As a fully qualified German Certified Specialist Lawyer for IT law, I support US companies of all sizes and industries in the variety of their international law topics

PRIVACY &
DATA PROTECTION
is of utmost importance to all companies processing personal data. European privacy laws and related privacy laws around the world require international companies to comply irrespective of a local presence. With more than 30 years of experience in data protection in Europe and the US, I guide US businesses through the international privacy laws and lead global incident response teams.

INTERNATIONAL
EXPANSION
can be complicated but should not be. US companies are often challenged by the comprehensive legal framework they are confronted with when expanding overseas. Having advised hundreds of US companies on international law, I make internationalization less challenging with solid and practical solutions for their expansion and the international law topics associated with doing business in Europe.

BUSINESS
RELATIONSHIPS
are key for successfully doing business internationally. Finding the relevant contacts can be difficult but is decisive for business success. I leverage my substantial international network, in particular in Europe and in the US, to help companies build the business relations they need for achieving their international goals.
About
I have extensive international experience across continents:
Experience
Partner
CMS Representative Office, Inc.
May 2024 – Present
Mountain View, USA

Partner
Bird & Bird
Sep 2018 – Apr 2024
San Francisco, CA, USA

Partner
Taylor Wessing US
Sep 2014 – Aug 2018
Menlo Park, CA, USA

Partner
Taylor Wessing Germany
Jul 2003 – Aug 2014
Frankfurt, Germany

Associate / Senior Associate
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
1998 – 2003
Frankfurt, Germany
Associate
Clifford Chance
1996 – 1998
Frankfurt, Germany

Assistant Professor
University of Trier
1994 – 1996
Trier, Germany
Boards

Chairman of the Board of Directors
German American Business Association
May 2022 – Present
San Francisco, CA, USA

Contact Person USA – West Coast
Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung
Jul 2021 – Present
San Francisco, CA, USA

Member of the Executive Board
ACG Silicon Valley
Nov 2020 – Nov 2023
San Francisco, CA, USA

Member of the Board of Advisors
Privacy + Security Academy
Jun 2020 – Present
San Francisco, CA, USA

Head of the Board of Directors
Taishan Invest AG
Apr 2008 – May 2010
Beijing, China

Member of the Executive Board
Payment Solution AG
Feb 2008 – Jun 2009
Munich, Germany
Speaking Engagements
I regularly speak at international conferences, lecture at universities in Germany and the US and give trainings. Topics include international privacy and compliance, European law and international expansion.