IP and IT in Luxembourg

A&O Shearman

Led by ‘approachable’ team head Catherine Di Lorenzo, A&O Shearman has ‘extremely deep data privacy knowledge’, as well as being highly conversant with other complementary areas impacting the tech and digital economy, including as it relates to artificial intelligence. A good deal of the work emanates from financial services clients, including a recent surge in compliance and implementation exercises associated with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) – an EU regulation which recently passed into law in Luxembourg. Di Lorenzo also handles some more general IT and outsourcing projects, as well as often working with other lawyers across the network on cross-border data protection investigations. Appreciated for his openness to ‘brainstorming and considering new ideas and practical solutions’, associate Paul Wagner is also a key contact.

Responsables de la pratique:

Catherine Di Lorenzo


Autres avocats clés:

Paul Wagner; Barbara Azoulay


Les références

‘The team has extremely deep data privacy knowledge increasingly coupled with useful horizontal knowledge in a number of complementary areas such as AI and other regulations touching on this space.’

‘Catherine Di Lorenzo is almost always my first preference to contact on privacy topics arising in my work. Catherine has deep expertise coupled with an approachable, enthusiastic and open manner.’

‘Paul Wagner is a stand-out associate who is open to brainstorming and considering new ideas and practical solutions.’

Principaux dossiers


Arendt & Medernach

Combining ‘deep legal expertise with a pragmatic and client-focused approach’, and working very collaboratively across disciplines, Arendt & Medernach is well placed to advise clients across a wide range of standalone advisory, TMT-related corporate transactions and IT/IP disputes work. Praised for her ability to provide ‘technically sound and business sensitive’ advice, team head Astrid Wagner regularly advises on sensitive data privacy matters and on ICT contracting, as well as on the protection and commercialisation of IP rights. Senior associate Sophie Calmes and counsel Faustine Cachera are also key members of the team, with Cachera praised for her ‘excellent understanding and command of IP rights’, particularly as it relates to trade marks and domain names.

Responsables de la pratique:

Astrid Wagner


Autres avocats clés:

Faustine Cachera; Sophie Calmes; Julien Pétré


Les références

‘The team is highly professional and very reactive.’

‘What makes the practice stand out is its combination of deep legal expertise with a pragmatic and client-focused approach.’

‘Astrid Wagner provides advice that is not only technically sound but also actionable and business sensitive.’

‘Faustine Cachera is very reactive and shows an excellent understanding and command of IP rights.’

Principaux clients

InfraRed Capital Partners Ltd


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised InfraRed Capital Partners on the €108m acquisition of Proximus Luxembourg Infrastructure from Proximus Group.
  • Advising a European telecommunications and media services provider in its potential acquisition of an operator in the Luxembourg network and telecommunications market, active both in the provision of mobile, fixed-line, and internet services, as well as enterprise services.
  • Helped guide a client through a highly complex and cutting-edge project involving the provision of hosting sites and associated hosting services in the context of establishing a new EU secure satellite constellation.

DLA Piper Luxembourg

Combining an international mindset with ‘strong local insight’, DLA Piper Luxembourg provides ‘practical and sophisticated guidance’ to clients seeking advice on complex and often multi-jurisdictional IP and IT matters. Team head Olivier Reisch has an excellent reputation in the market, particularly among banks and funds seeking guidance on data protection and IT outsourcing matters. David Alexandre also handles IT and outsourcing work, as well as standing out for his ‘impressive technical knowledge’ on IP matters, including work for international brands on trade mark protection and portfolio management. Alejandro González Vega is also recommended and is ‘incredibly sharp on copyright and broader tech-related regulatory matters’.

Responsables de la pratique:

Olivier Reisch


Autres avocats clés:

David Alexandre; Guillaume Dally; Alejandro González Vega


Les références

‘DLA Piper combines international reach with deep sector expertise in IP and IT. They are pragmatic, business oriented, and highly responsive, able to translate complex technical and legal issues into clear and actionable advice.’

‘The team offers practical and sophisticated guidance, seamlessly combining international resources with strong local insight to address client needs in intellectual property and technology matters.’

‘This IP practice stands out for its strong expertise in the management and protection of trade marks worldwide.’

