The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP is representing Q-Music radio station on the reallocation of broadcasting permits, and acted for Dutch cable operator UPC Netherlands on its new obligations to allow resale of its analog cable subscription. The firm acts for clients across the media and entertainment industry, including Sony BMG, Amazon and Sanoma. Eric Keyzer is ‘well known for his great representation of artists’.

Brinkhof is representing Tele2 and Online in appeals against market analysis decisions made by the regulator governing the resale of standard television packages by two dominant cable operators. Remy Chavannes, Eliane de Vilder and Wilfred Steenbruggen are ‘all very knowledgeable and responsive, and real experts’. The team won some impressive new clients, including T-Mobile, Google, and the Eredivisie.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek lost Joris van Manen and Madeleine de Cock Buning, but continues to advise clients such as Google, Universal Music and E! Entertainment. The firm attracted new clients such as Walt Disney and The Saul Zaentz Company, which the group advised on protecting IP rights relating to characters from The Lord of the Rings franchise. Tobias Cohen Jehoram heads the group.

Houthoff Buruma’s Bas Le Poole successfully represented De Telegraaf, the journalists’ union, and the society of editors-in-chief in proceedings to stop AIVD (the Dutch secret service) from following, observing or phone-tapping certain journalists, or from sharing information gathered. Other clients include Dutch broadcasters such as NOS and TROS, as well as TV producers such as Endemol and IDTV.

Piet Sippens Groenewegen’s team at NautaDutilh represented Ziggo, the largest Dutch cable and internet provider, in multiple proceedings against the media authority regarding the composition of analog TV and radio packages. It is also the preferred legal adviser to public broadcaster NOS, which it is advising on regulatory and competition matters.

Bird & Bird LLP’s ‘overall level of service is splendid’, with ‘response times that are extraordinary’ and advice that is ‘thorough, swift and practical’. Pauline Kuipers is representing the foundation of Dutch regional broadcasters in a dispute regarding the uplinking and distribution of signals via satellite. Olaf Trojan has ‘excellent analytical skills’, is ‘proactive, involved, and well informed’, and ‘really delivers’.

Boekx Advocaten represented Eric Smit, a non-fiction author, in a dispute arising out of Smit’s unauthorised biography of Nina Brink. Other clients include Lucasfilm and De Pers daily newspaper.

Boutique media and entertainment practice Bousie Advocaten acts for clients such as Pearson, Walt Disney Studios, and Universal Music. Founding partner Hans Bousie’s experience includes advising on the TV programme Idols, and the embargoes relating to the Harry Potter franchise and Dan Brown’s novels.

DLA Piper is advising Stitchting ROO – a foundation uniting all 13 regional broadcasters in the Netherlands – in a dispute with football clubs over new reporting rights. It represented Associated Press in a dispute with the Dutch royal family regarding the publication of several photographs. Niels Mulder leads the team.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acts for publishers (Springer), TV producers (Endemol), broadcasters (RTL) and cable operators (NLkabel). The team also acts for Ziggo on regulatory matters including copyright clearance, the mobile frequency auction, and access regulations, as well as disputes with new market entrants. Richard Norbruis is the key contact.

Kennedy Van der Laan represented Sanoma in a landmark case regarding the protection of journalistic sources, and continued to advise Endemol/Big Brother on various matters. Other clients include Apple, Yahoo!, and FremantleMedia.

Klos Morel Vos & Schaap is a boutique IP firm with a strong presence in the media and entertainment sector, where it advises on everything from TV format rights to defamation. The firm acts for a number of leading Dutch sports clubs, as well as international sports organisations.