Dr. Karsten Kinast, LL. M.

KINAST Attorneys at Law, a German firm devoted to data protection, compliance and information security, has been named Data Protection Law Firm of the Year in Germany at the Corporate INTL Global Awards 2025. Led by its founder and managing shareholder, Dr. Karsten Kinast, LL.M., the practice has grown into a specialist team of more than sixty-five legal and IT experts serving international clients across upward of thirty-five countries.

Data protection has become one of the defining legal challenges for modern organisations, and KINAST has built its entire identity around it. The firm advises comprehensively on the General Data Protection Regulation and related obligations, offering everything from legal advisory work on GDPR compliance to data protection audits, data protection impact assessments and breach incident response. It also acts operationally, taking on external Data Protection Officer roles as well as group data protection officer, data protection manager and coordinator functions for its clients.

Dr. Kinast established the firm with an exclusive focus on data protection and IT law, and he personally serves as external Data Protection Officer for numerous national and multinational corporations, banks, insurers and public sector and church organisations. Holding a Master of Laws in European legal informatics, he brings more than fifteen years of experience in data protection and compliance and is recognised among the leading personally recommended data protection lawyers in Germany. He is also the founder of a data protection quality-seal initiative, reflecting his wider commitment to raising privacy standards across industry.

What distinguishes KINAST is the way it blends legal counsel with a genuine understanding of information security and the operational realities of its clients' businesses. The firm emphasises close proximity to the organisations it advises, arguing that a real interest in a client's processes is what enables consulting that is focused, practical and effective rather than merely theoretical. Its team of lawyers and IT consultants is equipped to address both the legal framework of the GDPR and the technical measures required to give effect to it.

Recognising that data protection needs vary enormously from one organisation to the next, KINAST offers flexible engagement models. These range from monthly retainer arrangements to bespoke packages addressing specific requirements, together with scalable resources that can cover capacity gaps or parental-leave absences within in-house teams. This adaptability makes the firm a natural partner for organisations of every size, from start-ups finding their feet on privacy to large multinationals managing group-wide compliance programmes.

Operating across Germany, Europe and further afield, KINAST provides local points of contact for multinational corporations and mid-sized enterprises alike, giving clients a single, coordinated source of advice for cross-border data protection questions. As enforcement intensifies and the volume and sensitivity of personal data continue to grow, that kind of dedicated, well-resourced counsel has become indispensable.

The Corporate INTL award confirms KINAST's position at the forefront of German data protection practice and reflects the depth of specialist knowledge that Dr. Kinast and his team bring to bear. For organisations seeking to meet their GDPR obligations with confidence — whether by appointing an external Data Protection Officer, responding to an incident or embedding privacy into their processes — the firm offers an experienced, technology-literate and internationally capable partner.