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:

Germany

Born and raised in Germany, I am a fully qualified German attorney and a Certified Specialist Lawyer for IT Law. I provide over 20 years of working experience in top-tier European law firms in Germany advising mostly international clients, in particular US tech companies.

United States

Re-located to Silicon Valley and San Francisco for more than 10 years, I have successfully co-founded and scaled the first US offices of two major international law firms. Together with my international teams, I provide on-the-ground European legal expert support for US companies.

International

Having lived and worked in Germany, Switzerland, Canada and the US, I consider myself truly international. I hold executive positions and am an elected member of leading German-American business organizations and substantially engage in international partnerships.

Experience

Partner
CMS Representative Office, Inc.
May 2024 – Present
Mountain View, USA

  • Establishing CMS’s first US Office in Silicon Valley

  • Providing international legal support to US clients and business partners

  • Driving recognition of the CMS brand in the US

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

  • Co-founded Bird & Bird’s first US Office in San Francisco

  • Established Bird & Bird’s strategy in the US market

  • Increased brand recognition and built partnerships

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

  • Co-founded Taylor Wessing’s first US Office in Silicon Valley

  • Co-Head of Taylor Wessing’s US Group

  • Built and established Taylor Wessing’s US strategy

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

  • Speaker of the German Partners’ Board (09/2012 – 09/2014)

  • Managing Partner Frankfurt/Main office (05/2005 – 12/2009)

  • Built the Frankfurt/Main IT practice

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

  • IP/IT Group

  • Focused on Tech Transactions and Privacy

  • Seconded to Squire Sanders & Dempsey, San Francisco/USA (09/2000 – 02/2001)

Associate
Clifford Chance
1996 – 1998
Frankfurt, Germany

  • IP/IT Group

  • Focused on Outsourcing and Tech Transactions

  • Fostered the new Internet-Law practice

Assistant Professor
University of Trier
1994 – 1996
Trier, Germany

  • Dr. jur. 1996

  • Managed the team of research assistants

  • Lead researcher for Unfair Competition Law commentary

Boards

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

  • An active community of leaders and professionals from large international companies, SMBs, start-ups and service organizations to foster German-American Business.

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

  • The vibrant association of over 2,500 members from law, industry and society promoting and cultivating interest in US and German Law and their intersections.

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

  • The premier organization for C-Suite leaders in Silicon Valley, providing community, connections and thought leadership, to enable both personal and organizational growth.

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

  • Bringing together the most seasoned thought leaders in the areas of privacy and security law by delivering hands-on activities and practical takeaways.

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

  • An institutional business angel that invests into high growth angel stage and early stage startups in China.

Member of the Executive Board
Payment Solution AG
Feb 2008 – Jun 2009
Munich, Germany

  • Offered pre-paid payment solutions to facilitate cashless transactions at sports stadiums and cultural events in 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.

References

Dr. Kai Westerwelle has been giving lectures on data protection at the TUD Dresden University of Technology’s LL.M. program for many years. He is an excellent speaker who is very experienced in matters of German and US privacy law. The students and faculty greatly appreciate Dr. Westerwelle’s focus on practical application of privacy and compliance in the business world. It is great to have him as part of our international study program!

Prof. Dr. Anne Lauber-Rönsberg

Technische Universität Dresden

Kai is really great to work with. I’ve known him for many years as an excellent legal advisor. Kai is especially skilled in handling critical privacy topics, for which he is an outstanding legal specialist. His expertise further includes the field of tech transactions, where he supports particularly US clients with international business projects.

Dr. Georg Nolte

Director Litigation (EMEA)

Netflix

I had the pleasure of working closely with Kai on a dedicated project focused on Spin's assessment of expansion into Europe. Kai's legal acumen played a pivotal role in navigating the complex legal landscape of different European jurisdictions. His insightful guidance and meticulous attention to detail were instrumental in ensuring a seamless expansion process. Kai's deep understanding of international business laws and regulations proved invaluable, and his contributions significantly contributed to the success of the project. I highly recommend Kai to any organization seeking a legal professional with a deep understanding of international expansion, privacy, data protection, and tech transactions. His unique combination of legal expertise and genuine passion for his work makes him an invaluable asset to any team or project.

Philip Reinckens

CEO

Spin

Kai has been a trusted advisor for me for many years. I met Kai when he was a teacher in my law studies and benefited from his guidance throughout my career. I highly value him as a trusted advisor who finds practical solutions and provides great perspectives on complex legal topics. In particular, Kai is an outstanding specialist in both privacy and IT law. He has successfully supported many businesses – from global Fortune 500 companies to fast-scaling start-ups. The international stage is where Kai’s expertise especially shines.

Dr. Matthias Schwenke

Partner

PwC – Head of NewLaw within Legal Business Solutions

… Als guter Schachzug wird sich deswegen auch die Eröffnung eines Büros and der US-Westküste mit Kai Westerwelle erweisen …

Official Statement of Grounds (excerpt)

JUVE Law Firm of the Year Award for IT and Data Protection 2018

Kai’s expertise in the areas of Privacy & Data Protection, International Expansion, and Tech Transactions has consistently impressed me, and I believe he is a true standout professional. In addition, he is an effective connector of global stakeholders on a variety of important topics in the tech law domain.

Roland Vogel

Executive Director at CodeX

The Stanford Center for Legal Informatics

Kai Westerwelle is deeply knowledgeable on US-German relationships, international business, and law. His understanding of technology issues and of the Bay Area provides a strong bridge to Silicon Valley.

Sean Randolph

Senior Director

Bay Area Council Economic Institute and Bay Area Science & Innovation Consortium

Kai is a seasoned privacy professional that gives practical counsel. He is a pleasure to work with.

Alan Friel

Chair Global Data Practice

Squire Patton Boggs

Dr. Westerwelle is an extraordinarily informed and talented privacy lawyer. Also he is always a pleasure to work with!

Prof. Paul Schwartz

Jefferson E.Peyser Professor of Law

University of California, Berkeley School of Law

Kai Westerwelle is tremendously knowledgeable about EU-US privacy issues. He is a delightful person to work with. It's wonderful having someone with such deep expertise in German and EU law posted in San Francisco.

Prof. Anupam Chander

Scott K. Ginsburg Professor of Law and Technology

Georgetown University Law Center

Kai Westerwelle is very well connected lawyer and respected individual as well as in the US as in Europe. He has deep knowledge in international expansion strategies, tech transactions and is an expert in dealing with the pitfalls and challenges of regulation in North America and the European Union.

Matthias Hohensee

Bureau Chief Silicon Valley

Wirtschaftswoche

I have known Kai Westerwelle for more than 20 years as a great expert in Privacy and Tech Transactions. I highly value his tireless dedication to his clients, his broad knowledge, and his great advice.

Dr. Thomas Meiers, LL.M.

Chief Governance and Legal Officer

SEAT, S.A. and CUPRA