What began as Munich Digital Day has evolved into TECH: ignite, Simmons & Simmons’ global flagship series at the intersection of law, technology and innovation. The Munich edition marked an important milestone in this journey, firmly embedding the event within our international TECH: ignite series dedicated to exploring the legal, commercial and strategic forces shaping the future of technology.
Key topics and takeaways
On 7 May 2026, senior legal, compliance and technology leaders came together in Munich for a one day, in person event focused on “AI Agents, Governance & the EU Digital Rulebook”. Discussions centred on:
- self directed AI agents and AI powered robotics
- AI governance and compliance in high risk environments
- the EU Digital Rulebook, including the EU AI Act and Data Act
- emerging global AI and data regimes across the US, China, and Asia
The event provided a practical and forward looking perspective on how organisations can navigate the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape while enabling innovation. Participants heard first hand insights from regulators, industry pioneers and in house counsel at leading technology and industrial companies.
Please find below the agenda and the presentation slides.
Agenda
09:30 – 10:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee
Arrival, badge collection and networking
10:00 – 10:15
Opening & Welcome
Short welcome, framing of the day and practical information.
Speaker: Christopher Götz LL.M. (New York), Partner (Munich), Simmons & Simmons Germany
10:15 – 11:00
Session 1
Title: Agentic AI Unleashed – Opportunities, Risks and Legal Guardrails
10:15 – 10:35
Opening Keynote
“Building with Agentic AI – What Breakthrough Systems Mean for Business”
Speaker: Dr Johannes Otterbach, ex OpenAI, Palantir; AI and Quantum, SPRIND – Bundesagentur für Sprunginnovationen
Download the session slides here.
10:40 – 11:00
“Designing Compliant Agentic AI – Key Legal Issues for Companies”
Speaker: Andrew Joint, Partner (London), Simmons & Simmons; Dr Tina Gausling LL.M. (Columbia University) , Counsel (Munich), Simmons & Simmons Germany
Focus: AI Act & GDPR interplay, liability, accountability
Download the session slides here.
11:05 – 12:05
Session 2
Title: The EU Digital Rulebook in Practice – From Data Act to AI as a Service
11:05 – 11:20
“New EU Digital Laws – Building a Practical Compliance Roadmap”
Speaker: Jaap Tempelmann, Partner (Amsterdam), Simmons & Simmons Netherlands
Focus: How to think about operationalising overlapping digital regulations?
Download the session slides here.
11:20 – 11:35
“Connected Products & the EU Data Act – What Manufacturers Must Prepare For”
Speaker: Dr Hans Peter Wiesemann, CIPP/E, Leader Practice Group Digital Law, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Focus: Data access, sharing obligations, impact on product strategy.
Download the session slides here.
11:35 – 11:50
“SaaS, IaaS & AIaaS – Making Sense of the Data Act’s Cloud Switching Rules”
Speaker: Christopher Götz LL.M. (New York), Partner (Munich), Simmons & Simmons Germany
Focus: Cloud portability, lock in, interoperability and contracts.
Download the session slides here.
11:50 – 12:05
Panel Discussion & Q&A
Short moderated discussion with all three speakers, then audience Q&A.
12:10 – 12:25
Spotlight Talk
Title: AI & Data protection – already in harmony?
Speaker: Michael Will, President, Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision (BayLDA)
Focus: Digital Omnibus
Download the session slides here.
12:30 – 13:15
Networking Lunch (45 minutes)
13:15 – 13:35
Spotlight Talk
Title: Physical AI – Regulatory Convergence & Contractual Complexity in Robotics
Speaker: Tobias Lange, Head of Legal Regulatory, Privacy & Legal Europe, Intrinsic, an AI Robotics Group at Google
13:35 – 14:15
Session 3
Title: AI Governance in High Risk Environments – Cybersecurity, Explainability, Compliance
Format: very short inputs (5–7 minutes each) followed by a moderated panel discussion and Q&A.
Short perspectives from:
- Dr Anke Allenhöfer, Lead Counsel Germany, Helsing; Advisory Board Rüstung, Sicherheit & Recht (RüSiR); Independent Advisory Board, Responsible by Design Institut
- Ioana-Sabina Carjan, Senior Legal Counsel – AI & IP Global Transactions, Compliance and Workflows, Infosys Limited
- Dr Stefan Krätschmer, Senior Counsel, IBM Law Department, Europe (DACH), IBM Deutschland GmbH
- Dr Peter Ruttmann, Assistant General Counsel, BMW Group
Moderation: Sophie Sheldon, Partner (London), Simmons & Simmons
14:30 – 14:50
Coffee Break (20 minutes)
14:50 – 15:20
Session 4
Title: AI Around the World – Global Regulatory Outlook 2026
Short regional updates followed by joint Q&A.
14:50 – 15:05
“United States – Patchwork or Pattern? AI Laws & Standards in Practice”
Speaker: Robin Power Kynaston, Deputy General Counsel, Global Privacy, Cybersecurity & AI Governance Officer, Consilio LLC
15:05 - 15:20
“China and Asia Pacific – Emerging AI & Data Governance Regimes”
Speaker: Jingyuan Shi, Partner (Hong Kong/Shenzen), Simmons & Simmons Asia
Focus: Chinese AI rules, trends across wider APAC.
Download the session slides here.
15:20 – 15:35
Spotlight Talk
Title: EU AI Act – Digital Omnibus & Trilogue Discussions – Status Quo & Insights
Speaker: Kai Zenner, Head of Office & Digital Policy Advisor to MEP Axel Voss, European Parliament
15:35 – 15:40
Joint Q&A (time permitting)
15:40 – 15:55
Closing & Key Takeaways
Speaker: Christopher Götz LL.M. (New York), Partner (Munich), Simmons & Simmons Germany
15:55 – 16:00
Buffer / Informal Networking
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