor for IT project success.

We understand the language of IT experts in businesses, and the IT experts understand us. Technical requirements may be designed into the relevant contractual framework with the assistance of our legally appropriate “translation” (“form follows function”). We lead distressed IT projects to successful conclusions. We tackle time-critical IT security incidents without unnecessary loss of time.

Our expertise and practical experience in all areas of IT law make the difference in our legal advice.

Our advisory focus:

Hardware and software development, procurement, distribution, and lease

Advising clients when implementing their digitalization strategy through customized development contracts, procurement processes for IT services or software has been one of our core areas of expertise for many years.

IT M&A

In addition, we support investments in IT companies and digital infrastructure businesses. Our practice further performs due diligence reviews in relation to technology companies to prepare and support transaction processes.

Telecommunications law and telecommunications infrastructure projects

Thanks to our lawyers’ sector experience, we advise you not only on legal issues relating to IT projects, but also on investments in infrastructure projects, such as the establishment and expansion of 5G mobile communications networks or the expansion and operation of fiberoptic infrastructures, including the relevant wholesale and end-customer contracts.

IT outsourcing and insourcing projects

We accompany IT outsourcing and insourcing projects for our clients. An example in the public sector is the outsourcing and insourcing of the German Federal Government for the civilian IT of the German Armed Forces. We legally advised and supported the government in all aspects of insourcing this multi-billion euro project. The same applies to clients from industry, where we advised, among others, Messer SE & Co. KGaA on their IT outsourcing to IBM Deutschland GmbH. Our advisory practice includes complete project support and the legal solution of implementation problems in distressed IT projects.

Data protection

Data protection provisions present parties with ever new, complex tasks that may be associated with high risk and high costs. Our team of market-renowned and award-winning experts across several offices supports you in responding to individual questions and in designing extensive processes in compliance with data protection laws, thus minimizing associated risks.

IT security law

Our market-renowned experts for IT security and cybersecurity architectures also advise on implementing and complying with legal requirements for IT compliance – whether setting up an ISMS (e.g., according to COBIT or ISO 27001), conducting IT security audits, or following up on security incidents. We always make sure to adapt the contractual basis to individual requirements.

Copyright

Last but not least, the protection of your intellectual property and the avoidance of infringement of third-party IP rights is of considerable importance in software projects. Our lawyers also pay special attention to these fields.

For advice abroad, we collaborate with specialized law firms. As member of the World Services Group (WSG) and the Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance (GALA), we offer clients first-class service worldwide.

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IP, Media & Technology