Christopher Schmidt, FIP CIPP/E CIPM CIPT CDPO/BR AIGP

Lawyer+In-house Lawyer • Nonstop Data+Privacy+Technology • CoE Expert on Data Protection • Magister of Law • Law Tutor

Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

About

I am an Attorney-at-Law (Rechtsanwalt) and In-House Lawyer (Rechtsanwalt (Syndikusrechtsanwalt)) experienced in European Data Protection and IT law, building on my profound IT and pentesting knowledge. I have served as an Advisory Board Member and Chair for the IAPP's CIPP/E Exam Development Board and expert on data protection matters by the Council of Europe. I worked at the International and European Affairs Department of the Hessian Data Protection Commissioner which handles cooperation and consistency procedures in accordance with Chapter VII of the GDPR, acts as a contact point including for the European Data Protection Board and oversees international data transfers and related safeguards (i.e., Binding Corporate Rules, Standard Data Protection Clauses). I was also tasked with matters relating to employee data protection, automated HR data processing as well as advising and monitoring data protection officers from both the public and the private sectors. I have worked for renowned global law firms, focusing on cybersecurity and data protection matters across all sectors. I particularly worked in privacy litigation and compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), European, and German data protection laws. My work also included drafting and negotiating policies and agreements (including mergers and acquisitions agreements), incident response, transfer safeguards and assessments, as well as all types of risk-based and technical documentation, auditing, and safeguarding of personal and non-personal data. I have extensive experience in advising on regulatory compliance for emerging technology products, as well as web-based, mobile and decentralized applications. Among the clients I advise are leading technology and software providers, financial institutions and blockchain businesses, global pharmaceutical and tourism companies. Complex issues need a transparent solution. This is why sharing knowledge has always been important to me. In my past I have introduced children to the world of science and taught Ballroom and Latin American dances to couples of different levels, after appearing as a competitor myself. I also give training courses for DPOs in four different languages (German, English, French, and Italian). Outside the privacy world, I am currently preparing law students for their State Examinations in Law. Enthusiastic about innovation brought by new technologies.

Experience

  • Workday (Full-time · 3 yrs 10 mos)
    • Senior Privacy Counsel
      May 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

      Awarded FY25 International Deal of the Year

    • Privacy Counsel
      Sep 2022 - May 2024 · 1 yr 9 mos

  • Privacy and Civil Law Tutor ("Repetitor") at Self-employed and loving it
    May 2017 - Present · 9 yrs 2 mos

    Individual courses, group courses, exam and crash courses ("Repetitorium") at various locations

  • Jones Day (Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany)
    • Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection - Associate
      Jan 2021 - Aug 2022 · 1 yr 8 mos

    • Cybersecurity, Privacy & Data Protection - Legal Researcher
      Jun 2020 - Dec 2020 · 7 mos

  • Public Servant at the Hessian Data Protection Commissioner at Hessian Data Protection Commissioner
    May 2019 - Sep 2019 · 5 mos

    Contribution to the 3rd Annual EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Review; European and International Affairs, Data Protection in the Employment Context.

  • Stagiaire (Trainee Lawyer) at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
    2017 - 2018 · 1 yr