San Francisco Bay Area
I am a fully qualified German Certified Specialist Lawyer for IT law with more than 30 years of professional experience in Germany and the US. Based in San Francisco, I provide on-the-ground support for US companies of all sizes and industries in the variety of their international law topics. My specialties are privacy and international expansion projects. With my outstanding network in the US and Canada, I also support international companies with finding the right partners for their North-America initiatives. ☛www.westerwelle.com | https://cms.law/en/deu/people/kai-westerwelle ✉ [email protected] | [email protected] ✅ My international experience ► Privacy | Data Protection With more than 30 years of experience in Privacy and Data Protection in Europe and the US, I guide US businesses through the international privacy laws and lead global incident response teams. My worldwide network of privacy experts is key to a seamless, solid and timely support. ► International Expansion Located in Silicon Valley and San Francisco for 11 years, I have supported numerous US companies with their international expansion to Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. Using my substantial experience, I provide cross-functional legal advice focusing on clients’ best business interest, often influencing the company’s approach to international expansion towards a more suitable and successful strategy. ► International Business Relations Having the right contacts is key for successfully doing business internationally. I leverage my substantial international network in particular in Germany and the US to help companies build the business relationships they need for achieving their international goals. I hold executive positions and am an elected member of leading German-American organizations and substantially engage in international business partnerships. ✅ My engagement with international organizations ► Chairman of the Board of Directors of the German American Business Association (GABA). ► Member of the central Executive Committee of the German-American Lawyers' Association (DAJV) and Regional Director Member for San Francisco/Westcoast ► Member of the Board of Advisors of the Privacy + Security Academy. ► Elected Member of the Atlantik-Brücke and the American Council on Germany. ✅ My speaking engagements ► I lecture international privacy law at universities in Germany and the US. ► I regularly speak at international conferences on international business, regulations (Privacy & Data Protection, Data, AI), and cross-border expansion.
Privacy and Data Protection | Tech Transactions | International Business Relationships | European Law | Compliance | Intellectual Property and Copyright | International Expansion of US companies ► Establishing CMS’s first US Office in Silicon Valley ► Providing international legal support to US clients and business partners ► Driving recognition of the CMS brand in the US
► 2021 - Present: Member of the Board of Directors
► 2021 - Present: Contact Person USA San Francisco/West Coast
Privacy and Data Protection | Tech Transactions | International Business Relationships | European Law | Compliance | Intellectual Property and Copyright | International Expansion of US companies ► Co-founded Bird & Bird's first US Office in San Francisco ► Established Bird & Bird’s strategy in the US market ► Provided international legal support to US clients and business partners