Principaux clients

Fix Dessert Chocolate


Cyberr


Invictus Wisdom S.à r.l.


AXA Climate


Nintendo of America


Avions de Transport Régional


Ferrero


Turbine


PM International


MyConnectivity


Conair / Babyliss


Gamedia


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised premium chocolate and confectionery Dubai-based manufacturer, Fix Dessert Chocolate LLC, the creator of the viral “Dubai chocolate” in its IP global protection strategy.
  • Assisted My Connectivity, a Luxembourg economic interest group created in 2021 by the Luxembourg government and LUX-CI (which regroups the most relevant players in the telecom sector in Luxembourg) to accelerate and improve the connectivity of private households and businesses, and promote the deployment of high-speed fibre optic networks.
  • Advised Luxembourg cybersecurity recruitment services provider, Cyberr, in the launch of its new AI-based candidate matching and headhunting platform.

Elvinger Hoss Prussen

Elvinger Hoss Prussen displays ‘highly technical expertise in IT regulatory and data protection matters’ for a banking and asset management focused client base. Key to the firm’s success in this space is the work of Gary Cywie, who is appreciated for his ability to provide ‘pragmatic advice’ on IT outsourcing agreements and data protection matters, as well as an increasing amount of work in the fintech space. The ‘very diligent’ Emmanuèle de Dampierre is the main contact for the firm’s growing IP offering and is particularly active helping clients on trade mark protection and litigation matters, as well as on IP due diligence associated with M&A transactions handled by the firm. Linda Funck co-heads the team alongside Cywie.

Responsables de la pratique:

Gary Cywie; Linda Funck


Autres avocats clés:

Emmanuèle De Dampierre


 


Les références

‘The team has demonstrated profound and highly technical expertise in IT regulatory and data protection matters.’

‘The team has excellent industry knowledge, perfectly understands our business needs and is available whenever we need them. What really sets the team apart is the tailored advice, exceptional diligence, as well as their eye for details.’

‘Gary Cywie provides pragmatic advice with high expertise on marketing law.’

Principaux clients

FundBank Europe


Azimut


Franklin Templeton


ume


One Group Solutions


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised One Group Solutions on drafting an IT contract for the implementation of a digital platform by an IT provider, as well as on trade mark matters to develop an effective strategy for expanding the client’s trade mark portfolio.
  • Advised FundBank on the establishment of its Luxembourg operations, including drafting terms and conditions of service, advising on data protection, and supporting complex outsourcing arrangements involving digital tools and innovative business models.
  • Assisted ume in relation to its contractual documentation, including integration of Digital Operational Resilience Act requirements.

NautaDutilh

NautaDutilh provides ‘pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice’ to public and private sector clients across a wide range of IT and IP matters. Team head Vincent Wellens is a ‘leading authority on IT law in Luxembourg’ with an eclectic roster of work that includes advice to financial services clients, including advice on IT outsourcing contracts at the front end through to any pursuant litigation as well as on cyber incidents. Wellens also handles some IP-related litigation, while on the data protection front, he also handles work for the Luxembourg data protection authority, including in appeal cases brought by infringing entities. Ottavio Covolo is also appreciated for his ‘pragmatic advice’, including as it relates to crypto assets. Sigrid Heirbrant regularly advises on contract matters in the technology, IP, and data protection space.

Responsables de la pratique:

Vincent Wellens


Autres avocats clés:

Sigrid Heirbrant; Ottavio Covolo


Les références

‘The team delivers pragmatic and solutions-oriented advice.’

‘Vincent Wellens is a leading authority in IT law in Luxembourg. He is remarkably conscientious, consistently professional, and always available to provide expert guidance.’

‘The outstanding Ottavio Covolo provides excellent and pragmatic advice.’

Principaux clients

AirBnB


Amnesty International


Apple


Aperam


Bank of China


BMW / MINI


ByteDance (TikTok)


Canal +


Ciklum


CNPD (Luxembourg data protection authority)


European Commission


Fedex


G-Core


Goodyear


JP Morgan


Luxembourg State


Luxair


Microsoft


PWC


Proximus


Shell


Smart


Tools for Humanity (WORLDCOIN)


Uber


Vivid Seats


Principaux dossiers


  • Assisting Clarence (a JV between the BeLux telecom group Proximus and the state-owned data center operator Luxconnect) with the negotiation of its agreements with the Luxembourg State for the implementation of a disconnected sovereign cloud solution based on Google Cloud Technology.
  • Representing the Luxembourg data protection authority, the CNPD, in an appeal that Amazon has launched against the CNPD’s decision of 15 July 2021 imposing a fine of €746m on Amazon.
  • Assisting Vivid Seats, a major US based e-commerce platform for the resale of event tickets, in the set- up of its HQ in the EU.

