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Dr. Matthias Orthwein, LL.M. (Boston)

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Dr. Orthwein was admitted to the bar in 2003 and became a partner at SKW Schwarz in 2011. He received his Master of Laws (LL.M.) in American Law from Boston University (USA) in 2000 and his doctorate from the University Muenster in 2003 with a topic in telecommunications law.

He advises his clients in all areas of IT law, in particular cloud and software contract law using new agile software developing and contract methods, the commercial use of data and artificial intelligence (AI) as well as digital transformation projects. Together with his clients, he develops and brings to life new digital platforms and business models. He is an experienced expert in national and international data protection law issues in particular with regard to the use of cloud services.

The Lexology Index Germany 2025 lists him as a “world's leading practitioner” in the data category. In 2025, Handelsblatt / Best Lawyers again recommends him as a lawyer in the categories “IT law” and “data protection law.” He is once again listed in the JUVE Handbook 2025 as a “frequently recommended lawyer” for IT and data protection law.


Dr. Orthwein is a lecturer for IT and data protection law in applied AI at the Technical University of Rosenheim.

Dr. Orthwein is member of the German Society for Law and Informatics, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the German Outsourcing Association and the German-American Lawyers Association. He is Senior Vice Chairman of the Technology Law Committee of the International Bar Association.

  • 2017-2022 head of the IT&Digital Business department at SKW Schwarz
  • Since 2014 lecturer for IT and data protection law at the Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences
  • Since 2011 Partner at SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte
  • 2003-2011 Lawyer with an international law firm, Düsseldorf and Munich
  • 2003 Doctorate at the University Münster
  • 2000 Masters of Law (LL.M.) in American Law, Boston University (USA)
  • 1999-2000 Boston University, School of Law, Boston (USA)
  • 1996-1998 Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn
  • 1995-1996 Université de Poitiers, Poitiers (France)
  • 1993-1995  Saarland University, Saarbrücken

Lexology Index Germany 2025
world’s leading practitioner in the category Data

Handelsblatt in cooperation with Best Lawyers: Germany's best lawyers (2018–2025)
Recommended lawyer in the category "IT Law" (2018–2025)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Data Protection Law" (2019–2025)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Technology Law" (2021-2023)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Intellectual Property Law" (2021, 2022)
Lawyer of the Year in the category "Technology Law" (2023)

JUVE Handbook: German Commercial Law Firms (2019-2026)
Frequently recommended lawyer in "IT law and data protection: IT law (contracts and licenses) / IT law and data protection: data law" (2023-2026)
Competitor about him "Exceptional expertise in the field of IT projects" (2025)
Frequently recommended lawyer in the categories "Technology and Media: Information Technology (Contracts/Litigation)" and "Technology and Media: Data Protection"
Client about him: "personally and professionally very good, knows the business world, works quickly and meticulously, could not be better," "partnership-based collaboration in advising on GDPR implementation projects in Germany and Austria" (2019/2020)

The Legal 500: Germany (2017–2024)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Information Technology: Data Protection" (2020-2024)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Information Technology: Information Technology and Digitalization" (2020-2024)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Information Technology: IT Transactions and Outsourcing" (2017, 2018, 2021-2024)
"Matthias Orthwein has the highest degree of integrity, competence and reliability. At the same time, he is convincing, even when dealing with difficult and conflicting issues. Valued contact person for discussions beyond his own nose." (2022)
"Matthias Orthwein is a very experienced IT lawyer who relates well to the client and has a pleasant negotiation style when it comes to contracts." (2022)
"Matthias Orthwein provides advice at a very high technical level and with great professionalism." (2021)
"Matthias Orthwein is a team player in cooperation and result-oriented in the interest of the client." (2021)
"The widely diversified data protection law team at SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte led by Matthias Orthwein, whose ‘reliability and sure instinct’ are highly praised, is characterized by ‘a high level of professional expertise and explanations of the issues with a practical orientation’." (2020)
"Practice Head Matthias Orthwein is recognized for his ‘pragmatic and solution-oriented approach’." (2020)
"Matthias Orthwein impresses with his ‘sound industry knowledge and product understanding’" (2018)
"Sound expertise and negotiating skills in IT litigation" (2017)

The Legal 500: EMEA (2022-2024)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Information technology: Data protection" (2022/2024)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Information technology: Information technology and digitalisation" (2022/2024)
Recommended lawyer in the category "Information technology: IT transactions and outsourcing" (2022/2024)

Leaders League 2023
Excellent in the category "Data Protection"
Excellent in the category "IT & Outsourcing"

WWL: Germany – Data – Information Technology (2022-2024)
Thought Leader

WWL: Germany – Data – Data Privacy & Protection (2022-2024)
Thought Leader

WWL: Germany – Data – Information Technology (2020-2024)
Recommended lawyer

WWL: Germany – Data – Data Privacy & Protection (2020-2024)
Recommended lawyer

WirtschaftsWoche in cooperation with Handelsblatt Research Institute (2020, 2021, 2023 - 2025)
TOP lawyer in the category ‘IT law’ in each case

WirtschaftsWoche in cooperation with Handelsblatt Research Institute; Issue 32/2022
TOP lawyer 2022 in the category "Data Protection Law"

WirtschaftsWoche: Top law firms 2019
Among the 50 most renowned lawyers for IT law in Germany

WirtschaftsWoche: Top Kanzleien 2018
Recommended as one of "Germany’s Top Lawyers" in the category IT Law

Dr. Matthias Orthwein is member of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Recht und Informatik e.V. (DGRI), International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), International Bar Association (IBA), Technology Law Committee, Deutscher Outsourcing Verband e.V., IHK-Expert Committee „Digitalisierung und IKT“ der IHK für München und Oberbayern and the German-American Lawyers' Association (DAJV).

Dr. Matthias Orthwein is a lecturer for IT and data protection law at Rosenheim Technical University and Senior Vice Chairman of the Technology Law Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA).