Led by the 'approachable and pragmatic' Catherine Di Lorenzo, A&O Shearman is best-known for its ability to provide 'high-quality advice' to clients, including financial services entities, across a wide range of their data privacy needs. The scope of this work includes advisory/compliance and contentious advice, with Di Lorenzo regularly taking the lead on major investigations brought against clients following a data breach. In addition, the team is across all the regulatory developments in the emerging area relating to artificial intelligence (AI).

Praised for its ‘willingness to go the extra mile’ and its ‘business-oriented and practical approach’, DLA Piper Luxembourg has continued to reinforce its credentials as a leading IP and IT player in the relatively short space of time since the team’s formation in 2018. Practice head Oliver Reisch is ‘very knowledgeable and versatile’ across a range of transactional, advisory and contentious tech matters, including a considerable amount of data protection compliance and IT outsourcing projects for funds and financial services clients. Acclaimed by one client as ‘the legal world’s version of a Swiss Army knife—sharp, versatile, and always ready for action’, recently promoted partner David Alexandre  spearheads the firm’s ‘soft’ IP offering, which includes a considerable amount of trademark prosecution work for large international corporates. Senior associate Alejandro González Vega is particularly noted for his copyright work within the TMT sector, where he is able to provide ‘strategic advice on complex matters such as content licensing, digital rights management, and the protection of creative works in a rapidly evolving digital landscape’.

The 'very experienced and responsive' team at Elvinger Hoss Prussen is well-versed across a wide spectrum of IT and IP matters impacting start-ups, large established companies and financial services clients. Gary Cywie is at the forefront of much of the IT, outsourcing and data protection work handled by the team and is 'excellent at explaining complex and often technical matters in an easy to understand way'. In addition, he excels at work at the intersection of tech and financial services, with a particular niche in relation to blockchains and virtual currencies. Linda Funck co-heads the team alongside Cywie, and as well as providing IT and data protection proficiency also advises on due diligence for M&A mandates handled by the firm for IP-rich businesses. Counsel Emmanuèle de Dampierre regularly advises on IP-related matters, including drafting contracts assigning IP rights, advising on trade mark prosecution and, from time to time, providing IP due diligence relating to M&A handled by the firm.

Under the expert leadership of Vincent Wellens, NautaDutilh has established a pre-eminent position in the market across a range of IT/outsourcing and data protection matters, in particular. The team's outsourcing offering includes work for both suppliers and end users (including banks), while for data protection, its involvement for both private and public sector clients includes both compliance and litigation before the supervisory authorities. Litigation also informs much of the firm's IP-related mandates, with Wellens 'extremely knowledgeable about national, European and international case law', including as it relates to trade mark litigation.

Led by Alain Grosjean, who has over the years' built up a significant amount of knowledge through his fee-earning work, as well as in his role as President of the IP/IT/TMT Commission, Bonn & Schmitt has solid market traction across a wide range of IP and IT contractual compliance advice as well as some litigation.

Overseen by litigator Albert Moro and led on a day-to-day basis by senior associate Charles-Henri Laevens, Clifford Chance provides 'excellent legal guidance' across a range of IT and IP matters to financial services and asset management clients, in particular. The team retains a significant flow of work for investment funds on data protection compliance, and working closely with the firm's regulatory offering is also adept at handling work at the intersection of IP and financial services.

 

Boutique independent law firm LG Avocats provides 'solutions-oriented and cost-effective' advice across a range of privacy/data protection (including for financial services entities), e-commerce contractual matters and IP counselling. A good deal of the work comes in the form of referrals, with many international law firms impressed by the firm's 'deep knowledge of local laws and a client-centric approach'. As well as being very well-versed on privacy and data protection, team head Hervé Wolff also has niche telecoms law expertise and strong ties with the regulator.

Acting on its own as well as often harnessing the expertise of other core practice areas, Loyens & Loeff's litigation and risk management team, which is led by Véronique Hoffeld, excels in safeguarding the IP/IT interests of large multinational entities. Leveraging the firm's exceptional investment management connections, the team continues to be particularly active advising funds clients on GDPR compliance work, as well as providing IP/IT due diligence on their downstream investment work. The team also regularly assists clients on the management of their IP portfolios and on general IT/IP contractual matters, including as it relates to technology transfer agreements and the assignment of IP rights. Senior associate Emilia Fronczak is also recommended.

The 'responsive and dedicated' team at MOLITOR Avocats à la Cour SARL provides 'insightful advice' directly to clients as well as in the context of law firm referrals across a range of IP and IT matters. Virginie Liebermann  is the day-to-day lead on such matters and also has niche expertise advising on e-commerce matters and on ensuring the regulatory clearance of media and advertising projects. Managing partner Michel Molitor co-heads the team alongside Liebermann.

Under the leadership of the 'solutions-oriented and forward-thinking' Audrey Rustichelli, PwC Legal Luxembourg has forged a strong reputation among private and public sector clients across a range of IT and data protection matters. As well as regularly handling large-scale GDPR audits, the team, which also includes the 'very knowledgeable, experienced and business-minded' Nicolas Hamblenne, also continues to pick up a considerable flow of work advising financial and insurance institutions on digitisation projects.

Led by Renaud Le Squeren, DSM Avocats à la Cour's 'very reactive and highly competent' digital team handles a range of contractual IT and data protection work for private and public sector clients. As well as handling GDPR compliance work, Le Squeren who is Vice President of the APDL (Luxembourg Data Protection Association) is also adept at advising on establishing e-commerce platforms.

Combining technical expertise with a 'human centred approach', Jurisconsul Law Firm has gained a strong reputation in the market among tech-centred clients as a result of its ability to act not just as 'legal advisors but also strategic partners'. A good deal of the work is at the intersection of finance and technology, with team head Erwin Sotiri displaying a '360-degree vision' for clients seeking to navigate the intricacies of blockchain technology and digital assets regulations. Sotiri is also active in the IP space, regularly acting for entertainment, music and software clients, in particular, on copyright infringement cases.

Since the arrival in September 2022 of Camille Saettel from Thewes & Reuter, Simmons & Simmons in Luxembourg has made significant inroads into the IT/IP market, on both the litigation and advisory front. Saettel is noted for her skill at advising lifesciences/healthcare clients on IT contract drafting and data protection mandates, while for litigation she is adept at handling software-related copyright disputes. In all these areas clients also benefit from the team's ability to leverage market-leading IT/IP specialists throughout Europe.