What is IT law?
IT law encompasses the legal structuring and protection of software, IT projects, online stores, platforms, SaaS and cloud services, as well as other digital offerings.
This includes, in particular:
- the drafting and review of terms and conditions, privacy policies, legal notices, and terms of use,
- the drafting and negotiation of software development, licensing, maintenance, and IT project contracts—including provisions regarding usage rights, liability, service levels, obligations to cooperate, and warranties,
- the legally compliant implementation of e‒commerce offerings, including cancellation policies, distance selling laws, and the ordering process,
- Data protection requirements for websites and digital processes—including GDPR compliance, processing inventories, and data protection policies,
- legal issues related to SaaS models, cloud services, AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot, as well as the EU AI Act, training data, and AI outputs,
- as well as domain law and domain disputes, and
- the intersection of domain law and trademark law on the internet.
IT Law Services
As an IT lawyer, I assist companies, startups, and developers with all legal matters related to technology, software, and digital business models. Would you like to have an IT contract reviewed, draft legally sound terms and conditions and other legal documents, or ensure legal compliance for an ongoing IT project? I can assist you with all of this—from the initial legal assessment through contract drafting, review, and negotiation to the out-of-court and in-court enforcement or defense against claims.
Terms and Conditions & Legal Notices
Drafting and reviewing legally compliant terms and conditions, privacy policies, legal notices, terms of use, and other legal documents for online stores, platforms, websites, and SaaS products.
Software & IT Contracts
Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating software development, licensing, maintenance, and IT project agreements. Clear provisions regarding usage rights, liability, warranties, and service‒level agreements (SLAs).
SaaS & Cloud Services
Legal support for SaaS providers and cloud service providers in drafting terms of use, licensing models, service descriptions, and data protection policies.
E-commerce & Online Law
Legal protection for online stores and digital sales models, particularly through terms and conditions, cancellation policies, distance selling laws, protection against cease‒and‒desist letters, and the legally compliant design of the ordering process.
IT Compliance & Data Protection
Consulting on the GDPR‒compliant design of websites, digital processes, and data‒driven applications. Support with records of processing activities, data protection policies, and ensuring the legal compliance of digital workflows.
AI Law & the EU AI Act
Consulting on the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, DALL‒E, or Copilot. Support with implementing the EU AI Act, as well as with questions regarding data usage, training data, and AI outputs.
Domain Law & Domain Disputes
Legal advice on domain disputes, the unauthorized use of domains, and issues at the intersection of domain law, trade name law, and trademark law on the internet.
IT Outsourcing & IT Projects
Legal support for IT outsourcing projects and complex IT projects. Clear contract terms regarding liability, usage rights, obligations to cooperate, scope of services, and warranties.
AI Law and the EU AI Act
Common Questions in AI Law
Can I enter customer data or internal company data into an AI tool? What obligations does the EU AI Act impose on my company? Does AI-generated content need to be labeled? Who is liable for inaccurate or unlawful AI outputs? What provisions should a contract with an AI provider include?
Artificial intelligence raises a wide range of specific legal questions for businesses: Can company, customer, or personal data be entered into AI tools or used in AI processes? What transparency and labeling requirements apply when using chatbots or AI-generated content? Who bears the risk of erroneous outputs? And what legal requirements apply when companies develop, purchase, integrate, or use AI systems in their own operations?
The EU AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive legal framework for artificial intelligence and specifically covers providers and operators of certain AI systems or AI models. It is important for companies to note that the regulation does not apply uniformly but rather in phases: It has been in force since August 1, 2024; the prohibitions on certain AI practices and the general provisions have been in effect since February 2, 2025, the regulations for general-purpose AI models since August 2, 2025, and the remainder of the regulation generally since August 2, 2026. Depending on the area of application, transparency obligations may also apply, for example, to certain chatbot applications.
As an attorney, I advise you on the legally compliant implementation and use of AI systems, on classification under the EU AI Act, on data protection issues, on drafting contracts with AI providers, and on questions regarding training data, AI outputs, internal governance, and liability risks.
Why hire a lawyer who specializes in IT law?
IT law is a specialized field at the intersection of contract law, data protection law, competition law, copyright law, and technical practice. Anyone advising companies, startups, and developers on IT law must not only be familiar with the legal requirements but also understand how software, SaaS models, online stores, platforms, and AI applications function in practice.
Specialized legal support helps identify legal risks early on, draft contracts that are practical and workable, and resolve conflicts—whether in or out of court—in a legally sound manner.
IT Contract Law
IT contracts, software license agreements, maintenance contracts, and IT project contracts typically contain complex provisions regarding usage rights, liability, warranties, service levels, obligations to cooperate, and the scope of services. Unclear contract clauses often lead to significant financial and legal risks, particularly in ongoing projects or failed implementations.
