Germany > Media > Press and publishing > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

DLA Piper’s highly regarded team traditionally focuses on advising television providers and entertainment magazines on the full spread of relevant press, publishing and freedom of speech matters. Led by the recommended Stefan Engels, the group is representing Heinrich Bauer Verlag as plaintiff in a trade mark infringement and title rights dispute with DELTAPark Verlag related to the publication of Schöne Post magazine. Other work included advising clients on press distribution, and online and provider liability in freedom of speech disputes, and handling crisis communication issues for corporations.

Damm & Mann ranks among the leading press and publishing practices in Germany and has deep expertise in advising corporations and publishers on freedom of speech, press and publishing issues. In a recent highlight, the highly regarded Roger Mann successfully defended Handelsblatt against an action for an injunction and a €27m damages claim brought by Baron v. Finck. Other key clients include Stiftung Warentest, FAZ, Axel Springer and Gruner + Jahr.

Prinz, Neidhardt, Engelschall is considered ‘one of the best firms for press and publishing advice’, in particular because of its ‘legally sound and pragmatic approach’, ‘good media contacts’ and ‘high expertise and professionality’. The group advises corporations and prominent figures in sports, economics, politics and entertainment on risk prevention and situation management. Recent examples include assisting Volkswagen and Porsche with press coverage about the corporations and their executives in respective articles in manager magazin. Other clients include Signal Iduna and various private banks. Matthias Prinz is highly regarded and Dirk Dünnwald stands out for his ‘exceptional expertise and enormous social competence’.

Schertz Bergmann Rechtsanwälte ‘fields one of the leading press and freedom of speech practices’ and combines ‘comprehensive legal expertise’ with ‘litigation experience, timely advice and constant availability’. The highly regarded Christian Schertz and his ‘excellent’ team advise public figures and politicians as well as blue-chip corporations, ministries, associations and public authorities on risk prevention, press enquiries, crisis communication and freedom of speech matters. ‘Excellent lawyer’ Helge Reich is ‘very precise and develops creative solutions’.

CMS combines ‘know-how, experience and value for money’ in press and freedom of speech matters. Headed by the ‘very efficient and sharp’ Michael Fricke, the team acts for audio, print and online media in press and publishing matters, as well as for corporations and individuals affected by press coverage. Highlights in 2016 included representing action press in freedom of speech disputes. Key clients include the majority of ARD corporations, Gruner + Jahr and Alles Gute Verlag.

Nesselhauf Rechtsanwälte’s press and freedom of speech practice stands out for its ‘very good business acumen, industry knowledge’ and ‘very well-structured approaches and communication’. The ‘outstanding’ team mainly advises figures in politics, economics and the entertainment industry but is also assisting a growing number of corporations, institutions and public authorities on risk prevention and situation management when affected by press coverage. Till Dunckel is highly regarded along with Stephanie Vendt, who is ‘very good at putting herself in clients’ shoes’.

KNPZ Rechtsanwälte assists domestic and international publishers with the entire spectrum of relevant industry matters, including freedom of speech, copyright and competition issues, and also handles corporate crisis communication. Notably, the group represented yellow press newspaper BILD in a dispute with an international fashion model related to a cover story. Associated Newspaper, Bauer Media Group and magazine Closer are also clients. Gerald Neben heads the practice.

Raue LLP’s ‘outstanding lawyers’ deliver ‘all relevant information without clients having to demand them’. The ‘great’ team mainly focuses on advising the press and recently represented VG Media as plaintiff in proceedings against Google, Yahoo! and Deutsche Telekom concerning ancillary copyright for press publishers. The group is also well versed in freedom of speech issues, in which it regularly assists Buzzfeed and Bloomberg. The ‘technically outstanding’ Jan Hegemann impresses clients with ‘circumspect litigation tactics’; Robert Heine and Peter Raue are also recommended.

Media boutique SSB Söder Schwarz Berlinger Rechtsanwälte advises on the gamut of media-related commercial law. It is particularly known for its representation of publisher heavyweight Hubert Burda Media, which Stefan Söder and his group have been assisting with the full spread of press, licensing, copyright, competition and transactional issues. Other fields of expertise include advising digital media providers on press and freedom of speech matters.

Irle Moser LLP has strong expertise in advising corporations and individuals on press, freedom of speech and crisis communication issues, as well as assisting publishers with copyright, competition and contractual matters. Key clients include Hapag-Lloyd and the Central Council of Jews in Germany. Ben Irle and Christian-Oliver Moser are recommended.

Redeker Sellner Dahs’s ‘very good’ team ‘performs consistently well’ and focuses on advising individuals in politics, economics and the entertainment industry, as well as corporations and public authorities, on risk prevention, right of reply, injunctions, crisis communication and contentious matters. Gernot Lehr, who has ‘excellent technical expertise’, is head of the practice, which also assists public service broadcasters such as ZDF with press issues.

Romatka & Collegen ‘focuses on the essentials’ and is known for its ‘highly professional, timely advice and comprehensive industry knowledge’. The practice advises publishers such as FUNKE-Zeitschriftengruppe, Paul Parey Verlag and Heinrich Bauer Verlag on the entire spectrum of press, copyright, competition and employment matters. Gero Himmelsbach shows ‘sound judgement’ and leads the group, which also assists domestic corporations with crisis communication and reputation management.

SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte’s Konstantin Wegner exclusively advises renowned German publishers and their subsidiaries on copyright, transactional, data protection and contractual matters. Notably, the group assisted publishing group Handelsblatt with a constitutional appeal related to the handover obligation of a criminal judgement.

Sven Krüger Rechtsanwälte, which emerged from the separation of former firm Schwenn & Krüger, advises individuals and corporations affected by press coverage and assists publishers with the entire spectrum of press, publishing and freedom of speech issues. Notably, the ‘great’ Sven Krüger assisted publisher Kiepenheuer & Witsch with the Panama Papers book launch and has been advising an increasing number of corporations on crisis communication. Key clients include DIE ZEIT and Ullstein Verlag.