Experience

Ava A. Moussavi, LL.M. (London)


Current Roles


Chief Digital Officer (CDO) / Head of Legal Operations & Tech — GvW Graf von Westphalen | Oct 2022 – Present

Ownership of the firm's digital transformation end-to-end — leading a cross-functional team of developers and lawyers across legal operations, process design, AI adoption, product development, and go-to-market for new legal services.


Lecturer for Legal Technology — University of Hamburg, Faculty of Law

Founding lecturer of the law school's Legal Technology course. Our faculty is the first in Germany to partner with Harvard Law School.


Previous Experience


BRYTER — CS Management | Mar 2021 – Sep 2022

Expanded the EMEA business with a focus on DACH, UK and Benelux law firms. Legal tech adoption at large law firms in DACH and Benelux. Contributed to product development in the areas of machine learning and UX.


CMS — Lawyer, Corporate M&A (London) | Feb 2018 – Oct 2020

Key transactions included:

  • Advance Publications, Inc. on the acquisition of Stage Entertainment — managed the matter across the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Russia

  • A joint venture involving APG Asset Management and Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Co. with a GBP 1.4 billion rental business in London

  • Accor on the UK aspects of its EUR 4.4 billion demerger of AccorServices and AccorInvest

  • Standard Life Aberdeen on the sale of its insurance business to Phoenix Group for approx. GBP 3.2 billion


CMS — Paralegal and Trainee Lawyer (Berlin & London) | Nov 2014 – Feb 2018


City St George's, University of London — Legal Researcher | Sep 2014 – Feb 2015


Education

  • Harvard Business School — Executive Education, Digital Strategy (DIGS)

  • The University of Law — Master of Laws (LL.M.)

  • City St. George's, University of London — Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) with Honours

  • The University of Law — Legal Practice Course (LPC)


Admissions & Memberships

  • Law Society of England & Wales

  • Law Society of Ireland

  • Berliner Rechtsanwaltskammer (Berlin Bar Association)

  • Liquid Legal Institute


Recognition

  • Named one of Top 15 people currently shaping the German legal tech market in Rechtsmarkt (2025)

  • GvW listed among the "Tech Elite" in JUVE Magazine (2025)

  • Named one of Top 10 people currently shaping the German legal tech market in Rechtsmarkt (2024)


Languages

  • English (native)

  • German (native)

  • Persian (native)

  • Italian (intermediate)


Based in

Germany (Berlin), Italy (Milan), and the UK (London) — working across Europe