Dr. Miriam Ballhausen

I am a technology, copyright and data protection lawyer working at the intersection of between software, data, and contracts, especially to support clients with technology transactions, data-driven projects, collaborative software development and artificial intelligence (AI).

As a partner in our Technology and Communications, Commercial, and Privacy and Data Protection groups, I have a strong background in helping open source license compliance litigation and have led the Compliance Work Team at the Linux Foundation's OpenChain project, which developed the ISO standard specifying key requirements of a quality open source license compliance program.

I have a strong focus on supporting clients with legal advise on the development, deployment, and commercialisation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, including disputes and the regulation of AI under the EU AI Act. Furthermore, I help clients navigate the EU Data Act and the Cyber Resilience Act. As part of my broader practice, I assist clients with disputes involving platform liability and I advise on privacy matters especially the GDPR.

In 2025, I was named in the Legal 500 Germany 2025 rankings, where Bird & Bird is ranked in Band 1 for Artificial Intelligence and I co-head the firm's AI Strategy Group.

As part of my broader practice, I assist clients with disputes involving platform liability and I advise on privacy matters especially the GDPR. I have worked with clients in a wide range of sectors, including online businesses, consumer electronics, automotive, life sciences, financial service and defense and I assist public organizations such as federal ministries to navigate the challenges of drafting public procurement contracts that ensure future compliance with all current and upcoming EU technology regulation in public procurement. Furthermore, I advise global companies building quantum computers both on public funding and tenders as well as on contractual agreements for the deployment of quantum technology.

In 2018, I was elected to the advisory council of the Legal Network of the Free Software Foundation Europe.