We advise operators of digital platforms on the legal structuring of their business models. In doing so, we clarify the platform’s role, contractual relationships, payment and data flows, liability, user guidelines, and regulatory interfaces, and ensure a consistent legal framework.
Unclear Role of the Platform
Platforms can be intermediaries, contracting parties, technical service providers, or a combination of these. Their legal role must align with user guidance, communication, payments, and contracts. Inconsistencies increase liability and regulatory risks.
Multilateral Contractual Relationships
Platforms bring together multiple user groups. We help align platform terms, provider terms, and, where applicable, individual contracts so that rights and obligations are distributed in a transparent manner.
Payment and Commission Models
When the platform processes payments, transfers funds, or withholds commissions, regulatory issues may arise in addition to contractual matters. We analyze payment flows and the roles of the payment providers involved.
Content and User Behavior
When it comes to user-generated content, it is important to establish which content is permitted, how reports are handled, and under what circumstances accounts or content may be suspended. We help develop appropriate terms of use and moderation policies.
We advise operators of digital platforms, marketplaces, brokerage portals, and community models, as well as companies building multi-sided digital ecosystems, on platform models. Our consulting services combine legal analysis with a pragmatic understanding of technology, data, contracts, and internal processes. Depending on the project, we conduct individual reviews or provide support throughout multiple project phases.
We analyze who enters into which contracts with whom, who provides which services, and who processes payments or complaints. Based on this, we develop a consistent legal role model.
We establish terms and conditions for operators, providers, and users. These terms and conditions govern, in particular, access, services, fees, content, account suspensions, liability, ratings, termination, and the role of the platform.
We review cash flows, collections, disbursements, commissions, and the integration of payment service providers. If necessary, we also analyze potential implications under financial market law.
We structure privacy policies, consent forms, and roles in accordance with the DSG and GDPR, and review how data is exchanged between the platform, users, providers, and service providers.
We provide support for the launch of the platform, new features, new countries, or new partners. We can also develop legal frameworks for processes related to complaints, account suspensions, abuse, and changes to the platform’s terms of service.
We quickly map out digital products, data flows, and technical dependencies, which allows us to tailor our legal recommendations specifically to the project.
We take into account data protection, financial market law, and other regulatory requirements where they are actually relevant to the specific project.
Our recommendations are intended not only to be legally sound, but also to be practical and implementable for the product, IT, and management teams.
We work directly with senior management, Legal, Compliance, Product, IT, and external vendors, thereby avoiding unnecessary translation loops.
Not every digital project requires the same level of scrutiny. We prioritize based on criticality and focus our consulting on the key risks.
We integrate contracts, data protection, governance, and regulatory issues, and—when needed—support projects from the initial concept through to ongoing operations.
