Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Industry focus: Media and entertainment

Founded in February 2021, and spearheaded by the highly experienced Agnès Maqua, AdaStone Law works with a diverse cross-section of clients, spanning the areas of advertising, television and film production, broadcasting, and e-gaming.
Monard law, joined by Buyle‘s focus spans the music, events, arts and gaming sectors, working with renowned festival organisers, multinational video game publishers, and industry associations on a host of matters.

Industry focus: Media and entertainment in Belgium

Allen & Overy LLP

Working with a range of high-profile clients – such as advertising agencies, music and newspaper publishers – the sizeable media and entertainment team at Allen & Overy LLP is noted for the breadth of its expertise, including IP, telecoms, and internet-based matters. Filip Van Elsen, who heads the team, is often engaged assisting domestic and international media clients with broadcasting, regulatory and defamation matters. Geert Glas routinely appears before both European and Belgian courts, representing content providers and broadcasters in relation to regulatory issues. Other names to note include Edward Taelman, who assists clients with GDPR implementation.

Practice head(s):

Filip Van Elsen


Other key lawyers:

Geert Glas; Edward Taelman


Work highlights


ALTIUS

A domestically and internationally renowned practice in the area of sports law, the department at ALTIUS routinely appears before sports tribunals and arbitration panels, most frequently the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The team possesses significant knowledge of national and international sport governing bodies’ regulations, advising a range of clients that includes athletes, clubs and intermediaries. The department is jointly chaired by Sven Demeulemeester and Grégory Ernes, the latter of whom is noted for his EU law acumen. Olivier Vrins is experienced in a host of IP matters, including image rights.

Practice head(s):

Sven Demeulemeester; Grégory Ernes; Olivier Vrins


Key clients

Racing Genk


Club Brugge


RSC Anderlecht


KV Kortrijk


Royal Antwerp Football Club


Volley Belgium


Trek Factory Cycling


Sven Nys Cycling


Standard de Liège


KV Mechelen


Estac Troyes


City Football Group


Cardiff City


OH Leuven


Belgian Tennis Federation


Belgian Karate Federation


Belgian Judo Federation


TP Mazembe


Deinze Football Club


Red Star Belgrade


Thomas Meunier


Kevin De Bruyne


Chancel Mbemba


SEG


Wasserman


Lommel Football Club


Top Hockey League


Beerschot AC


Common Group


Work highlights


  • Advised Club Brugge (“FC Bruges”) on the record-breaking transfer of Belgian national team player Charles De Ketelaere from FC Bruges to AC Milan.
  • Advised the Belgian Volley Federation in a dispute against Belgian top club Knack Roeselare regarding the ad hoc registration of a new player during the competition.
  • Represented the Top Hockey League in corporate housekeeping and the negotiation and drafting of a range sponsorship, service and broadcasting agreements, as well as in the negotiation and drafting of a global Collaboration Agreement with the Royal Belgian Hockey Federation.

Crowell & Moring

Frequently representing a slew of television production companies and software developers, among other clients, the media and entertainment team at Crowell & Moring routinely appears before Raad Van State, the highest administrative Belgian court. The department offers their expertise on the full spectrum of corporate and commercial issues, including IP rights. Thomas De Meese often assists leading gaming companies with advertising law and gambling matters, while Jan-Diederik Lindemans is well-versed in both print and digital media mandates, where he regularly advises clients on the defence and negotiation of personality rights.

Practice head(s):

Thomas De Meese; Jan-Diederik Lindemans


Testimonials

‘An excellent firm to work with in media and entertainment cases. They have exceptional knowledge of the media and entertainment sector and are great litigators.’

‘The lawyers at Crowell & Moring are reliable and excellent at what they do. The firm stands out because of its talented individuals and their hands-on approach.’

‘We work frequently with Jan-Diederik Lindemans. He is an exceptional litigator and has a profound knowledge of the media and entertainment sector.’

Key clients

DPG Media


Dutch Filmworks International Holding


Electronic Arts


Federation of Flemish Music Festivals


IPM Group


Liberty Global / Telenet


Universal Music


Weareone.world / Tomorrowland


Telenet


Belderbos


Events Confederation


Work highlights


  • Defended the overarching Belgian trade association for public event-related industries against the Belgian government and the Ministry of Public Health. This matter related to the regulations on ventilation- and air purification requirements of public venues.
  • Advised different betting and gambling clients on the Belgian regulatory framework on advertising, personality and portraits rights issues, on copyright law, and on partnership agreements and licence termination questions.
  • Advised a number of clients from the art sector on questions regarding NFT-platforms and opportunities regarding cancellations due to Covid-19 conditions, resale right issues etc.

