Lukas Bühlmann, LL.M.
Lukas Bühlmann, LL.M.

Lukas Bühlmann, LL.M.

Partner, Zurich

Schiffbaustrasse 2 | P.O. Box | CH-8031 Zurich | Switzerland
Schiffbaustrasse 2 | P.O. Box | CH-8031 Zurich | Switzerland
T +41 58 552 04 80
lukas.buehlmann@mll-legal.com

Profile

Lukas Bühlmann, an experienced partner at our firm, spearheads the Digital, Data Privacy, and E-Commerce Group. Renowned for his expertise in the digital and internet economy, Lukas specializes in advising and representing a diverse clientele ranging from Swiss and international entities in the internet and e-commerce sector to major players in health, tourism, and public transport.

His extensive experience encompasses advising on e-commerce regulation, data protection & commercialisation, advertising as well as AI regulation and IT & software projects. His practice is notably strong in international and cross-border digital business and the intricate interplay between competition law and digital commerce. Lukas excels in sectors like luxury goods, new technology, advertising, media, tourism, and retail. Fluent in German, English, and French, he brings a global perspective to his practice.

As the co-chair of our firm’s ICT practice group, Lukas unites lawyers from our offices, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. He also leads our firm’s industry group for the digital economy, ensuring we stay at the forefront of legal developments in the digital domain.

Lukas’s recognition as a legal authority is further highlighted by his appointment as a Legal Expert to the International Trade Centre (Geneva) in 2019, where he advised the ITC as well as foreign governments on data protection and cybersecurity legislative projects. His affiliations include the International Bar Association (Past-Chair Product Law & Advertising Committee), ITechLaw, the Swiss Commission for Fair Advertising (Media Expert), the Legal Chapter of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), the Swiss Distant Selling Association (Legal Counsel), and the Swiss Direct Marketing Association (former Board Member for Regulation and Data Protection). He has been an integral part of the Swiss E-Commerce Award jury since its inception in 2012.

An acclaimed author and editor, Lukas contributes to the discourse on digital legal matters through numerous publications and as the founder and one of the main contributors on legal issues in digital business to the firm’s legal news channel (www.mll-news.com). A regular speaker at both local and international conferences, his expertise is recognized globally with top tier listings in Chambers and Partners Europe, Legal500, Best Lawyers, and Who’s Who Legal for several consecutive years.






