Philipp L. Leitner

Dr.iur., LL.B.
Partner

Background

Philipp Leitner has been working for SAXINGER in Linz since 2013. Philipp Leitner’s professional career is characterised by the interplay of law, business and technology. He studied law at Johannes Kepler University Linz and the University of Vienna. In addition, he completed a degree in business law (LL.B.) at Johannes Kepler University Linz. A year of study at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) in Bergen broadened his education by adding an international and economic perspective. In 2017, he passed the bar exam with distinction. In 2021, he completed his PhD in law whilst working full-time. His academic work focused on data protection and technology law issues at the interface between research and medicine.

Expertise

Philipp Leitner advises national and international companies, as well as public sector organisations, on the planning, implementation and ongoing use of digital products, IT systems and data-driven business models. His practice focuses on IT law, data protection law, AI law, and IT security and cyber security law.

In the field of IT and software contract law, Philipp Leitner drafts and negotiates, in particular, software development, licence, SaaS, cloud and IT service agreements. He supports the procurement, development and roll-out of new systems, as well as the legal structuring of platforms and digital services. His advice also covers disputes and regulatory issues arising during day-to-day operations.

In data protection law, Philipp Leitner assists with ensuring data processing complies with the law, defining roles under data protection law, the use of external service providers, international data transfers and data protection impact assessments. He also supports companies in the event of data protection incidents and in proceedings before regulatory authorities and the courts.

When it comes to the introduction and use of AI systems, as well as the implementation of NIS2 and the Austrian NIS Act, Philipp Leitner advises in particular on the legal classification of responsibilities, internal governance structures, documentation obligations and contractual requirements for suppliers. Other key areas of focus include domain, internet and platform law, as well as European competition and state aid law, particularly in relation to collaborations, distribution models and funding projects.

In addition to his work as a lawyer, Philipp Leitner is an external lecturer at Johannes Kepler University Linz and at IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems. As a research fellow at the LIT Digital Transformation and Law Lab, he focuses on current legal issues relating to digital transformation.