5,0/5 Google · 167 reviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.Period: October 2016 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
Initial consultation for businesses
We speak plainly
A contract is on the table, a deadline is running, a digital project is about to go live or a dispute threatens to escalate? Then you need a first reliable line instead of a general lecture on the law.
Please enter a short description first.
The first contact is free of charge. You will receive an explicit notice before any costs arise.
Response within 24 hours on working days
As of: 23 October 2026
Preparation3 of 5
- Present
Brief description of the facts - Present
Relevant documents - Deadlines and goalCheck
- Present
Parties and roles - Missing
Sensitive documents after mandate clarification
Point of review: Is a deadline already running?
- 1Send topicQuestions and documents
- 2Clarify costsCompetence and costs
- 3Set the lineAssessment and recommendation
Schematic illustration of a preparation. Simplified example.
We work for
- Start-ups
- SaaS providers
- Agencies
- Platform operators
- SMEs
Key points at a glance
- The initial consultation assesses a specific legal situation so that your company can take the next decision.
- The first contact is free of charge.
- A paid initial consultation only begins after transparent clarification of costs and your instruction.
- We advise companies and professional market participants on IT, AI, data, data protection, media, copyright, trade marks, competition, advertising and platforms.
- ITMR checks in advance whether your matter falls within our specialisation.
- The initial consultation does not replace a full contract review, external representation or an ongoing specialist mandate.
- Your contact is Jean Paul Bohne and his team. He is a specialist lawyer for IT law and for copyright and media law. Response on working days within 24 hours.
- SaaS
- Software as a Service. Software used over the internet rather than installed.
- DSA
- Digital Services Act. EU regulation with obligations for online platforms and intermediary services.
- NIS2
- EU directive on cybersecurity. It obliges many companies to carry out risk management and reporting.
- Data Act
- EU data regulation. It governs access to data from connected products and services.
Starting position
When does an initial consultation help?
When the legal question matters but the right path is not yet clear.
What are the facts, which documents matter, are deadlines running and which decision comes next?
A good initial consultation for businesses starts with the specific facts rather than an abstract question about the area of law. We clarify which documents matter, whether deadlines are running and which decision comes next.
This page is a structured entry point for companies that quickly need a reliable first assessment. Use the mandate navigator to clarify in advance which documents and information matter for your matter.
If it is still open which area of law is affected, the legal territory map helps with the classification. If several topics come together, the initial consultation remains the right entry point.
- For whom
- Companies and professional market participants
- Initial contact
- kostenfrei
- Topics
- IT, AI, data, media, IP, competition
- Result
- first legal line
A software contract, a non-disclosure agreement, an agency contract, terms and conditions, a licence model or a data protection document needs to be assessed before it creates commitment, disputes or pressure to sign off.
A warning letter, cease-and-desist demand, platform decision, lawyer's letter or request from an authority calls for a first line before you react hastily.
A website, app, SaaS, AI tool, campaign, data process, newsletter, platform model or brand presence is about to launch, roll out or be purchased.
Management, product team, data protection, marketing, IT, procurement or legal need an external assessment of which legal focus shapes the case.
A dispute needs to be assessed commercially. Not every position is worth escalating. The initial consultation brings together risk, effort, provability, negotiating options and possible next steps.
A specialist mandate is possible but not yet sorted. The situation may lead into IT law, data protection, media law, copyright, trade mark law, competition law, advertising law or several areas at once.
Describe your matter using the form. We will get back to you on working days within 24 hours.
Process
How does the initial consultation work?
From enquiry to first legal line in three steps.
01
Send topic Briefly describe the situation and upload contracts, letters, screenshots, drafts or other relevant documents.
02
Clarify costs We check whether your matter falls within ITMR's specialisation. Before any paid consultation, you receive a clear cost estimate.
03
Set the line In the appointment you receive a first legal assessment, a prioritisation of risks and a recommendation on whether and how the matter should be pursued.
What you take away from the initial consultation
- 1
Focus and route We identify the legal focus and name the most relevant specialist route.
- 2
Risks and deadlines We assess the most important risks, deadlines, documents and open facts.
- 3
Options and next step You receive a first assessment of options for action, negotiating approach or line of defence. We clarify whether a follow-up mandate, a specialist review or no further legal work is appropriate.
Service
What does the initial consultation deliver?
Service package: initial consultation
Assessment of the situation We assess the situation so that your company can decide whether to act immediately, review in more depth, negotiate, document or deliberately not escalate.
