IT Law Firm for Tech Companies
With us, legal becomes Growth Enabler
Former in-house counsel for SaaS & software: we take work off your legal team's plate, translate legal into business, and make you enterprise-ready to scale.
Why we founded LEXCHANGE
We were in-house counsel at fast-growing technology companies ourselves, and we know the reality:
Business needs speed, scalability, and clear decisions. Meanwhile, enterprise deals, IT procurement, compliance, product launches, finance matters, and strategic projects all run in parallel, often under intense time pressure. What's usually missing isn't "more legal opinions," but legal support you can actually act on. Traditional outside counsel doesn't just cost budget. It costs internal capacity: briefings, coordination, management, and in the end much of the work still lands back on the team. We founded LEXCHANGE to close exactly that gap.
As lawyers with an in-house mindset, we get up to speed without lengthy onboarding, prioritize ruthlessly, understand the usual stakeholder dynamics (Sales, Procurement, Product, Security), and deliver solutions that actually work inside the company.
We take work off your plate: End-to-end support from contract strategy and negotiation to process implementation.
We translate between legal and business: actionable recommendations instead of legal paragraphs – so teams can make quick decisions.
We make legal scalable: Templates, playbooks, clear workflows, and smart automation, so topics don't have to be constantly renegotiated.
Our Mission:
We make legal pragmatic and business-driven for software and SaaS companies with enterprise growth ambitions, and for mid-sized companies in digital transformation buying IT services. So you can close faster, scale cleanly, and grow without legal friction slowing you down.
Operational Wins
Our background is in in-house legal teams at tech companies, so we know what truly works in practice. We handle legal work end-to-end, translate complexity into clear decisions, and build structures that measurably accelerate enterprise deals and IT procurement.
enterprise tech deals negotiated
SaaS & Software · Platform & Partner · Resale/Co-Sell · Outsourcing, including DAX, Fortune 500, and public sector clients.
regions (EMEA, APAC & USA) supported through expansion and GTM
Contract Architecture · Governance · Risk & Decision Frameworks
scale-up legal departments built from scratch
Operating Model · Processes · Templates · Tools · Roles & Responsibilities
growth phases supported as in-house/interim counsel
Sales Support · Go-to-Market · Compliance · Funding · Global Expansion · Automation
We understand tech and business.
As former in-house counsel, we take work off your hands: clear, actionable recommendations, reliable handling of contract negotiations, and structures that meaningfully speed up sales and procurement.
We think like your legal department
As former General Counsel and in-house lawyers at tech companies, we know how Product, Sales, Procurement, and Management actually make decisions. We give you actionable recommendations, take work off your plate, and build legal processes that support your growth.
Clear advice instead of lengthy opinions
We align with your risk profile and goals, not with legal perfection. You get concrete recommendations, negotiable positions, and templates that speed up deals and work with your internal processes.
Scaling through Legal Operations
We work with modern tech every day and know how to fold it into your processes, from automated contract generation to AI-powered review of IT contracts. We practice what we preach.
Big Law expertise meets startup mentality
Rigorous in analysis, pragmatic and creative in execution
Maxim Letski
Partner
Former General Counsel of two SaaS companies; previously on the Google Cloud legal team. Built two legal departments, negotiated 200+ enterprise deals. Expert in complex tech contracts (development, cloud, implementation, resale, OEM) and cross-border legal operations.
Expertise
- Complex SaaS, software, resale, OEM, co-development, and outsourcing contracts with a focus on deal enablement, scalability, and practical implementation.
- Legal architecture for market entry in EMEA and the US: contract models, playbooks, governance, and sales enablement for repeatable enterprise sales.
- Translating GDPR, the AI Act, the Data Act, and sector-specific regulation into product-ready decisions for cloud, SaaS, IoT, and AI products, working closely with product and engineering
- Design of legal operating models, business interfaces, templates, playbooks, and the use of Legal Tech & AI in growing tech organizations.
Philosophy
- I deliberately work where things get uncomfortable: when interests collide, decisions are stalled, or structures are missing.
- I am a lawyer, but not just a risk manager. For me, law is a strategic tool to enable action.
- I address tensions early and directly: clear options matter more to me than safeguards with no consequences.
- I always consider legal questions in the overall context of product, sales, organization, and market.
- I create order so that others can decide faster and with more confidence.
