Admissions
- Washington, DC
- Germany
Various federal courts up to United States Supreme Court:
- US Supreme Court
- US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- US Court of International Trade
- US Claims Court
- DC Superior Court
- DC Court of Appeals
Education
- Heidelberg University Law School
- Berlin F.U. Law School
- King’s College, U London
- GWU Law School, WDC
Languages
- German
- Spanish (reading)
Overview
As a German-American attorney and a AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rated lawyer, Mr. Kochinke advises on domestic and international issues, frequently in the technology fields and in relations between, or with, governments. As its managing partner from 2014 to 2022, he has practiced with the international law firm of Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP since 1984. Fully qualified as an American and German lawyer, he has testified as an expert on international law and assisted clients in American and multinational matters, often acting as the German Desk at BCR.
Clemens Kochinke’s practice is diverse, covering IT and intellectual property, transactions, and contract drafting including robot, AI and data licensing. Into this practice, he ties BCR’s experts in mergers & acquisitions, CFIUS, construction, employment, export controls, OFAC and ITAR, white collar and compliance defense litigation as well as other legal fields. With admissions to the DC (1983 – present) and German (1978 – 2022) bars and training in Washington, London, Heidelberg, Berlin and Malta, and with the benefit of training with notable mentors such as Monroe Leigh and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, he assists corporations and governments from the United States and German-speaking countries in American legal matters as well as U.S. clients in foreign matters.
Early in his career, Mr. Kochinke practiced in areas now known as international compliance, ranging from anti-corruption and anti-money-laundering to export controls. These are now the focus of two highly regarded departments at Berliner Corcoran & Rowe LLP. Mr. Kochinke serves on the editorial team of the Transatlantic Law Journal. Two major publishers released his chapters on international negotiations and contracts in two books. Chapters in earlier books range from computer law to international investment and compliance law.
Among his professional and volunteer affiliations and activities, Mr. Kochinke publishes the Embassy Law journal. Lawyers active in German-American transactions may want to read his reports on current development American law in German.
Professional Affiliations/Recognition & Awards
- DAJV
- DAJV/Britsh Council scholarship
Publications
- Deep Dive Podcast
- Goldrausch im medienrechtlichen Umfeld der USA, Kommunikation & Recht, 2026, 23
- Negotiating Contracts, U.S. chapter, in Heussen/Pischel, Contract Negotiations and Contract Management, 5th ed. Cologne 2021
- Negotiations in Germany: The Business Law Perspective, in Wegerich, Business Laws of Germany, Vol. 2, New York 3rd ed. 2012
- Country Report: USA, Kommunikation & Recht (Nov. 2023)
- American Contracts for Lawyers from Civil Law Countries
- Genesis of American Law, ZDAR, Bonn 2018
- Guest lecturer on American Intellectual Property and Internet Law, various German law schools.
- German American Law Ass’n: Treaty Negotiation and Implementation, Moderator
- Virginia Bar Association: Privacy and Data Security
- German American Law Ass’n: Asset Tracing and Asset Recovery
- German American Law Ass’n: Damage Control in Contracts and Torts: Punitive Damages and Liquidated Damages
Speaking
Among others, Salon, Slate, and the dominant German daily TV news program Tagesschau interviewed Mr. Kochinke on matters of international law. Other broadcast interviewers were NPR, CBS radio, newspapers, Agence France Press.
Other Relevant Experience
- Owner-operator of international smartphone software development company (sold in 2000), in charge of IT, IP, privacy, licensing, and some software development.
- Director on board of U.S. and Canadian public and private companies, mostly in IT (various terms).