Dr. Braun advises on a broad range of information technology, data privacy and artificial intelligence topics.

In data privacy, he has been advising German and multinational companies on all aspects of data protection law compliance, including cross border data flows, breach response, online marketing and data security. He has particular experience in online services, social networks and the life sciences industry. The WilmerHale team has also litigated a significant number of leading data protection law cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union and before the German courts, including Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein v Unabhängiges Landeszentrum für Datenschutz Schleswig-Holstein (C-210/16), Fashion ID v Verbraucherzentrale NRW (C-40/17), Google Inc. v Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL) (C-507/17), and Meta Inc. and Others v Bundeskartellamt (C-252/21). Dr. Braun is qualified as a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/E) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He is a frequent contributor to the firm’s Privacy and Cybersecurity Law Blog.

Dr. Braun assists clients in complying with all aspects of the new European framework for artificial intelligence, IT security, data spaces, and the new data and platform laws, such as the EU AI Act, the EU Data Act, the EU Directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity across the Union (NIS-2), the European Health Data Space Regulation, the EU Cyber Resilience Act, the EU Digital Services Act, the EU eIDAS Regulation and the European Electronic Communications Code. He is an IAPP-certified Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional (AIGP).

In information technology law, Dr. Braun focuses his practice on outsourcing projects, and software licensing, including open source software. His experience includes advising companies regarding their general strategy for the use of open source software, and providing advice regarding possible business cases based on open source licenses. 

He joined the firm in 2009.

Professional Activities

Dr. Braun is a member of the Centre of European Law at the University of Passau (CEP). He has taught IP law at the University of Oldenburg from 2013 to 2023.

Dr. Braun is also a member of the German-American Lawyers' Association (DAJV), the German-Japanese Law Association, the International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw), the German Association for Data Protection and Data Security (GDD), the German Association for Law and Information Technology (DGRI), and the Gesellschaft der Freunde Universität Heidelberg e.V.

State Comprehensive Privacy Law Series

Read about the latest state privacy law activity in our Privacy and Cybersecurity Law blog post series. LEARN MORE

Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Blog Posts

Read about the latest developments on Big Data and AI law on our Privacy and Cybersecurity Law blog. LEARN MORE

Recognition

  • Named to Lawdragon’s 2024 List of 500 Leading Global Cyber Lawyers.
  • Recommended by Chambers Europe since 2011 in the category of Technology, Media and Telecommunications - Data Protection.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 edition recommends WilmerHale's data protection practice and honors Dr. Braun as a “Leading Individual” in data protection.
  • The Legal 500 Germany recommends WilmerHale’s Information Technology and Data Protection practice group, led by Dr. Braun since 2014. In addition, Dr. Braun is consistently recognized as a “Leading Name” in information technology - data protection since 2020. “Excellent Lawyer with outstanding know-how in data protection and exemplary approach to service (2020).”
  • Dr. Martin Braun and WilmerHale’s TMT/privacy practice have for many years been recommended by JUVE Handbuch for data protection as well as for compliance/investigations (data protection), most recently in the 2023/2024 edition (“extremely well-versed; outstanding knowledge & well connected,” – peer review, data protection).
  • Ranked in Handelsblatt’s Best Lawyers® in Germany List since 2014 for data protection, technology and IT law, and honored as “Lawyer of the Year (State of Hessen)” in 2024 for data security and privacy law.
  • Dr. Martin Braun has been consistently recommended by WirtschaftsWoche as a “Top Lawyer” for data protection law since 2019.
  • Recommended in the 2020 - 2023 editions of Who’s Who Legal for information technology, data protection and data security. Dr. Braun is named as a Global Leader in the Data – Data Privacy and Protection and Data – Information Technology categories, and as National Leader and Thought Leader in the Germany – Data category. Martin Braun earns plaudits for his deep expertise in domestic and cross-border data protection and compliance.
  • Recognized by kanzleimonitor.de in Germany for Data Protection in the 2016 / 2017 – 2018 / 2019 editions and IT Law in the 2017 / 2018 and 2018 / 2019 editions.

Insights & News

Credentials

  • Education

    • PhD, Public International Law and Internet Regulation, University of Heidelberg, 2001

    • Postgraduate Studies, Japanese Law, Distance University of Hagen

      1997-1999
    • Second State Exam, Heidelberg, 1998

    • First State Exam, Heidelberg, 1996

    • Maîtrise en droit, Aix-en-Provence, 1993

  • Admissions

    • Frankfurt

    • Brussels

  • Languages

    • English

    • German

    • French

Credentials

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