Overview
Dr. Ralf Weisser advises on mergers, acquisitions, outsourcing and licensing transactions, drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, regulatory matters and litigation. He is co-head of the German Telecom, Media and Technology (TMT) and the Firm’s Licensing, Technology and Media practice groups.
With 25 years of experience, Ralf helps clients to manage large and challenging transactions of all types and litigating complex cases. In the technology and IT areas, these include IT outsourcing and business process outsourcing (BPO), software development and licensing, software- and platform-as-a-service (SaaS und PaaS), application service providing (ASP), internet of things, industry 4.0 und connectivity, cloud computing, online shops and conditional access systems, patent and technology licensing and standard setting as well as privacy and data protection. To meet the needs of company’s outsourcing challenges, Ralf and a team of outsourcing lawyers have designed downloadable master outsourcing service agreements (MOSA) for German law. Ralf also has a long track record in the telecoms and media industries and advises international and domestic players on their activities in the German TMT markets (including digital television, IPTV, VOD, mobile television, cable, fiber, mobile networks, Wi-Fi and machine-to-machine communication), and the building of platforms for the digital distribution of content via all types of broadband networks. Ralf also has extensive experience within cross-border matters in Europe and the USA.
Ralf has authored many law review articles and has served as a member of the legal committee of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria for over 20 years. He is recommended for TMT in all major legal directories. According to Chambers, Ralf is described “‘a very capable, hands-on, solution-focused and business-oriented lawyer, who really understands the customer’s style of working,’ while clients commend his negotiating skills and ability to handle sizeable mandates.” During Ralf’s tenure, McDermott has been nominated several times for the prestigious award “Law Firm of the Year for Media and Technology” by Germany’s leading lawyers’ publication, JUVE, and won the award in 2005.
Previously, Ralf served as a teaching and research assistant at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, obtained his LLM from Duke University as a Fulbright scholar, and was a foreign associate with a US law firm in Washington, DC. Early in his career, he also worked for the Kirch Group in Munich and headed the legal department of DF 1 Digitales Fernsehen, the first digital television platform in Germany.
Results
- Advising the shareholders of Team! Licensing GmbH, a German licensing agency in the entertainment sector (Peanuts, Pippi Longstocking, Hello Kitty), on the complete sale of their shares in the company to Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG)
- Advising one of Europe’s leaders in the savory snack industry, Intersnack Group, on the outsourcing of its IT infrastructure and negotiating the master outsourcing and WAN services agreements as well as all ancillary documents with the two chosen service providers, Getronics and GTT
- Drafting and negotiating a software development and maintenance agreement for the creation of an app for the networking of various types of smart kitchen devices (Smart Kitchen, Internet of Things) of a leading German cutlery and kitchenware manufacturer
- Representing Deutschlandradio, a leading German public radio broadcaster, in a multi-party litigation in a number of courts against the claim of German cable operators for the payment of cable distribution fees
- Advising GEA Group on the conclusion of an outsourcing contract with a US provider of financial software solutions using a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model and consulting on the worldwide data protection requirements.
- Negotiating an IT outsourcing contract for the operation of the data centers on behalf of Unternehmensgruppe Theo Müller, a large European dairy and food producer, and advice on data protection issues
- Advising Deutsche Telekom AG (DTAG), Germany’s leading telecoms operator, on ISP agreements with airlines for the provision of in-flight internet access services on airplanes and with regard to the European Aviation Network (EAN), a hybrid network which combines a satellite operated by Inmarsat, plc. with LTE-based ground network base stations operated by DTAG, including advice on the procurement agreements with Nokia for ground network components and related services as well as on regulatory questions in connection with the operation of ground network stations and legal intercept (LI) in Europe
- Advising a large telecoms operator on several BPO and IT outsourcing transactions, a call center services agreement, a network outsourcing agreement, as well as agreements for the purchase of mobile network equipment and services
- Drafting the framework and the cloud services agreement between Deutsche Telekom AG and Germany’s leading physical book distributors on the establishment of the first German ecosystem for the digital distribution of e-books (Tolino)
- Advising a leading internet service provider (ISP) on the adaptation of its European invoicing and payment processes to the European Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) direct debit banking rules
- Negotiating the framework agreement on the development of a shared Wi-Fi network in Germany and Eastern Europe between Deutsche Telekom AG and Fon, a global consumer-based Wi-Fi network
Recognitions
- Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers™ 2021 Germany: Leading Lawyer for Media, Copyright and Telecommunications Law
- Chambers Europe 2018-2020, Germany: clients value his “high expertise” and further describe him as “effective, cost-sensitive, hands-on and service-oriented“.
- The Legal 500 EMEA 2020, Technology and Outsourcing: Ralf Weisser, who has “excellent industry and legal expertise”, (…) is “recommended without reservation due to his engagement”.
- JUVE Handbook 2018/2019: „absolute expert“, competitor.
- Chambers Europe 2017/2018, Germany: Ralf Weisser is described by clients as “knowledgeable and pleasant to work with“. “He is very dedicated to clients’ needs” a source also reports. He has substantial expertise in conducting transactions for clients in the IT sector, including outsourcing.
- JUVE Handbook 2017/2018: “highly experienced in the industry, professionally outstanding“, competitor.
- Chambers Europe 2016/2017, Germany: sources say: “He is highly responsive, firm and maintains a high level of service.”
- Chambers Europe 2014/2015, Germany: clients describe Ralf Weisser as “a very capable, hands-on, solution-focused and business-oriented lawyer who really understands the customer’s style of working.” Interviewees further commend his negotiating skills and ability to handle sizeable mandates.
- Chambers Global
- Euromoney Legal Media Group
- Expert Guides; Best of the Best: Media and Entertainment, Germany
- PLC
Community
- Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, member of the Legal Committee
- Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Munich and Upper Bavaria, Medal of Honor
