The Legal 500

Latham & Watkins LLP has a strong base of longstanding clients, ensuring a steady flow of work, including SPIEGEL publishing house, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Springer publishing house, New York Times and Dow Jones. The team broadened its work, increasingly advising telecommunications companies regarding press activities. Highlights included representing Axel Springer in a complaint to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights for violation of press freedom, and representing New York Times before the Federal Court of Justice regarding the international jurisdiction of German courts, over online content of foreign providers. Sebastian Seelmann-Eggebert and Ulrich Börger remain pre-eminent in their field.

Traditionally known for its advice to individuals, Prinz, Neidhardt, Engelschall has recently made a step forward regarding advice to companies, and acts for about one third of the German DAX30 corporations. The team represented Princess Madeleine of Sweden as plaintiff in front of the Hamburg Court of Appeals regarding a case of defamation and violation of privacy, and Volkswagen in a high-profile public dispute. The European Commission’s vice president instructed the team in a dispute with a German magazine regarding his privacy protection. The well-rounded practice is ‘as strong as ever’. Name partner Matthias Prinz leads a team of ten attorneys, including the recommended Dirk Dünnwald.

An ‘Ivy league firm’, say competitors – Damm & Mann acquired new clients Sixt and HSH Nordbank, and acted on high-profile cases, such as advising Axel Springer publishing house on press, unfair competition and copyright law regarding the publications BILD, Die Welt and B.Z., both on contentious and non contentious matters. Verlagsgruppe Handelsblatt, Bertelsmann, BBC, and Hachette are also clients. Roger Mann is highly regarded.

Schertz Bergmann Rechtsanwälte provides ‘flawless advice’ to politicians, famous individuals, political parties, and companies. TV presenter Günther Jauch instructed the team regarding the publication of wedding pictures, and further clients include Nadja Auermann, Heiner Lauterbach and Sabine Christiansen. In terms of advice to companies, the team counts DaimlerChrysler, TV 21, Studio Hamburg and Schiwago Film among its clients, and acts for the German Football Association (DFB), and political party Bündnis 90/Die Grünen. Christian Schertz and Simon Bergmann are recommended.

Hogan Lovells International LLP saw the departure of a renowned team in Berlin, including Peter Raue, who opened up the boutique Raue LLP, following the merger. The newly set up team, headed by Stefan Engels and Christoph Wagner, provides continuous advice to Bauer Media Group on press proceedings regarding personal rights and limitations of reporting. Online content distribution and press law-related crisis communication to companies and individuals are also a source of work.

Kanzlei Prof Schweizer functions as publishing house Burda’s legal department, advising Burda Broadcast and Burda Media/Digital. Focus Magazin and Focus TV Produktion are also clients. Robert Schweizer and the ‘excellent’ Stefan Söder are recommended.

Taylor Wessing has know-how in new technology matters, advising publishers on their online platforms, as well as advising on questions arising from new media issues. The team represented Heise publishing house in a lawsuit regarding links used in an online article, and functions as an external legal department to Condé Nast. The ‘suberb’ team, including Reinhard Gaertner and Stefan Freytag, is particularly recommended.

CMS Hasche Sigle’s clients value the team’s digital media expertise. Highlights included representing the Association of German Magazine Publishers (VDZ) against VG Media regarding electronic programme guides. NDR instructed the team regarding freedom of expression in disputes involving critical reporting, and the team provides ongoing advice to Hamburger Morgenpost, including advising MOPO Online. Michael Fricke ‘does a great job’ and the service is ‘exellent in all ways’.

Nesselhauf Rechtsanwälte has emerged as one of the key players in the market, through the ‘matter-of-fact’ Michael Nesselhauf, as well as several ‘highly promising’ younger lawyers, particularly the ‘impressive’ Stephanie Vendt. Famous individuals, book and magazine publishers, and increasingly companies, instruct the team.

The team at Redeker Sellner Dahs ‘does a great job’, with Gernot Lehr particularly recommended and noted for his ‘excellent relations in the political sphere’. Consequently, politicians count among the clients, and the team frequently acts for high-level company employees regarding press law and freedom of expression. Advising companies on the prevention of possible negative press coverage is another focus.