- I work with people, not just on documents.
Careers
- Attorney, Bird & Bird
- Legal Counsel, Google Cloud
- General Counsel, Open-Xchange Group
- Managing Director, OX Software GmbH & PowerDNS.com B.V.
- Head of Legal, HiveMQ GmbH
- Founding Partner, LEXCHANGE / LR29
Projects
- Negotiation of over 50 complex enterprise SaaS deals for an ESG software provider with clients in the US and EMEA
- Development of contract and sales frameworks across multiple jurisdictions, including playbooks, decision logic, and governance for a global monitoring software provider
- Designing and running workshops on the implementation and impact of the AI Act for the management team of an asset management company owned by a major German insurer
- Creation of an AI policy and governance framework for an international mechanical engineering group
- Creation of an AI policy for the use of AI tools (including MS365 Copilot) for an international sports rights agency
- Structuring and implementation of resale models for a Big4 firm (including for Google Cloud, OpenAI, SAP, SAP PMC, and CyberArk), with public sector suitability
- Legal guidance on a dual-licensing relicensing to meet public sector requirements for software distribution
- Support for the transition of an email platform provider's business model from on-premise to SaaS
- Establishing a deal desk for an IoT software provider
- Developing contract negotiation playbooks for various SaaS and software providers
- Negotiating software outsourcing agreements for an email software provider with various Tier 1 telecommunications and hosting providers
- Negotiating a co-development agreement for a DNS provider with a leading US security software provider to deploy the DNS software on the provider's routers
- Legal support for establishing a hosting location in India for a SaaS provider
- Implementing a CLM system at an IoT software provider
- Developing a legal operating model for the legal team of a BNPL service provider
Dr. Eduard Hofert
Partner
Tech/Data/Web3 Lawyer specializing in complex tech contracts such as enterprise deals or strategic partnerships. Also advises on regulatory frameworks for complex technologies (especially AI and Web3): pragmatic and implementation-focused.
Expertise
- Complex sales partnerships for SaaS and software providers (such as resale or managed services)
- Selling technology (SaaS, software, cyber-physical systems) to the public sector and enterprise customers
- Legally compliant adoption of complex technologies (especially the AI Act, GDPR, and IP protection)
- Implementing AI Act governance
Philosophy
- Simple and clear communication instead of lengthy memos
- Clearly identify risks, present options, facilitate decisions
- Agile collaboration instead of late escalation
Careers
- Attorney, Taylor Wessing Germany
- Legal Counsel, Open-Xchange GmbH
- Senior Legal Counsel, N26 AG
- Senior Legal Counsel, HiveMQ GmbH
- Founding Partner, LR29 / LEXCHANGE
Projects
- Advising an EU-wide reseller on drafting and negotiating the contractual framework for the distribution of Google Cloud and ChatGPT Enterprise
- Advising a bank on strategic procurement (core banking services and KYC outsourcing)
- Establishing AI Act governance for the asset management company of a German insurance group
- Advising an IoT provider on transforming its business model from software licensing to SaaS
- Supporting Heidelberg Materials AG in its digital transformation, particularly the group-wide rollout of an AI solution
- Developing an AI policy for the use of AI systems (including MS365 Copilot) for an international sports rights agency
- Ongoing negotiation of complex enterprise SaaS deals for various SaaS companies in the EU (e.g., ESG, cybersecurity, and AI solutions) with clients in the US and EMEA
Dr. Max von Schönfeld
Of Counsel
SaaS/Data/AI Lawyer for cloud and data-driven business models (AI Act, Data Act, GDPR). Supports XaaS startups and scale-ups in GTM (Enterprise Contracting, Partner/Channel Models). Mediator and former GC & Product Lead (Legal Tech): hands-on and business-oriented.
Expertise
- Enterprise and public-sector contracting for tech companies: developing contract standards, sales playbooks, and commercial frameworks for XaaS, software, and technology sales
- Tech regulatory compliance: strategically translating regulation (including the AI Act, GDPR, Data Act, and Digital Services Act) into product decisions, governance frameworks, and sales
- Developing and negotiating complex sales and partnership models for XaaS and technology providers, including resale, OEM, and managed services structures
- Designing legal operating models and implementing legal tech: processes, templates, governance structures, and tech-supported workflows for growing tech organizations
Philosophy
- Legal solutions must enable deals: managing systemic risk matters, but speed determines commercial success.
