Bird & Bird > Dusseldorf, Germany > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

Industry focus > Telecoms

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.

Information technology > Data protection Tier 1

Jointly led by Fabian Niemann and Lennart Schüßler, Bird & Bird advises national and global companies across all sectors, including the healthcare sector, on data protection law. Another key topic is the advice on European data protection, where the team recently advised on international data transfers and the introduction of new software as well as compliance and and data analytics. IT law expert Simon Assion is also part of the core team.

Information technology > Information technology and digitalisation Tier 1

Bird & Bird regularly advises on cross-border matters across the entire IT spectrum and has particular expertise in cloud computing, connected cars, digital healthcare and IT security. The team is led by Fabian Niemann, who specialises in international technology and data protection projects, and Henriette Picot, whose extensive practice includes licensing, software development and cloud computing. Lennart Schüßler covers the areas of digital media, mobile and e-commerce as well as IT security.

Information technology > IT transactions and outsourcing Tier 1

Bird & Bird's team is experienced in supporting cross-border outsourcing projects and tech transactions and acts on behalf of large companies from the technology, communication, retail, consumer goods, financial and services segments. Co-head Fabian Niemann advises on IT law as well as regulatory issues, while co-head Henriette Picot frequently supports outsourcing projects. Jörg-Alexander Paul complements this with expertise in business process outsourcing (BPO).

Intellectual property > Patent litigation: solicitors Tier 1

With a large and internationally oriented team of lawyers and patent attorneys, Bird & Bird is one of the most renowned firms for national and cross-border patent disputes, where it focuses on biotechnology, chemistry, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering as well as automotive and physics. The team also stands out for its expertise in antitrust-related patent matters, such as required in the context of standard-essential patents. Oliver Jan Jüngst and practice head Christian Harmsen often act in disputes entailing cross-border aspects and both count telecommunications as one of their sector focuses. Pharmaceuticals, automotives and food are among Felix Rödiger's areas of expertise, while Matthias Meyer regularly appears before German and European authorities in cases relating to medical devices, mobile communications, automotive and document security.

Intellectual property > Trade marks Tier 1

Led by Christian Harmsen, Bird & Bird's practice covers the entire spectrum of trade mark matters and also provides expertise in copyright, design and competition issues if necessary. Frederik Thiering and Richard Dissmann are other key contacts and both experienced in litigation and strategic advice.

Intellectual property > Unfair competition Tier 1

With strengths across the entire soft IP spectrum, Bird & Bird also impresses with expertise in competition law; under the leadership of technology expert Christian Harmsen, the practice advises clients on contentious and strategic matters and further assists with cross-border issues via its extensive international network. The group's sector focus includes media and technology, automotive, life sciences as well as consumer goods and retail.

Public sector > Public procurement Tier 1

Bird & Bird LLP's public procurement team impresses with expertise in the IT, health, energy and infrastructure sectors, which particularly comes into its own when advising contracting authorities and contractors on modernisation projects. The practice regularly assists with award procedures and tenders for innovative projects, ranging from the development of Deutschlandnetz and administrative digitalisation to the modernisation of the health system. Furthermore, experienced IT procurement lawyers Guido Bormann and Jan Byok handle procurement procedures for the digitisation and equipment of various security and defense bodies at state and federal level. Bormann jointly leads the practice with Alexander Csaki, who is particularly experienced in litigation and regularly acts in review and negotiation proceedings in the health and transport sectors.

Banking and finance > Fintech Tier 3

Bird & Bird LLP utilises cross-practice cooperation of its finance, regulatory and technology teams and is experienced in matters pertaining to crypto tokens and virtual currencies. Other mainstays are regulatory topics, including the structuring of crowdfunding services according to the regulation on European crowdfunding service providers (ECSP) as well as token-related licensing matters, transactions, investments, cooperation agreements and product launches. Michael Jünemann (regulatory law, blockchain, DLT) heads the team.

Industry focus > Healthcare and life sciences Tier 3

Bird & Bird's healthcare expertise includes capacities at the interfaces with IP, procurement law and digitisation as well as contentious issues. Dispute resolution in the life sciences sector is a focus area of the team, which is led by Boris Kreye; Kreye regularly assists with patent infringement disputes in connection with medical devices. Alexander Csaki advises private companies and public sector clients at the interface between procurement and regulatory law, including the advice on selective contracts issued by statutory health insurance companies as well as licensing matters, the interchangeability of drugs and drug prices.

Germany > Consumer goods and food law Tier 4

Companies from the food, beverage, cosmetics and personal care sectors regularly instruct Bird & Bird LLP on labeling, trademark and competition law issues. The team also advises on novel tobacco products, CBD products and the classification of new products. The IP lawyer Uwe Lüken and Niels Lutzhöft, who focuses on regulatory issues in the pharmaceuticals, food and consumer goods sectors, jointly head the practice.

