The Legal 500

Noerr LLP counts among the leading firms in the media arena, fully utilising its international capabilities. The team excels at linking its broad practice with other areas within the firm, opening up cross-selling opportunities. It represented MDR, WDR, Sat.1, and Bavaria Media in copyright proceedings, BBC Worldwide instructed the team on its joint venture with All3Media, and Studio Hamburg and Pinewood-Shepperton on its joint venture Pinewood Studio Berlin. The team also advised Barefoot Films on contracual matters regarding a Hollywood remake, and represents Michael Jackson’s testamentary executor in Germany. Martin Diesbach, Ulrich Michel and the ‘outstanding’ Johannes Kreile are particularly singled out in a team of lawyers who ‘know their stuff’.

For decades, SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte has been a standout in the film arena, but the team has successfully broadened its practice and increasingly advises clients from other industries, notably the gaming industry, in which Andreas Peschel-Mehner is visible. Highlight instructions came from Microsoft regarding its xbox device, and from Sparkasse KölnBonn regarding film financing. The team provides ongoing advice on various projects to Beta Film, Samfilm, Blue Eyes Fiction and German Columbia Picturs Film. Bavaria Film instructs the team in litigation regarding copyright issues. The experienced Mathias Schwarz is highly regarded.

CMS Hasche Sigle has built up a particular expertise in digital media matters, giving the firm a headstart in the current market. Copyright, utilisation rights and licensing matters regarding online content provide a major source of work and the team, including Pietro Fringuelli and Winfried Bullinger, represented Axel Springer, Heinrich Bauer, Burda and WAZ in litigation regarding electronic program guides. It also advised The German Premiere League (DFL) on media regulatory aspects.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer operates as an integrated team, offering seamless media, corporate, antitrust, and telecommunications law advice. Highlights included advising Comcast regarding the formation of a joint venture for taking over a majority stake in NBC, and advising Liberty Global regarding the acquisition of Unitymedia. The focus has, however, shifted to transactional advice, and away from providing continuous media law advice to long-standing clients. Klaus Beucher is recommended for advising on complex, high-value deals.

Hogan Lovells International LLP’s practice emerged from the merger as a key player in the market, however, the newly merged client base presents potential conflicts. Major transactions are the team’s staple, but gaming and new media matters increasingly create work. Another focus is regulatory advice, in which German quiz TV channel 9Live is a client. News Corp instructed the team on the increase in shareholding in Premiere, and Konami in proceedings regarding the commercialisation rights of the German Premiere League. Clients rate the team as ‘outstanding’, with Christoph Wagner displaying ‘excellent industry knowledge’. A renowned team, including Peter Raue departed in the course of the merger, opening up Raue LLP.

Brehm & v. Moers remains one of leading firms for film matters, with advice on large scale international film productions making up a significant part of the workload. Film financing, games, and small-scale transactions complement the offering. Film producers, major film studios and film production companies instruct the team, which includes the recognised Wolfgang Brehm and Stefan von Moers. An increasing source of work is advice to games publishers, particularly on licensing matters, and the team remains a good choice for directors and actors regarding advice on contracts.

With in-depth expertise in technology matters, McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP provides advice on regulation, litigation and M&A projects to primarily TMT clients. Deutsche Telekom instructed the team regarding content distribution over IPVT, and the firm advised CUTV on the sale of a majority in Premium Media Solutions to Sky Deutschland. It has represented Sat.1, Pro7, Kabel 1, N24, SevenSenses and Maxdome in 18 lawsuits against major German publishers, such as Axel Springer and WAZ, regarding copyright and antitrust matters. Wolfgang von Frentz and Ralf Weisser are singled out.

Poll Straßer Ventroni Feyock & Partner advises clients on film, TV, and entertainment matters, and has a highly regarded litigator in Stefan Ventroni, who is rated as ‘thorough but fair’ and ‘gets straight to the point’. Copyright matters pertaining to the entertainment industry are a particular specialty of the firm. Highlights included representing Bitkom against Gema, and the team provides ongoing advice to RTL2, Anschutz Entertainment Group, Dow Jones and Seitz Film. Günter Poll and Robert Straßer are both regarded.

UNVERZAGT VON HAVE has particular expertise advising film production companies, such as Odeon Film and ZDF Enterprises/Network Movie. The team, including Andreas Pense, further acts for digitial media clients and provides advice on contractual matters. Highlights included advising BBC Worldwide on international TV productions, Commerzbank on film financing, and Da Vinci Media on licensing matters. Harro von Have is recognised.

Olswang has significant expertise in film matters, and offers advice for media companies, including on corporate and tax matters. Highlights included acting for All3Media on its joint venture with BBC Worldwide, and representing BigPoint in copyright litigation. Advice on international film productions and providing ongoing regulatory advice, to ProSiebenSat.1, complement the offering. Stefan Lütje heads the firm’s MCT group, which includes the recognised Viola Bensinger.

The ‘top-class’ team at Taylor Wessing has emerged as a ‘very active player’ advising the games industry, and is noted for offering a full service to clients from the TV and digital media industries, with ‘in depth knowledge of global media rights’. Highlights included advising Bertelsmann on e-commerce, copyright, and unfair competition matters, and representing Google in litigation regarding its image search. It defended Youtube in litigation against a number of European collecting societies, including GEMA. Gregor Schmid and Stefan Freytag are highly regarded.

Boehmert & Boehmert frequently advises on copyright matters, particularly regarding piracy issues, in which clients from the music and film industry such as US studios and music producing companies instruct the team. The team represented Eurocities against Google in an antitrust case. Jan Nordemann is rated.

Hertin Anwaltssozietät represents clients in copyright, licensing, and increasingly new media issues. Bild.de, Sevenload, AGD, VDD and publishing house Axel Springer count among the clients. Paul Hertin and Christlieb Klages are recommended.

Offering seamless TMT advice, K&L Gates has built up a significant market presence advising on copyright, regulatory and technology matters. Highlights included representing MyVideo and Clipfish against claims by CELAS, and VPRT on a tariff agreement totalling €100m annually with GEMA. Martin von Albrecht is recognised.

Lausen Rechtsanwälte has emerged as a ‘well established name’ in the market, and has a good reputation for advice on contentious matters. The team excels at advising on copyright matters, and predominantly acts for content providers. Gema instructs the team on piracy matters, and Random House has been represented in litigation. Matthias Lausen and Martin Schippan are highly regarded.

White & Case LLP has expertise advising on media matters with a telecommunications angle, with the experienced Norbert Wimmer heading a team which represented Kabel Baden-Württemberg in dealings with the Federal Network Agency and provided competition, media, and IP law advice to Tipp24 Services. Regulatory expertise complements the offering.