Clifford Chance

Acting on its own as well as often in concert with other network offices, Clifford Chance provides 'client-oriented' advice to standalone and institutional firmwide clients across a range of domestic and multi-jurisdictional IP and IT matters. Litigator Albert Moro is the de-facto head of the team, although much of the day-to-day work is handled by Charles-Henri Laevens, who is noted for his 'strong technical expertise in GDPR', including for asset management and banking clients. Banking and finance expert Steve Jacoby also handles some IP/IT-related matters as a consequence of his growing fintech-related practice, including as it relates to digital assets.

Responsables de la pratique:

Albert Moro


Autres avocats clés:

Charles-Henri Laevens; Steve Jacoby


Les références

‘The team is very reactive, client-oriented and competent.’

‘Charles-Henri Levaens is an excellent professional with strong technical expertise in GDPR.’

Principaux clients

Lux-Airport


Standard Chartered Bank


HQLAx S.à r.l.


Inter-American Development Bank


Citigroup Global Markets Limited + consortium consisting of Barclays, Bank of America and Crédit Agricole CIB


Colesco


 


Principaux dossiers


  • The team assisted Standard Chartered Bank in the regulatory process for obtaining a virtual asset service provider registration under the Luxembourg anti-money laundering and terrorist financing legislation by its wholly owned Luxembourg subsidiary.
  • Advising Colesco on the IP/IT aspects linked to the establishment of its direct lending platform currently comprising of the umbrella fund known as Private Debt Opportunities Fund I.
  • Assisted LUX-AIRPORT with the data protection aspects of the Skypark Business Center.

LG Avocats

Directly instructed by numerous IP and tech companies as well as picking up a considerable amount of referral work from international law firms, independent business law boutique firm LG Avocats has significant market visibility for IT and IP work. ‘Pragmatic and responsive’ team head Hervé Wolff is at the forefront of this work, including a considerable amount of data protection and cyber security mandates for banking and insurance companies, as well as work for e-commerce clients and telecoms-related regulatory expertise.

Responsables de la pratique:

Hervé Wolff


Les références

‘Hervé Wolff is very reliable, pragmatic and responsive.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Assisted a crypto-asset service provider on its employee monitoring practices in Luxembourg.
  • Assisted a Luxembourg public administration on the compliance of their data processing operations with GDPR.
  • Assisted an American multinational technology company on the regulatory framework applicable in the media sector in Luxembourg in relation to protection of minors and accessibility requirements.

Loyens & Loeff

Led by Véronique Hoffeld, the ‘practical and responsive’ team at Loyens & Loeff works well with core practice groups across the firm’s full-service offering to provide ‘business-oriented’ advice across a wide array of IT and IP compliance, advisory and transactional-related mandates. The team is particularly skilled at advising the firm’s impressive roster of funds clients on data protection matters, as well as on IP and IT due diligence associated with downstream investment work.

Responsables de la pratique:

Véronique Hoffeld


Autres avocats clés:

Emilia Fronczak; Adrien Anese; Agata Szymoniak


Les références

‘They provide good and business-oriented advice.’

‘The team is practical and responsive.’

‘Agata Szymoniak is personable, practical and understands legal issues quickly.’

Principaux dossiers


MOLITOR Avocats à la Cour SARL

Directly instructed by clients, including those in the technology, gaming and retail sectors, as well as often acting in a referral capacity for other international law firms, the ‘responsive and professional’ team at MOLITOR Avocats à la Cour SARL picks up a range of primarily non-contentious IP and IT work. Team head Virginie Liebermann is the main contact for this work which includes marketing and advertising law advice and a considerable amount of data protection compliance guidance.

Responsables de la pratique:

Virginie Liebermann


Les références

‘The team is responsive and professional.’