- I believe in AI as a technology for the legal sector: I proactively try out new approaches and tools, always with the professional responsibility the law demands.
- I support go-to-market and product decisions strategically from day one. That's how late escalations are avoided.
- Pragmatic risk assessment is my approach: I lay out options with their trade-offs, enabling informed business decisions.
- I am highly responsive: legal uncertainty blocks decisions, while quick guidance enables action.
- Clear language instead of legalese: I translate legal complexity into actionable recommendations for product, sales, and engineering teams.
Careers
- Attorney, Noerr
- General Counsel Germany and Legal Product Lead, Miramis Technologies (formerly Pocketlaw)
- Co-founder of an AI-powered SaaS offering in accounting and tax
- Attorney, LEXCHANGE / LR29
Projects
- Negotiation of 40+ complex enterprise deals for XaaS companies with private and public sector clients in EMEA and the US, including for providers of cybersecurity, communications, ESG, and AI solutions
- Development of various commercial frameworks and playbooks for XaaS companies across multiple jurisdictions, including contract standardization, decision-making logic, and sales governance
- Supporting and negotiating numerous M&A transactions on both the buyer and seller side, covering tech, IT, and regulatory aspects, from due diligence and contract negotiation to post-closing integration
- Developing and guiding several international market entry strategies for technology companies, including contract adaptation, regulatory mapping, and local compliance requirements
- Structuring and implementing resale models for a Big4 firm, including for Google Cloud, OpenAI, SAP, and CyberArk, with a focus on public sector suitability
- Designing company-wide AI governance frameworks and AI policies for various organizations, including for the use of MS365 Copilot and other AI tools
- Building an AI-powered legal tech product for the German market at a contract management and legal workflow platform
- Developing and implementing data protection governance structures, including product documentation, contractual standards, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), incident response processes, vendor management for third-party risk assessments, international data transfers to third countries, and data deletion concepts
Lisa Fuhrmann
Student Assistant
Supports the team with research in data protection, IT, and IP law, and with administrative tasks in daily law firm operations.
Expertise
- Research across IT and data protection law, especially regulatory frameworks such as the Data Act, the AI Act, NIS2, DORA, and the Cyber Resilience Act.
- Preparation of expert articles and contributions on current topics in IT and data protection law.
- Handling administrative and organizational tasks, especially document management and the formal review of legal documents.
Philosophy
- I see my role as supporting the team substantively and organizationally across a wide range of tasks.
- A precise and comprehensive approach to work is the foundation for high-quality output.
Careers
- University of Hamburg: Law Studies
Projects
Based in Hamburg. Remote-first across Germany and beyond.
We work the way modern software teams do: digital, agile, and asynchronous where it makes sense. You'll get quick feedback (by the next business day at the latest), clear next steps, and a way of working that fits into your processes, not the other way around.
Geographic Focus: Germany, the EU, and the US, covering international contracts, IT procurement, and enterprise deals.
Remote-First: Digital collaboration with modern tools (e.g., Slack or Teams) and video calls. Fast and efficient, with no travel time
On-site when needed: We'll come in person for workshops, training, or complex contract negotiations
Flexible Time Zones: US/APAC calls for international negotiations are no problem
What Our Clients Say
Real-world case studies
Maxim played a crucial role in structuring a co-innovation agreement. His expertise and pragmatic approach helped us achieve an outcome that supports both strategic objectives and long-term collaboration.
I have worked with Maxim over the past few months. His ability to quickly grasp complex issues and guide them towards a pragmatic, yet risk-balanced solution was extremely helpful. He is very reliable, and his advice was always well-structured and precise.
LEXCHANGE successfully supported Heidelberg Materials with its digital transformation, providing comprehensive legal guidance for the group-wide implementation of an innovative AI solution. A particular focus was on fulfilling the requirements of the EU AI Act and conducting a thorough data protection assessment of the deployed AI technology.
"LEXCHANGE helped us revise our General Terms and Conditions, consolidating various business models into a unified framework. Their pragmatic approach and deep expertise in agile software and product development projects, as well as consulting services, were very impressive."
Maxim from LEXCHANGE served as our external data protection officer and data protection consultant for several years. He helped us structure our business models in compliance with the GDPR and was always a very creative consultant with extensive expertise in the SaaS industry and a very deep technical understanding.