Bird & Bird

Retained by a number of domestic and international entities - particularly from the worlds of TV and radio broadcasting, film, and sport - the media and entertainment department at Bird & Bird is often engaged on content licensing and distribution matters, including disputes relating to statutory levies, contractual tariffs and licences. IT specialist Benoit Van Asbroeck - a member of the Belgian council of IP - frequently advises public bodies on a host of issues. Hein Hobbelen is noted for his experience representing clients before the European Commission, as well as various domestic regulatory authorities.

Practice head(s):

Benoit Van Asbroeck; Hein Hobbelen


Key clients

DigitalEurope


FIFA (International Federation of Association Football)


DigitalEurope


Wolters Kluwer


Work highlights


  • Represented a compliant in the European Commission’s investigation regarding Apple’s in-app purchase (IAP) terms for the iOS App Store. The case is at the forefront of legal developments in the area and follows other cases such as the complaint brought by Spotify against Apple’s IAP terms.
  • Provided legal analysis covering EU Member States’ implementation of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC). The project includes extensive analyses of the transposition proposals across the EU countries regarding consistency with the EECC, the legislative process and the final transposition acts.

CMS

Able to draw on the talents of a large European network of expert media practitioners, CMS regularly works on cross-border projects, advising a host of blue-chips on trademark mandates and broadcasting rights, among other matters. With over 20 years of experience, practice co-chair Dirk Van Liedekerke is highly knowledgeable in the realm of EU and Belgian competition law and telecommunications law. Tom Heremans – who is particularly proficient in advertising and marketing and distribution law – is a seasoned advocate before the Court of Justice of EU, and regularly advises sport associations on piracy and customs matters. Renaud Dupont is noted for his experience in distribution agreements.

Practice head(s):

Tom Heremans; Dirk Van Liedekerke


Other key lawyers:

Renaud Dupont


Testimonials

‘The team is strong.’

‘The team is well-structured, with no missing links.’

Key clients

Proximus


FIFA


Napoleon


Facebook


Airbnb


Anda Ackx


Amazon


Work highlights


  • Assisted Proximus in the arbitration proceedings against the Pro League, regarding the early termination of the competition due to COVID-19.
  • Represented FIFA in the Doyen Sports/Seraing cases (both in the Brussels and Liège courts) on the legality of the FIFA prohibition on third party ownership in the context of the sportive sanctions that have been imposed on football club Seraing.
  • Represented Napoleon Group in respect of a series of commercial and regulatory matters, including several litigations in front of the Constitutional Court, the Administrative Supreme Court and the civil courts.

DLA Piper

Underpinned by a global reach that allows the practice to give domestic as well as international advice, DLA Piper’s team is active across the full spectrum of work in the media and entertainment sector, assisting clients operating in the worlds of sports, gaming and gambling, music and printed media. The department is headed up by Alexis Fierens, who possesses more than 15 years’ experience in advisory as well as contentious matters. Alex is particularly knowledgeable in soft IP rights, including designs, patents and trademarks, while Heidi Waem – who heads up the Belgian data protection team – is noted for her expertise in press conduct matters.

Practice head(s):

Alexis Fierens


Other key lawyers:

Heidi Waem


Testimonials

‘Excellent knowledge of public and administrative law.’

Key clients

The Walt Disney Company / Fox


Glory Kickboxing


777 Partners


YM&U UK


Roblox


Royal Antwerp Football Club


KV Oostende


LG Electronics


Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT)


Marriott Hotels International


Snap Fitness


John Textor


Kinepolis


Duracell


Zenimax


Smartbit


Work highlights


  • Acted for the Walt Disney Company and Fox (also part of the Disney Group) in relation to wide-ranging matters including providing assistance regarding the Disney+ service in Belgium and Luxembourg, and advising on media law, copyright law, GDPR and ePrivacy matters.
  • Acted for Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners on its acquisition of Standard de Liège football club.
  • Provided assistance to Roblox as part of a multi-jurisdictional project reporting on the regulatory regimes affecting various gaming law issues.

MVVP

Regularly appearing before the European Court of Justice, the department at MVVP is particularly reputed for its expertise in intellectual property matters and corporate transactions. The department is frequently engaged by a diverse roster of public authorities, video game development companies, broadcasters, and film and TV production companies. Practice co-chair Peter Marx is noted for his expertise in copyright and trademark mandates pertaining to the media entertainment and sports sector, while Olivier Sasserath - an expert in unfair trade practices - represents clients before the domestic courts in IP litigation. Other noteworthy figures include Herman Croux, whose broad focus encompasses the media and entertainment, film, art performing arts industry.