Rankings & Awards

Legal 500 EMEA Recommended Lawyer 2024Legal 500 EMEA Leading Individual 2024Chambers and Partners Europe 2024 Lukas BühlmannChambers and Partners Advertising & Marketing Global Practice Guides 2023Lukas Bühlmann Best Lawyers 2024Legal 500 EMEA Leading Individual 2023Legal 500 EMEA Recommended Lawyer 2023Chambers and Partners Europe 2023 Lukas BühlmannWho's Who Legal Recognized in Data 2023Best Lawyers Recognized in 2023Chambers and Partners Europe 2022 Lukas BühlmannLegal 500 EMEA Leading Individual 2022Legal 500 EMEA Recommended Lawyer 2022Who's Who Legal Switzerland 2022Chambers and Partners Europe 2021 Lukas BühlmannLegal 500 EMEA Leading Individual 2021Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2021Chambers and Partners Advertising & Marketing Global Practice Guides 2021Best Lawyers Recognized in 2021Chambers and Partners Lukas Bühlmann Europe 2020Legal 500 EMEA Leading Individual 2020Legal 500 EMEA Recommended Lawyer 2020Best Lawyers Recognized in 2020Legal 500 EMEA Recommended Lawyer 2019
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is celebrated for his first-rate handling of data protection matters in the tourism, healthcare and e-commerce sectors” – Lexology index: Thought Leaders, Switzerland, 2024
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is a brilliant TMT lawyer whose team is a joy to work with, consistently making complex matters easy for the clients to digest and make smart business decisions upon” – Legal 500 EMEA, TMT, 2024
  • “Lukas Bühlmann: Excellent legal expertise. Enormous business acumen. Business-minded. Always on top of new legislative and technical developments. Great negotiations skill” – Legal 500 EMEA, TMT, 2024
  • “I would in particular highlight the work of Lukas Bühlmann who is able to explain highly technical legal concepts succinctly and tailored towards the needs of the client” – Legal 500 EMEA, TMT, 2023
  • “For many years Lukas Bühlmann has been one of Switzerland’s leading privacy and data protection practitioners. What makes him distinct is his hands-on and very practical approach to legal counselling” – Legal 500 EMEA, TMT, 2023
  • “Lukas Bühlmann has excellent legal skills combined with strategic thinking and outstanding business mindset” – Legal 500 EMEA, Data Privacy & Protection, 2023
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is heading the group and is extremely active, also on an international level. He pushes the team and does a fantastic job” – Legal 500 EMEA, Data Privacy & Protection, 2023
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is a pleasure to work with. He has been an industry leader for many years, providing hands-on and practical legal advice” – Legal 500 EMEA, Data Privacy & Protection, 2023
  • “Lukas always provides to-the-point and cost-effective advice” – Chambers and Partners Europe, TMT, 2023
  • “He knows this area better than pretty much anyone” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Data Security, 2023
  • “Lukas Bühlmann impresses market sources with his advice on digital, e-commerce and data protection law for domestic and international clients” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Telecoms & Media, 2023
  • “Lukas Bühlmann has a thorough knowledge of the law and technological developments, is always amiable and identifies his clients’ needs. He is a top TMT lawyer with broad expertise and long experience” – Legal 500 EMEA, TMT, 2022
  • “The established Lukas Bühlmann earns acclaim for his leading expertise in licensing, distribution and franchising agreements in Switzerland” – Who’s Who Legal, National Leader Franchise, 2022
  • “He is experienced and driven with specific knowledge in the e-commerce industry” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Data Information Technology, 2022
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is a top practitioner, frequently sought after by clients in the telecoms and media sectors for his excellent work on e-commerce and data privacy matters” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Telecoms & Media, 2022
  • “Lukas has comprehensive know-how of the key issues of data protection law” – Who’s Who Legal, Global Leader Data Privacy & Protection, 2022
  • “Lukas Bühlmann really is the go-to person for e-commerce in Switzerland” – Chambers and Partners Europe, TMT, 2022
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is an extremely far-sighted lawyer who always tries to keep an eye on the whole picture and take future developments into account. He is very careful in his legal researches and has a deep understanding of economics” – Legal 500 EMEA, TMT, 2022
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is an extremely solution-oriented practitioner who strives for the best possible outcome for his clients even in the most complex environments” – Who’s Who Legal, Thought Leaders Data Privacy & Protection, 2021
  • “Lukas Bühlmann is recognised as very present in the IT market thanks to his experience handling complex data privacy and protection issues” – Who’s Who Legal, Thought Leaders Data, 2021
  • Sources laud Lukas Bühlmann for his “proactive personality, thinking outside the box and pursuing pragmatic approaches” – Chambers and Partners Europe, TMT, 2021
  • “Very business oriented; team player” – IFLR 1000, 2021-22
  • Lukas Bühlmann is a board member of the Swiss Direct Marketing Association and is responsible for regulation, self-regulation and data protection
  • Since its launch in 2012, Lukas Bühlmann has been a member of the jury for the annual Swiss E-Commerce Award

Deals & Cases

  • Advice and assistance to a UN-Organization with regard to a project assisting a UN member state modernizing its local data protection laws
  • Advising various public transport providers with regard to digitalization strategies, in particular data sharing
  • Advising a major online pharmacy in e-commerce and data protection matters
  • Advised various clients in the Tourism industry, including tourism destinations, with regard to digitalization, data protection and joint offerings
  • Advice to a major public hospital in Switzerland implementing compliance with the GDPR
  • Advised a major producer and reseller of jewelry & watches with regard to the launch of their international online business involving the coordination of legal compliance in various jurisdictions
  • Advised and represented a major payment service provider in the context of an important data breach case
  • Advised various Swiss companies implementing compliance with the new EU regulation on data protection (GDPR)

Education & Admission

  • Merger of Bühlmann Attorneys at Law and Meyerlustenberger Lachenal (2017)
  • Founding Partner with Bühlmann Attorneys at Law, Zurich (2009 – 2017)
  • LL.M. (Master of European Community Law), European Legal Studies, College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium (2002)
  • Admitted to the Bar in Switzerland (Zurich, 2001)
  • University of Lausanne, lic.iur. (1998)
  • University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK (1997)

Memberships and public offices

  • International Bar Association (IBA) (Past-Chair Product Law & Advertising Committee)
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Recht und Informatik (DGRI)
  • International Technology Law Association (ITechLaw)
  • Swiss Direct Marketing Association, Member of the Board (Regulation and Self-Regulation & Data Protection)
  • Swiss Distant Selling Association, Legal Counsel
  • Swiss Commission for Fair Advertising, Media Expert
  • Swiss Online Award, Jury (Legal & Compliance)
  • NetComm Swiss E-Commerce Association

Languages

  • German
  • French
  • English


Publications


News Portal


Firm News

“The established Lukas Bühlmann earns acclaim for his leading expertise in licensing, distribution and franchising agreements in Switzerland”

Who’s Who Legal, National Leader Franchise, 2022