Bird & Bird LLP acts in close cooperation with the IT team and advises a diverse client roster from the hightech sector, including convergent ICT service providers, traditional telecommunications network operators, mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and re-sellers; interfacing data protection matters are also covered. The advisory capacities include broadband projects and investments in infrastructure, including municipal and regulatory aspects, as well as transaction support. Practice head Sven-Erik Heun focuses on convergent products, outsourcing and platform projects as well as regulatory and data protection law. He is supported by senior counsel Valerian Jenny, who is experienced in compliance as well as clients’ representation before the authorities. Alexander Duisberg (technology and data-related topics; digital business models) joined Ashurst LLP in February 2023, while the two transaction specialists Hans Peter Leube and Marianne Nawroth joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in January 2024.

Noerr follows an interdisciplinary approach and routinely advises at the interfaces with regulatory, corporate and antitrust law. This expertise is called upon by telecommunications providers, including Deutsche Telekom, companies in the technology sector and increasingly by players from the satellite-based telecommunications segment in connection with transactions, strategic cooperations and regulatory issues. Practice head Tobias Frevert focuses on transactions and project work, while regulatory matters are covered by Tobias Bosch and Julian von Lucius; Bosch regularly assists with regulatory procedures and operational contract negotiations. Pascal Schumacher complements this offering with expertise in interfacing data protection matters.

Baker McKenzie's team is led by senior counsel Caroline Heinickel, who is a key contact for clients from the IT/C industry and assists with over-the-top regulation and machine-to-machine communication. Former co-head Joachim Scherer (regulatory law) retired in June 2023. The team primarily supports telecommunications companies, IT service providers, app developers and manufacturers of communications hardware in the planning, development and introduction of new business models. Among the core competencies are regulatory and contract law, including cross-border matters, as well as the implementation of machine-to-machine business models; recent instructions pertain to connected cars as well as frequency regulatory advice on 5G-related matters and broadband expansion. This is complemented by regulatory expertise in the satellite-based telecommunications industry. Holger Lutz (IT and data protection) joined Clifford Chance in June 2023.

Clients from the telecoms, media and communications sectors, including traditional telecommunications providers and cable network operators, frequently instruct CMS on regulatory and contract law issues as well as on matters at the interfaces with corporate and financing law. Transactions and regulatory issues, which frequently pertain to fibre optic expansion, are handled by Jens Neitzel. The team is also experienced in dispute resolution.

Hengeler Mueller's team follows a cross-practice approach and routinely advises at the interfaces with IT, media and regulatory law as well as M&A, including litigation. Among the recent instructions are regulatory matters pertaining to 5G frequency allocation as well as the expansion of the 5G mobile network; regulatory requirements, such as compliance with the Federal Network Agency's rollout requirements, as well as German and European telecommunications antitrust law issues are other core topics. The antitrust law interface also includes clients' representation in proceedings before the Federal Network Agency, the Federal Cartel Office and the EU Commission. Katharina Hesse is a key contact for transaction support, while administrative and regulatory expert Wolfgang Spoerr is also experienced in litigation.

Jones Day routinely supports clients from the telecoms, satellite, aviation and IT industries in regulatory matters and in regulatory proceedings, including proceedings before the Federal Network Agency and court proceedings, practice head Holger Neumann is a key contact here. Noteworthy is the representation of Google in model proceedings pertaining to the regulation of over-the-top services. He also advises on frequency allocation and frequency transmission, compliance projects, the regulation of drones and connected driving projects.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB advises on various matters in the telecoms sector, including infrastructure expansion projects as well as customer service matters and was recently increasingly active in cross-border matters. The support in 5G, fibre optic and broadband expansion projects regularly includes contract drafting, investment-related topics and market entry, as well as regulatory issues; Marc Salevic is a key contact for the latter area and frequently acts on behalf of network operators and network holding companies. The team also assists with contentious matters at the interface between competition and consumer protection law. Issues pertaining to connected cars, eCalls and smart cities are also covered, thanks to Stephan Appt‘s expertise in the automotive, IT and data protection segments.

Ashurst LLP's infrastructure support focuses on transactions and contract-related issues, including related financing matters. Here, the team assists with projects in connection with mobile communications, data centres and fibre optics. Stephan Hennrich is a key contact here and jointly heads the practice with Andreas Mauroschat, who also focuses on transactions and regularly advises at the interfaces with IT, IP and data protection. Alexander Duisberg is well versed in technology and data-related topics as well as digital business models; he joined the team from Bird & Bird LLP in February 2023.

Dentons' team offers a cross-practice approach and advises at the interfaces with M&A as well as regulatory, administrative and contract law; this is also mirrored in the team members' individual focus areas: Volker Junghanns is a regulation and contract law expert and Christian Miercke, who joined the partner roster in April 2023, frequently acts at the interfaces with state aid and procurement law. This expertise is regularly called upon in connection with commercial contract drafting, product launches, cooperation agreements, telecommunications consumer protection regulations and transactions in the fibre optic and broadband segments. The practice is also experienced in proceedings before the Federal Network Agency.

Dolde Mayen & Partner focuses on regulatory advice and regularly assists German telecommunications providers, including the long-term client Deutsche Telekom AG. The service offering includes clients' representation before the Federal Network Agency and the European Court of Justice as well as support in administrative proceedings. Practice head Thomas Mayen boasts similar competencies and also acts at the anitrust law interface. Christian Stelter handles IT and data protection issues and Barbara Stamm is well versed in public commercial law and telecommunications antitrust law.

Greenberg Traurig Germany focuses on supporting telecommunications providers and housing companies in the development and implementation of business models, infrastructure projects and in regulatory issues pertaining to broadband and multimedia supply; practice head Christoph Enaux is a key contact here. Also noteworthy is the expertise in interfacing real estate matters. The practice also advises on supply-related matters in connection with the TKG amendment, telecommunications law issues and transactions.

GvW Graf von Westphalen advises on traditional telecommunications law matters and increasingly assists with satellite and space law issues. Practice head Grace Nacimiento focuses on regulatory support, including the representation in regulatory and court proceedings. Among the core topics are the allocation and use of frequency and number resources for digital business models, connected cars, the Internet of Things and machine-to-machine communication.

Loschelder offers public and civil law expertise in the media, energy, postal and rail transport sectors and is regularly instructed on network access, including access requirements and tariffs. Among the client roster are German telecommunications companies, broadcasters and companies in the postal sector, which benefit from the expertise in interfacing data protection and IT law; the team also represents clients before regulatory authorities and courts. Practice head Raimund Schütz complements this with antitrust law expertise.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH is experienced in advising on the expansion of districts, cities and housing associations, including fixed networks, fibre optic, WiFi and 5G, and covers related corporate and procurement law issues; the team also assists with contract drafting as well as review and complaint proceedings. A recent growth area is the regulatory monitoring of WiFi-related services in cars and aircrafts. Practice head Wulff-Axel Schmidt complements this advice offering with expertise at the IT and data protection interface.

Since 2022, Raue acts integrated into the European law firm network Le Club Telecom, which covers the TMT sector, and is therefore well positioned for cross-border issues. Core topics include the advice on new business models (including satellite broadcasting), fee regulation (including litigation) and infrastructure access matters; Kornelius Kleinlein is a key contact here. Kleinlein jointly heads the practice with Michael Bergmann, who advises on telecommunications law as well as antitrust and compliance matters.