Principaux dossiers


Stellan Partners

With a proactive approach to work in the space that responds well to the constantly evolving IP and IT regulatory environment, Stellan Partners is well positioned to provide ‘pragmatic and business-oriented’ advice to clients across a wide range of domestic and cross-border mandates. Team head Audrey Rustichelli has assembled a strong team that functions as a ‘genuinely integrated unit’, resourcing each matter with the appropriate blend of youth and experience. Rustichelli herself remains best-known, however, for her data protection work, which includes regular reviews of compliance processes for companies based in Luxembourg. Combining ‘deep legal expertise with a genuine understanding of commercial priorities’, Nicolas Hamblenne is also a key contact for data privacy and IT contracts work, as well as having considerable knowledge across trade marks and copyright law.

Responsables de la pratique:

Audrey Rustichelli


Autres avocats clés:

Nicolas Hamblenne


Les références

‘It has a rare combination of deep local expertise in Luxembourg’s unique legal landscape and sophisticated cross-border capabilities.’

‘The team stands out for its pragmatic and business-oriented approach, as well as its commitment to transparency and responsiveness.’

‘The practice stands out for its exceptional ability to navigate Luxembourg’s distinctive IP framework while seamlessly coordinating complex multi-jurisdictional matters.’

Principaux clients

Luxtrust


Principaux dossiers


Brucher Thieltgen & Partners

The ‘very professional and efficient’ team at Brucher Thieltgen & Partners provides ‘creative and tailored solutions’ to banks and investment funds, in particular, across data protection matters and in the context of IT agreements. ‘Exceptional’ team head Nicolas Thieltgen provides a ‘results focused’ service on IP, IT and data protection matters, adding particular value when a contentious element is involved.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nicolas Thieltgen


Autres avocats clés:

Anne-Marie Ka; Vincent Semideï; Antoine Malherme


Les références

‘Alongside profound legal expertise particularly in commercial matters; there is an outstanding knowledge of Luxembourgish and EU case law, complemented by a flawless command of procedural law.’

‘The firm combines the experience and competence of a top-tier legal team with a rare sense of efficiency and pragmatism, ensuring that advice is not only technically impeccable but also actionable and business-oriented.’

‘The team is very professional and efficient. They are ready to tackle complex cases and find creative and tailored solutions that meet client’s needs.’

Principaux dossiers


DSM Avocats à la Cour

Under the leadership of Renaud LE SQUEREN, DSM Avocats à la Cour digital team has gained most recognition in the market advising private and public sector clients on GDPR compliance and data protection matters. Other work includes advice to financial institutions on IT outsourcing agreements and training on AI integration.

Responsables de la pratique:

Renaud Le Squeren


Principaux clients

Cascade


OneLog AG


Principaux dossiers


Jurisconsul Law Firm

Combining ‘deep knowledge of Luxembourg’s financial technology and digital asset regulation’ with a ‘pragmatic and forward-looking approach’, Jurisconsul Law Firm continues traction in the market. Team head Erwin Sotiri is ‘skilled in his ability to anticipate regulatory shifts’, particularly as it relates to tech and IP issues surrounding fintech regulatory matters. In addition, he is well versed in handling copyright disputes for creative professionals.

Responsables de la pratique:

Erwin Sotiri


Autres avocats clés:

Charlotte Feron


Les références

‘The practice distinguishes itself by combining deep knowledge of Luxembourg’s financial technology and digital asset regulation with a pragmatic and forward-looking approach.’

‘They provide clear and practical legal guidance tailored to our needs.’

‘The team stands out for its customer-centric approach and responsiveness.’

Principaux clients

SACEM Luxembourg – Collective Management Organisation


AGICOA Europe – Collective Management Organisation


WEDGE International School


SIMAC PSF


WeSTEM+


SOGEXIA SA


Principaux dossiers


  • Representation and advisory for SACEM Luxembourg (Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique) on enforcement of authors’ rights in Luxembourg against a company party that does not recognise our client’s right to collect royalties for the numerous events where music is played.
  • Legal advisory of AGICOA Europe on the enforcement and protection of of audiovisual works in Europe.
  • Representation and legal advisory of a software company on the non-authorised usage of the computer software he acquired.