Corporate and M&A > M&A Tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP's advice spans the entire life cycle of national and cross-border transactions, with the practice's expertise also including competition law and due diligence reviews, restructuring and antitrust aspects. The team assists start-ups, medium-sized companies and global corporations and is primarily active in the technology, automotive, life sciences and communications sectors. Kai Kerger focuses on providing transactional advice to IP and IT companies and Stefan Münch on companies from the technology and communications, life sciences and healthcare sectors. Corporate and transaction lawyer Alfred Herda retired in May 2023, while former practice head Hans Peter Leube (M&A and private equity transactions in the telecommunications, media, infrastructure and automotive sectors) as well as Marianne Nawroth, who focuses on M&A deals in the telecommunications and IT sectors, joined Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in December 2023.

Dispute resolution > Product liability Tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP's product liability practice stands out with a focus on automotive suppliers, which the team supports in contentious contract and liability scenarios. Led by Philipp Egler (contentious proceedings in the automotive and financial products sectors), the team has further expertise in product safety obligations, product recalls and product liability disputes in the technology, electronics and communications sectors. Matthias Spilker also focuses on product liability cases in the automotive industry, but advises insurers here as well.

Industry focus > Energy Tier 4

Project developers, energy suppliers, investors and suppliers instruct Bird & Bird LLP‘s practice on various issues pertaining to the planning, tendering, construction and operation of power plants, including contentious matters. Other competencies include project-related contract drafting, the advice on corporate PPAs, M&A as well as project financing issues. The advice focuses on renewable energies, including offshore wind, whereas the team also assists with conventional energy projects. The practice is led by René Voigtländer (regulatory, procurement, environmental and planning law) and Matthias Lang (regulatory, state aid, environmental and public commercial law).

Media > Entertainment Tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP focuses on copyright and contract law and advises broadcasting and streaming companies as well as major players from the sports sector. Practice head Joseph Fesenmair is well versed in trademark and competition law. Markus Körner is another key contact and assists with contract-related and media regulatory matters.

Private equity > Venture capital Tier 4

Bird & Bird focuses on technology-related matters and regularly supports investments in companies, including start-ups with a digitisation focus. The team also advises investors and is led by Hans Peter Leube, who complements the industry expertise with experience in the telecoms, media, infrastructure and automotive sectors.

Trade and distribution > Foreign trade law Tier 4

Bird & Bird LLP focuses on export control and advises international clients on existing regulations and approval procedures. Practice head and export control specialist René Voigtländer is regularly instructed by clients from the technology and defense sectors on sanctions law and on issues pertaining to dual-use regulations. A growth area is the advice on compliance in connection with investment control.

Transport > Advice to the transport sector Tier 4

Bird & Bird supports public transport operators and airlines in the procurement of new vehicles and aircraft, as well as in contract drafting for public sector clients. Among the key contacts are public commercial lawyer Alexander Csaki, the asset financing and leasing expert Matthias Winter and the procurement law specialist Guido Bormann.

Germany > Antitrust Tier 5

Bird & Bird‘s team is well versed in antitrust proceedings, including abuse and cartel damages, and also assists with merger and investment control as well as distribution antitrust law. The practice routinely cooperates with other locations on cross-border matters. The industry expertise in the technology sector is frequently demonstrated at the interface with IP law, where the team advises on FRAND isssues. Other interface capacities include corporate, EU state aid law and public procurement law. Practice head Jörg Witting and Stephan Waldheim cover the IP interface, while Anne Federle is experienced in antitrust and abuse proceedings.

Corporate and M&A > Corporate Tier 5

Public sector > Planning and environment Tier 5

Bird & Bird is experienced in planning-related strategic and contentious soil protection and environmental matters; here, the group assists with commercial and energy projects. Waste law represents another mainstay, with Matthias Lang, who is also experienced in circular economy and environmental regulation, being the key contact; he jointly heads the practice with energy and planning lawyer René Voigtländer.

Trade and distribution > Trade, distribution and logistics Tier 5

Bird & Bird LLP regularly acts on behalf of companies from the automotive and energy sectors in court and out-of-court proceedings pertaining to supply chain interruptions and price adjustments as well as contract-related issues. Practice head Matthias Spilker is a key contact for contract drafting and product liability issues and also advises clients on supply chain due diligence. Lars Kyrberg is experienced in project work in the energy sector.

Germany > Employment Tier 6

The employment law experts at Bird & Bird LLP advise national and international companies as well as supervisory boards and managing directors on all areas of individual and collective employment law, including associated issues related to social security law. The group exhibits particular expertise in negotiations with works councils and unions in the context of transactions, restructurings, company relocations and company closures. This also reflects practice head Barbara Geck's compentencies, who focuses her advice on the IT, technology, metal processing, automotive, banking and financial services sectors. Artur-Konrad Wypych (board advisory, transactions, restructuring) made partner in May 2023.