With LEXCHANGE as our legal partner, we efficiently scaled our contracting processes. Their ability to translate complex legal issues into actionable, business-oriented solutions was crucial for our successful negotiations and adherence to compliance standards in the tech sector.
LEXCHANGE supported us with legal advice and in building Checkmk's legal structure as part of a "Legal Team as a Service". Beyond their professional expertise, I was particularly impressed by their direct communication and personal approach, which perfectly align with our corporate culture.
I have worked with Maxim and Eduard on several complex SaaS and on-premise deals with enterprise clients. Both have a very strong focus on the essentials and understand the technical and commercial complexity behind each deal – this clearly sets them apart from various other lawyers I have worked with.
Eduard and Maxim worked with Ratepay as Interim Legal Counsel for several months. Their strong commercial mindset and passion for innovation and technology made them highly valued advisors and pleasant sparring partners – for both the business and management.
Maxim Letski assisted us with the drafting and negotiation of a complex SaaS project contract for the integration of a SaaS provider in the investment services sector. In doing so, he not only distinguished himself as an expert in SaaS and IT projects but also as a versatile talent with profound business administration expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions from our clients
Working with LEXCHANGE makes the most sense when:
- Enterprise deal negotiations regularly drag on too long
- Sales and Legal frequently escalate issues
- New regulations (AI Act, Data Act, etc.) are blocking processes
- You're preparing for international expansion
- You need to build or scale a legal department
LEXCHANGE supports both
- sales organizations on the selling side and
- procurement and product organizations adopting software, cloud, and AI.
Among other things, we help companies with:
- Building reseller and partner programs
- Structuring SaaS and cloud procurement processes
- Developing legal operating models for legal departments
- Building contract playbooks
- Training sales and legal teams
- Setting up legal departments
- Meeting compliance requirements under the GDPR, the AI Act, and the Data Act
Yes. We provide support across the entire deal cycle:
- Deal readiness (templates, playbooks, security and privacy addenda)
- Redlines & strategy (priorities, risk appetite, fallbacks)
- Live negotiation (e.g., with the customer's procurement and legal teams)
- Closing & lessons learned (playbook updates, model clauses, sales enablement)
Our focus: making deals happen without taking on unnecessary risk.
We specialize in B2B SaaS and software business models, particularly in the areas of IoT & Infrastructure, Telecommunications, Hosting & Cloud Computing, Fintech, AI, and Legal Tech. We have extensive experience in selling SaaS to enterprise clients and the public sector, as well as in complex software projects such as private clouds or software development. Our in-house experience allows us to understand the specific challenges of these industries from both a commercial and operational perspective.
A contract playbook is your "negotiation operating system": for each clause area (e.g., liability, data protection, IP, SLAs, audits), it defines your standard position, fallbacks, deal-breakers, and lines of argument.
The result: faster reviews, more consistent deals, fewer escalations, and more manageable risks.
Yes, that's exactly what we've done in-house ourselves. Typical building blocks:
- Operating model (roles, mission, interfaces with sales/IT/security/product, escalations)
- Contract landscape (templates, clause library, playbook, approval processes)
- Legal ops (intake, prioritization, KPIs, tooling, knowledge base)
- Compliance foundation (data protection, Data Act, AI Act, security addenda, vendor management, training)
The goal: scalable, deal-ready, and free of over-engineering.
We offer a free Legal Health Check (bookable through our website). In a 45-minute discovery call, we analyze your situation, identify gaps, and map out a concrete roadmap. After that, you decide whether and how we work together.
We work flexibly: remotely, hybrid, or on-site in Hamburg. Most projects are hybrid, combining regular in-person meetings with daily remote collaboration. We adapt to your preferences.
A risk appetite framework turns "gut feeling" into clear guardrails: which risks are we willing to accept (and up to what level), and which are off the table?
Typical outcomes:
- Risk categories (critical/high/medium/low)
- Clause thresholds (e.g., liability caps, audit rights, security requirements)
- Decision paths (who can approve what, and when to escalate)
This speeds up decisions and makes negotiations more predictable.
Yes. Especially on ongoing enterprise deals, regulatory "hot topics," or urgent customer requirements, we can jump in quickly. Typically that means a lean onboarding (goals, priorities, existing documents), then straight into redlines and workstreams.