SaaS & Cloud Services
SaaS offerings and cloud services require legally sound terms of use, licensing models, service descriptions, data protection policies, and definitions of responsibility. Precise contractual structures and clear data processing policies are particularly important for digital services that involve ongoing service delivery. Seeking legal guidance early on protects all parties involved.
Data Protection Law & IT Compliance
Data protection violations on websites, in digital processes, and in data-driven applications can result in fines, formal warnings, and reputational damage. Data protection law and IT compliance should therefore be taken into account from the very beginning—for example, when drafting privacy policies, maintaining records of processing activities, establishing internal processes, and ensuring that digital offerings are designed in a legally compliant manner.
AI Law & the EU AI Act
The use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot raises new legal questions regarding data usage, training data, AI outputs, transparency obligations, liability risks, and the drafting of contracts with AI providers. Furthermore, the EU AI Act has established an additional regulatory framework that companies must take into account when developing, implementing, and using AI systems.
E-commerce & Online Law
Online stores, platforms, and digital sales models must be designed in a legally compliant manner. Errors in terms and conditions, cancellation policies, distance selling laws, disclosure requirements, or ordering processes can quickly lead to cease-and-desist letters and legal disputes.
Technical understanding
Effective IT legal advice requires not only legal precision but also an understanding of technical and economic contexts. In the event of a dispute, the focus is not only on drafting contracts but also on enforcing or defending against claims both in and out of court. As a specialized attorney, I combine legal expertise with technological knowledge.
Heval Mienert – Your Attorney for IT Law
Heval Mienert studied law at Ruprecht Karls University in Heidelberg. While working as a research assistant at the University of Würzburg, he earned his doctorate with a dissertation titled “Geolocation – Geoblocking and Geotargeting as Solutions to Trademark Conflicts on the Internet.”
He completed his legal clerkship at the Berlin Court of Appeal, with placements at the Federal Chancellery (fundamental issues of digital policy) and at an international corporate law firm in New York. Before founding the law firm Mienert, Heval Mienert worked as an attorney in the Berlin office of the international corporate law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP. There, he advised international companies in the technology and media sectors primarily on issues of IT law and general contract law.
Today, he advises clients on IT law, media law, blockchain technology, and intellectual property law. He is also a lecturer on intellectual property law in the master’s program “European Film Business and Law,” offered by the Erich Pommer Institute in cooperation with the Film University Babelsberg and the University of Potsdam.
Do you have a legal question regarding IT law in Berlin? We’re happy to help.
Please feel free to tell us about your needs—in person in Berlin, by phone, email, or video call. We’ll get back to you shortly.
Frequently Asked Questions About IT Law (FAQ)
What does an IT lawyer do?
An IT lawyer advises companies, startups, developers, and platform operators on legal issues related to software, IT contracts, SaaS, cloud services, data protection, e-commerce, domain law, and AI law. This includes, in particular, drafting and reviewing IT contracts, terms and conditions, and legal texts; ensuring the legal compliance of digital offerings; and providing both in-court and out-of-court representation in IT-related disputes.
What does IT law cover?
IT law encompasses the legal structuring and protection of software, IT projects, online stores, platforms, SaaS and cloud services, as well as other digital offerings. This includes, in particular, terms and conditions and legal texts, software license and IT project agreements, e-commerce, data protection and IT compliance, domain law, as well as legal issues related to the use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Copilot.
How much does an initial legal consultation on IT law cost?
The cost of an initial consultation depends on the specific matter, the scope of the review, and legal requirements. For consumers, the statutory fee for an initial consultation is generally capped at 190.00 euros, plus out-of-pocket expenses and sales tax. For businesses, the fee often depends on the scope of the consultation and the nature of the engagement. I would be happy to clarify what costs can be expected in your specific case during a non-binding initial consultation.
As a startup, do I need a lawyer specializing in IT law?
Early legal guidance is particularly important for startups. Flawed terms and conditions, unclear software agreements, or data protection violations can prove costly down the line—whether through cease-and-desist letters or disputes with customers or investors. Legal advice on IT law for startups should ideally begin even before the launch, so that legal risks are prevented from arising in the first place.
What is the EU AI Act, and who does it affect?
The EU AI Act is the European regulation on artificial intelligence. It applies to certain companies that develop, place on the market, put into service, or use AI systems or general-purpose AI models. The regulation has been in force since August 1, 2024, and is being implemented in phases; key provisions have been in effect since February 2, 2025, additional provisions since August 2, 2025, and the remainder generally since August 2, 2026. The specific obligations that apply depend in particular on the respective AI system, its function, and its classification.