Review of existing documents We review the documents that matter for the question.
Prioritisation of risks We separate urgent from secondary points and flag running deadlines. That way you know what to do first.
Recommendation on the next step You learn whether a specialist mandate, an in-depth review, a negotiation or no further legal action makes sense.
- For whom
- Companies, start-ups, agencies, platforms
- First response
- within 24 hours on working days
- Costs
- We tell you the costs transparently before the initial consultation.
- Not included
- Contract drafting, audits, pleadings and external representation. Court proceedings only as a separate service.
Who delivers what and who decides
- Brief description of the facts
- Relevant documents
- Deadlines and desired goal
- Parties and their roles
- Check of competence
- Transparent cost estimate
- First legal assessment
- Recommendation on the next step
- You decide on instruction and next steps
- In a dispute, the court or authority
How does the engagement work?
- 1
First assessment You describe your matter using the form. We check our competence. The first contact is free of charge.
- 2
Offer Before the initial consultation we tell you the costs transparently. Only then do you decide whether to instruct us.
- 3
Court steps separately We agree court proceedings, external representation and follow-up mandates separately.
Preparation
Which information strengthens the initial consultation?
The clearer the starting point, the better the appointment can be used. What counts are the right points of reference, not a large number of documents.
Helpful for the appointment
Brief description of the facts It shows whether the matter concerns a contract, an obligation, content, an IP right, a dispute, a platform or a sign-off.Relevant documents Contracts, drafts, terms and conditions, letters, warning letters, letters from authorities, platform messages or screenshots show the specific exposure.- Deadlines and desired goal Defence, sign-off, negotiation, filing, deletion or escalation review each follow their own rules.
Parties and roles With agencies, platforms, service providers, customers, rights holders or authorities, a lot depends on who plays which role.Sensitive documents A brief outline is enough for the first enquiry. You only send sensitive documents in a targeted way after costs and the mandate have been clarified.
Limits
Initial consultation or straight to a specialist mandate?
The initial consultation fits when a first reliable assessment makes the next step possible.
| Criterion | Initial consultation fits better | Specialist mandate is the better fit |
|---|---|---|
| Facts | First assessment of specific facts | Contract drafting or extensive redline |
| Route | Choosing the right legal route | Defence or enforcement under deadline pressure |
| Decision | Choice between reaction, negotiation or deeper review | Implementation of data protection, AI, DSA, NIS2 or Data Act |
| Costs | Cost and effort estimate before a follow-up mandate | Representation before courts, authorities or platforms |
| Who decides | You choose the entry point. | We recommend based on situation and scope. |
Specialist routes
Which ITMR route is the better fit afterwards?
Once the focus is clear, the path often leads directly into a specialist route.
Software, SaaS, cloud, platforms, IT projects, provider changes and digital contract situations.
GDPR, data subject rights, data protection organisation, data processing, dealings with authorities and data breaches.
AI Act, AI governance, supply chains, AI products, AI use, liability and transparency issues.
Publications, platforms, reviews, social media, content and visible corporate communication.
Works, rights of use, licences and chains of title as well as names, signs, filing, clearance searches, opposition and trade mark infringement.
Unfair competition law, warning letters, injunctions, market conduct and platform presentation as well as claims, price advertising, email marketing, campaign sign-offs, product advertising and warning-letter risks.
Main areas
Which main area fits your situation?
If the situation is still unsorted, the right first classification is what counts.
The right framework when software, AI, data, data protection, cybersecurity, platforms, IT compliance or digital business models shape the case.
The obvious choice when content, publication, reputation, social media, press, platform access or rights to content are in the foreground.
The right fit when trade marks, designs, competition, advertising, domains, licences, IP rights or attacks in the market need to be clarified.
Cost clarity
How do we separate first contact and initial consultation?
The first contact serves to clarify the topic, our competence and the next step. A paid initial consultation only begins once we have stated the costs transparently and you instruct us.
For out-of-court advice, the law on lawyers' fees provides for fee agreements. § 34 RVG governs fees for advice and expert opinions. § 3a RVG governs agreements on lawyers' fees.
Information on the statutory framework is available from the German Federal Bar (BRAK) on lawyers' fees.
- § 34 RVG Advice, expert opinions and mediation.
- § 3a RVG Fee agreement.
- BRAK on lawyers' fees Guidance on the statutory framework.
