Dr. Simon Assion

I specialise in information, technology and communications law.

I support my clients in situations where innovative technologies face legal issues. My expertise includes areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), online services, social media, traditional media and information security. I am a widely recognized expert for all fields of technology regulation, including ePrivacy, data protection and data ownership, telecommunications regulation, IP and trade secrets.

I regularly represent my clients in disputes. Some of my cases were handled before the highest German courts, including the German Constitutional Court. In disputes, I combine my expertise in the regulatory fields that form the basis of the case with my skills as a dispute lawyer and strategist. I also represent my clients in negotiations.

As an expert on information and data law, the German Lawyers Association (DAV) has appointed me as member of its Committee for Information Law. Within the IAPP, I served as a member of the IAPP's European Advisory Board. I also hold the certification of a Certified Information Privacy Professional/Europe (CIPP/E).

Within Bird & Bird, I am a member of the Innovation Steering Group and of the German Legal Tech Group.

• Advising some of the largest social media companies of the world on topics such as data protection, safety & integrity, product design, privacy and content moderation.
• Representing the largest internet exchange node in the world, the DE-CIX, in its litigation against the German Foreign Intelligence Service (BND) in relation to mass communications surveillance - including in proceedings before the Federal Constitutional Court.
• Representing the German NGO GFF (Society for Civil Rights) before German administrative courts in a strategic litigation case against large-scale CCTV surveillance.
• Representing clients in various stages before German Data Protection Authorities.
• I have handled some of the largest data breaches (by number of affected data subjects and by media attention) of Germany. In none of these cases fines were imposed.
• Advising media and technology companies in relation to German media law (in particular the 'Medienstaatsvertrag').
• Regularly advising companies in the fields of telecommunications regulation - inter alia in relation to telecommunications surveillance, communications confidentiality, numbering, frequency assignment and market regulation.