Florian Nicolai

Dr. Florian Nicolai is an Academic Councillor at the Chair of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure Law and Legal Philosophy at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU). He completed his doctorate in 2023 with a thesis on the Internet of Things and Criminal Law, published by Duncker & Humblot in 2024. His research focuses on cybercrime, digital evidence, and the legal implications of networked devices, with significant contributions to both German and international legal scholarship.

Nicolai's research interests span criminal law and criminal procedure with a specialized focus on cybercrime and digital technologies. His work examines how the Internet of Things challenges traditional legal frameworks, particularly regarding evidence collection, privacy rights, and jurisdictional issues. He has developed expertise in forensic analysis of smart devices, transborder digital investigations, and regulatory approaches to emerging technologies. His research bridges theoretical legal scholarship with practical applications for law enforcement and judicial proceedings in the digital age.

Nicolai's publications reveal a strong trend toward analyzing how digital technologies transform criminal law and procedure. His work consistently addresses the tension between technological advancement and legal frameworks, with particular attention to evidence collection from networked devices, privacy implications, and procedural adaptations. His scholarship demonstrates interdisciplinary collaboration, frequently partnering with computer scientists and international researchers to address complex cybercrime challenges.

• Staedtler Foundation Doctoral Prize
• Doctoral prize of the Faculty of Law at FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg

Nicolai regularly teaches preparatory exercises in criminal law at FAU since 2017 and has developed specialized courses on computers and criminal law, criminal law in art and pop culture, and IoT devices in legal proceedings. He frequently delivers guest lectures at FAU's Department of Computer Science and Stockholms Universitet on cybercrime topics. As co-founder of the criminal law podcast "Räuberischer Espresso," he has created innovative educational content that bridges academic scholarship and public engagement with criminal law concepts.

Nicolai collaborates with the Swedish Law and Informatics Research Institute (IRI) at Stockholms Universitet as an associate researcher and has established connections with multiple international institutions through his work on cybercrime and digital evidence. His involvement with the "young criminal law e.V." association and editorial work for the Journal of Cyber Criminal Law demonstrates active participation in building scholarly communities focused on the intersection of law and technology.