Limits
Where are the limits of the initial consultation?
The initial consultation provides a first legal line, not a full project review.
- 1
No full review Extensive contract drafting and complete audits are separate mandates.
- 2
No representation We agree negotiations, pleadings and external representation separately.
- 3
No deadline management Ongoing deadline management and operational implementation belong in a follow-up mandate.
- 4
The decision remains yours We provide options and risks. You decide on the next step.
What companies should not decide unprepared
- Do not sign too early. Cease-and-desist declarations, standard contracts, DPAs, settlement proposals or platform terms can considerably narrow your later room for manoeuvre.
- Choose the route carefully. A case looks like data protection but turns on contract, competition, copyright, media law or trade mark law. The first assessment avoids detours.
- Secure evidence. Screenshots, versions, emails, tickets, deadlines, publications and platform notifications should be documented early, before they disappear or are overwritten.
Your contact
Lawyer and mediator · Partner · Specialist lawyer for IT law · Specialist lawyer for copyright and media law
View profile Düsseldorf, Schirmerstraße 80 · Hamburg, Palmaille 124
TOP lawyer 2027 · Business lawyers · Intellectual property
F.A.Z.-Institut and QuantiQuest. Based on recommendations from peers and assessments by in-house counsel. Source (opens in a new tab)
ReviewsWe do not check reviews of us on other platforms that we do not quote verbatim for authenticity. They may therefore also come from people who are not our clients. The rules of the respective platform apply. Reviews that we quote verbatim on our website, by contrast, have been checked for authenticity within the meaning of Section 5b(3) UWG (German Act against Unfair Competition): we compared the reviewers’ names with our client register. We also asked the respective platform to check the reviews for authenticity.
What clients say
5,0 von 5 · 71 Bewertungen auf anwalt.dePeriod: October 2018 to date · As of: 28 October 2026
“I had an initial consultation with Mr Bohne and can highly recommend him. He responded to my needs and wishes and advised me very well. Many thanks for that.” (translated from German)
“I had an initial consultation with ITMR Rechtsanwälte, specifically with Mr Bohne, and felt in very good hands from the start. He was extremely friendly, clear in his words and explained the situation in an understandable and transparent way. I particularly liked his open and honest manner – nothing was glossed over or unnecessarily complicated.” (translated from German)
“After a first meeting with Mr Bohne I received competent advice and useful tips. He clearly explained how I should proceed. …” (translated from German)
FAQ
What do companies ask about the initial consultation?
Is the first contact with ITMR free of charge?
Yes. The first contact is free of charge and serves to clarify your matter, our competence and the possible next step. A paid initial consultation only takes place after transparent clarification of costs and your instruction.
What is the difference between first contact and initial consultation?
The first contact clarifies whether and how ITMR can help. The initial consultation is the commissioned legal assessment of your specific situation, usually based on your description and first documents.
Which topics is the initial consultation suitable for?
It is particularly suitable for specific business situations in IT law, data protection, AI, media law, copyright, trade mark law, competition law, advertising law, platforms, contracts, warning letters and digital disputes.
Can I upload documents in advance?
Yes. Contracts, letters, warning letters, screenshots, letters from authorities, platform messages, drafts or project descriptions help to tailor the initial consultation more precisely to your situation.
Does the initial consultation replace a contract review or representation?
No. The initial consultation provides a first legal line. Extensive contract drafting, detailed audits, negotiations, pleadings or external representation are separate mandates.
When should I request a specialist mandate directly?
If it is clear that a contract must be reviewed in full, a warning letter defended, a trade mark filed, a data protection incident handled or a regulatory implementation set up, a specialist page is the better fit.
What happens if my matter is not a fit for ITMR?
Then we tell you at the first contact. No costs arise, and you can have your matter clarified elsewhere.
Next step
Request a first legal line
Does your company need to clarify a specific legal situation? Send your topic, questions and any documents. We first clarify competence and costs. Then you decide whether to instruct us with the initial consultation.
Helpful for your enquiry
- Brief description of the situation
- Contract, letter or screenshot
- Running deadlines
- Desired goal
You can also submit documents after our first response.
Request an initial consultation
For companies with a specific legal question in IT, data, media or IP.
Describe your topic, clarify competence and costs.
Related services
IT law & digitalisation Core digital area.Data protection law GDPR and data flows.External legal department Ongoing legal needs.Service packages All packages.