Victor A. Thonke is an associate in the Frankfurt office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher where he is part of the firm’s Regulatory and Public Policy practices.
Victor advises clients on all aspects of Public Law, covering legal, regulatory, compliance, and public policy issues across a variety of industrial sectors. His practice comprises administrative, constitutional, European and public international law as well as sanctions and foreign direct investment control. Victor offers a profound understanding of technology and (legal) innovation with a focus on digital platforms and social media where he assists with strategic advice on regulatory response and litigation. Further, Victor advises on international legislative projects regarding the establishment of special economic zones and the regulation of various sectors.
Victor has substantial experience in representing international and national clients before courts and regulatory authorities including the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, the Federal Justice Office, and the State Media Authorities.
His representative experience* includes:
- Establishment of special economic zones in Saudi Arabia and drafting the founding laws for those zones including regulatory and public law regulations;
- Representation of major messenger service in fine proceedings before the Federal Justice Office and German Courts ;
- Strategic advice (including employee training program) of major social media platform regarding obligations under German and EU media regulation;
- Regulatory advice of Big Tech company on cloud computing and web services;
- Litigation on matters of foreign direct investment before the German Administrative Courts;
- Strategic advice of major DAX corporation in regards to mass-litigation and sanctions matters.
Prior to joining Gibson Dunn, Victor worked as an associate at another major international law firm and gained profound experience as a trainee lawyer at the Federal Ministry of Justice in Berlin and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Victor is an active member of the legal community and committed to pro bono work. He was seconded to assist the Greece Pro Bono Collaborative on asylum cases in Athens, and has acted as selected interview partner for a legal career platform.
Victor conducted his legal studies at Bucerius Law School (Hamburg) and University of Sydney. He passed both his first and second state exam with honors and received an LL.M. in Administrative and European Law with distinction from the German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. Victor has been admitted as a German lawyer (Rechtsanwalt) since 2021.
In addition to his native German, he is fluent in English and has advanced knowledge of French.
*Includes matters prior to joining Gibson Dunn
Capabilities
- Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice
- Artificial Intelligence
- Media, Entertainment, and Technology
- Public Policy
- Tech and Innovation
Credentials
Education:
- German Univ. of Administrative Sciences Speyer - 2021 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
- Bucerius Law School - 2017 First State Exam
- Bucerius Law School - 2015 Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Admissions:
- Germany - Rechtsanwalt