Professional notice
Practice profile
German commercial outfit Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek brings clarity to companies as they navigate all manner of data privacy and cybersecurity issues and get their heads around such a fast-developing and complex area of risk. Its data protection group, which sits within the wider IP, media and technology division, provides comprehensive advice laced with finely-tuned sector expertise and informed by long-term experience in the field.
The team is well-established and has been acting for global businesses on data matters long before the advent of the GDPR; it has an excellent track record with respect to international data transfers, employee data protection and regulatory investigations. Astute hiring and the successful onboarding of new clients in recent years has broadened the practice leading to increased activity on projects relating to governmental agency data exchange and rolling out joint controller agreements.
Leading individuals
The large team is spread across offices in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt and Stuttgart but without hindrance to a well-worn collaborative approach. Key names to know include Philip Kempermann, an IT, data protection and media lawyer with a strong following of large companies and start-ups; and Britta Hinzpeter, a specialist who has authored extensive legal commentaries on data law.
Work highlights
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek drew on – and extended – its IT security law expertise in preparing a detailed and lengthy report on Germany cybersecurity actors for the Federal Office for Information Security; as part of this, the team conducted an extensive analysis of the data protection risks incurred by the transfer of IT security information.
The team has recently advised California-based IT company CloudHQ on the establishment of a new data centre in Frankfurt.
Acting for Munich Airport, the firm recently advised on data protection law in connection with a management contract with AccorHotels Deutschland relating to the Hyde Living LabCampus at the airport.
In terms of product-related data protection advice, the group has given support to Graphika Inc in connection with a novel technology for the evaluation and use of personal data from various social media platforms.
A large line-up of lawyers drawn from the firm’s data protection, unfair competition and banking groups represented Openbank, a digital subsidiary of Banco Santander on its market launch in Germany.
On the contentious side, the group has mounted successful defences for bank Santander Consumer, including one against a complaint about alleged illicit marketing emails and another against fine proceedings relating to an alleged violation of a right to be forgotten request.
Client feedback
“The firm is extremely reliable in its coordination of cross border matters that are both challenging and consequential. Its partners take a hands-on approach. Philip Kempermann is dependable and capable, and certainly one of the key players in Germany when it comes to data protection.”
“Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek can do a lot of heavy lifting and take a weight off the shoulders of its clients. Britta Hinzpeter is brilliant to work with.”
With more than 400 lawyers, tax advisors and notaries providing legal services across eight offices in Germany as well as an office in Zurich, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek is one of the major commercial law firms in Germany. According to industry analyst JUVE, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek is one of Germany's top 10 law firms in terms of annual revenues.
The spectrum of our legal advice ranges from German and foreign medium-sized companies to international (including listed) large corporations in all matters of commercial law. Another focus of our client support lies in public law in which we counsel decision-makers on all levels of administration.
Our lawyers speak over 22 different languages. Our expertise allows us to advise foreign clients in Germany comprehensively and to support German clients successfully in overseas business.
China Desk
Our China Desk accounts for the increasing need for advisory services, as well as the particular complexity involved in doing business with China. We offer legal advice and business support both to German and European clients in the Chinese market, and conversely for Chinese clients in Germany and Europe.
French Desk
France is one of Germany's closest and most important business partners. For 35 years, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek has been advising German companies on their French business and French companies on their activities in Germany. All lawyers of our "French Desk" team have either studied or worked in France. This competence allows us to offer tailor-made solutions for cross-border enterprises between Germany and France.
India Desk
India continues to experience a climate of pioneering and optimism. With the “Make in India” campaign, the Indian government wishes to attract foreign investors to the country and create an upturn in the Indian economy. The country is rapidly opening up its markets to foreign investors, offering them attractive conditions and subsidy programs. Combined with a campaign to simplify its bureaucracy, the largest democracy in the world is facilitating market entry for European investors.
Japan Desk
For many years now, Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek has supported Japanese companies comprehensively on their business matters in Germany and Europe. As a full service firm, our advisory range covers all issues from market launch to ongoing support in daily business to special situations involving investigations by the antitrust, customs, or tax authorities.
Turkey Desk
The Turkish economy is one of the world's fastest growing economies and, based on its sustained and steady growth in the last 12 years, is the 6th largest economy in the European Union and the 16th largest worldwide.
Due to the structural reforms implemented in the last decade and the harmonization of the Turkish legal system with the laws of the European Union, Turkey is now one of the largest markets for foreign direct investment.
Focus Switzerland
Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek is represented in Switzerland with an interdisciplinary team and combines Swiss legal know-how with the full expertise of a large law firm. From our Zurich office we advise our clients in matters of Swiss, German and international law.