Practice head(s):

Peter Marx; Olivier Sasserath; Herman Croux


Key clients

Sabam


Fobic Film


A Private View


Walking the Dog


Rosas


Wiels


Stichting Brein


Work highlights


CRESTA

Noted for its capabilities in high-profile international football work, CRESTA’s boutique practice is also frequently instructed in contentious matters across the worlds of volleyball and basketball, with the practice handling an unrivalled number of cases before volleyball’s international governing bodies. Practice chair Sébastien Ledure is a proficient disputes lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in sports law, while Arnaut Kint focuses on reviewing and drafting contracts, including player and coach employment agreements, image rights and commercial agent agreements. Wouter Janssens possesses particular expertise advising leading football agencies in contractual and regulatory matters.


Practice head(s):

Sébastien Ledure


Other key lawyers:

Wouter Janssens; Arnaut Kint


Key clients

The Walt Disney Company / Fox


Glory Kickboxing


777 Partners


YM&U UK


Roblox


Royal Antwerp Football Club


KV Oostende


LG Electronics


Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie (VRT)


Marriott Hotels International


Snap Fitness


John Textor


Kinepolis


Duracell


Zenimax


Smartbit


Work highlights


  • Acted for the Walt Disney Company and Fox in relation to wide-ranging matters including providing assistance regarding the Disney+ service in Belgium and Luxembourg, and advising on media law, copyright law, GDPR and ePrivacy matters.
     

Deloitte

Working with a range of clients from the audiovisual and sports industries, the team at Deloitte Legal has extensive expertise across commercial contracts, IP, and media regulatory work. The department regularly assists clients in the audiovisual sector in due diligence processes and commercial agreements, working with a number of authors, musicians and directors. The department is helmed by Tim Baart, who assists clients with M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions. Tim is also noted for his representation of gaming industry clients in trademark litigation proceedings.

Practice head(s):

Tim Baart


Key clients

Club Brugge


Pro League


Tenbeo


Swave Photonics


Copa Cogeca


Telenet


RTBF


Vlaamse Sport Federatie


City Football Group


BeNeLiga


JC Decaux/Publiroute


Game Mania


Bubblydoo


Work highlights


  • Advised Telenet in relation to the sale of Brutélé via Nethys to the highest bidding party.
  • Advised the Pro League as well as Club Brugge in relation with the exploitation of NFTs. The advice related to the intellectual property rights in the digital assets itself and the image rights of the players that would be the subject of the exploitation.
  • Assisted the shareholders of Publiroute, a long-established Belgian billboards player, on the merger with JCDecaux Belgium.

Edson

Entrusted by various leading print publishers, the media and entertainment department at Edson is also noted for its expertise in cross-border gaming matters, routinely assisting video game publishers on copyright issues, publishing agreements, and co-development agreements. Practice co-chair Pieter Paepe frequently appears before the EU Court of Justice, working with sports teams, advertisers and broadcasters on the impact of Belgian gaming legislation. Fellow co-chair Christoph De Preter is proficient in regard to publishing agreements, merchandising and production deals, and partnership negotiations.

Practice head(s):

Pieter Paepe; Christoph De Preter


Testimonials

‘A very knowledgeable team with a deep understanding of the iGaming industry overall and especially in the context of the Belgian market.’

‘Very responsive and dedicated. Make sure that their customer will receive the proper level of support. Outstanding business acumen, perfectly balanced with legal guidance.’

‘This team is extremely professional and conversant with gaming law.’

Key clients

Kindred


Belgian Games


Meridian


Lannoo


Editions Racine


Invicta Entertainment


BeSoftware


Work highlights


  • Assisted Belgian Games on all legal and strategic matters in relation to the Belgian tax shelter for investments in video gaming companies.
  • Advised Kindred (‘Unibet’) on all gaming regulatory matters in Belgium and represented Kindred in various strategic litigation cases before the Belgian Council of State where certain operators are challenging the lawfulness of Kindred’s gaming licenses.
  • Co-advised several media and videogame companies on the implementation into Belgian law of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.

time.lex

time.lex is noted for its wide-ranging and cross-disciplinary media and entertainment sector capabilities, encompassing privacy and data protection, IT, and IP matters. The department is jointly headed up by fintech specialist Edwin Jacobs, data protection and IP focused Geert Somers, and Frederic Debusseré, a specialist in software and e-business matters.

Practice head(s):

Frederic Debusseré; Geert Somers; Edwin Jacobs


Testimonials

‘A great team and strong depth of practice.’

‘Geert Somers is excellent.’

Key clients

De Machine


Brepols Publishers


Flemish Institute for Archives


ThisIsPLACE Foundation


Infinity Mobile


Work highlights


  • Advised De Machine about the intellectual property rights on an animation-driven commercial.
  • Advised Brepols Publishers on new copyright legislation.
  • Assisted the Flemish Institute for Archives (meemoo) in negotiating copyright agreements with IP rights management organisations and audiovisual content providers.