Entertainment in Germany

CMS combines longstanding experience in traditional media matters with new, digital skills. The firm's international reach and its wide-ranging synergies with other specialist areas, such as antitrust and corporate law as well as consumer electronics, data protection and commercial, generate a very broad know-how which also contributes to its digital regulation task force; this unit handles regulatory issues particularly in relation to public, competition and antitrust law. Also worth mentioning is the team's experience in traditional sports law and digital media, which enables it to 'develop unique new models for e-sports'. Litigator Pietro Graf Fringuelli heads the global media group from Cologne and has in-depth knowledge of copyright matters in the digital sphere. Senior Associate Patrick Ehinger stands out for his expertise in contentious, rights and licences-related media usage matters and the Hamburg-based Sebastian Cording primarily advises IT companies on media law issues; principal counsel Martin Gerecke has 'incredibly extensive knowledge' of domain and internet law, social media, games and digital business.

Noerr combines competencies from various practice areas, such as trade and commerce, IT and outsourcing as well as IP and media, within its multidisciplinary digital business group. The team thus masters both traditional media issues as well as digitisation's latest challenges such as issues related to AI applications, platform regulation and personal rights protection. Advising broadcasters on agreements with infrastructure providers is another one of the firm's core competencies, while it is especially renowned for its relevant experience in the transactional arena (particularly in takeovers and the establishment of joint ventures). Most recently, the group excelled in negotiating the short-time work collective agreement for the film industry and in creating the default fund for Covid-19 pandemic damage; the matter was led by practice head Johannes Kreile. Of Counsel Ulrich Michel is highly regarded in the film financing sphere.

Through the creation of strong links between its IP, IT and digitisation teams, SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte's media and entertainment department is able to act across several key markets as well as globally. For instance, the new esports focus group around senior associate Moritz Mehner was able to assist with the establishment of a world league in esports and thus with the development of new regulations and models. Furthermore, the firm offers strategic advice on the new media state treaty and in negotiations, for example related to short-time work collective agreements. In the latter area, Mathias Schwarz, an expert in film and television production as well as copyright and personal rights, excels in particular. Martin Diesbach focuses on national and international digital business models. Norbert Klingner heads the practice.

Most recently, DLA Piper‘s media team was particularly active in the TV and broadcasting sphere, with Stefan Engels‘ team comprehensively advising prestigious broadcasters as well as marketing and media companies in connection with new TV formats on contract design, sales, marketing and advertising, as well as product launches and digital issues. Michael Stulz-Herrnstadt has longstanding experience in media law and also advises ‘reliably, creatively and practice-oriented‘ on regulatory and public commercial law in the media, entertainment, gaming and telecommunications sectors. Kai Tumbrägel also deals with esports and gaming; his core competencies include the protection of intellectual property, unfair competition and national and international transactions, especially in the video games sector.

On both advisory and forensic level, Greenberg Traurig Germany's international team impresses with a holistic range of services tailored to the media industry's needs and acts as a strategic partner for the film and TV, video games and music industries, as well as for digital media and streaming platforms. Practice head Stefan Lütje also advises media companies and studios as well as financial institutions, funding agencies and insurance companies. Christoph Enaux works at the interface of IT, telecommunications and media law and is often instructed to assist with transactions, sales issues and litigation. Laura Zentner covers series productions, license agreements, music rights and distribution.

Morrison & Foerster LLP is particularly strong in media transactions, especially in the broadcasting sector. Here, the key contact is Christoph Wagner, who heads the global media practice and is therefore 'excellently connected' across the globe. Film, entertainment and copyright matters represent another mainstay which is overseen by Christiane Stützle. However, the practice is not only instructed by traditional film industry clients, but also increasingly by internet platforms in matters at the interface of content and technology. Furthermore, Andreas Grünwald and his team advise clients on business processes compliance with new regulatory requirements related to the State Treaty on Media and the Protection of Minors in the Media as well as the Youth Protection and Network Enforcement Act.

As part of the TMT group led by Axel Freiherr von dem Bussche, Taylor Wessing's broad media practice offers high-quality advice at the interface of media and technology. The team assists international players with the launch of new products and services as well as with strategic matters such as in connection with European copyright policy and the new EU copyright directive. Recently, issues such as copyright levies, liability for third-party content and general terms and conditions control procedures for terms of use also played a central role within the group's forensic advice. The assistance with several tech-based venture capital projects and M&A transactions further underline the practice's additional focus on corporate, digital business, entertainment and video games. Svenja-Ariane Maucher is particularly active in the latter area; she also co-heads the international practice group on commercial technology and data. Gregor Schmid is a regulatory expert and co-heads the video games practice.

K&L Gates LLP's TV, film and entertainment team is part of a broader TMT team led by Martin von Albrecht and focuses on four areas. The advice to broadcasters and online media platforms on how to deal with collecting societies is a traditional pillar for the team; here, von Albrecht advises and represents clients in matters related to blank media levies and copyright user properties among others. Music law is another mainstay, with the team being particularly active in negotiating TV and radio agreements with GEMA. Copyright in connection with music and video-on-demand streaming services represents another focus, while the assistance with sports law matters complements the practice. Olaf Fiss is recommended.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP impresses with its holistic advice offering, a global firm network and 'excellent industry knowledge', which often surfaces in program distribution matters and litigation, whereby the team also successfully assists with transactions, license agreements and regulatory issues. In a notable highlight, the group represented ProSiebenSat.1 in preliminary proceedings before the ECJ in relation to advertising breaks; the matter was led by co-practice head Wolfgang von Frentz with the 'competent, precise and helpful' Christian Masch also being involved. Ralf Weisser co-heads the practice and primarily advises on projects relating to digital television, fibre optics, mobile networks and M2M communication.

Bird & Bird LLP‘s Munich office has strong advisory skills in the media, entertainment and sports (including esports) sectors, with the firm’s strong technology focus enabling it to successfully assist media corporations and other clients also with media-adjacent matters, including international marketing campaigns. The practice also advises on regulatory issues related to lottery, sports betting and gaming. Joseph Fesenmair further assists with sponsoring and contract drafting, while matters pertaining to licenses, commercial legal protection and domain law are overseen by Markus Körner.

GRAEF Rechtsanwälte offers 'excellent advice on data protection, trademark and copyright law' and has ' immense expertise in media law, film, TV and video games'. Especially in relation to video games law, the practice is considered 'one of Germany's top boutiques'. Ralph Oliver Graef's team excels, among other matters, in assisting with numerous international motion picture productions and representing clients in proceedings pertaining to filming and music rights as well as copyright disputes. Christian Rauda is well respected in the video games industry.

Media and sports law are among Klinkert Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB‘s core specialisations, with copyright and licenses playing a particularly central role; here, co-head Piet Bubenzer assists with both contentious and non-contentious matters. Annett Rombach, who made partner at the end of 2020, took over co-practice lead from André Söldner, who joined Blue Port Legal; she is particularly renowned for her experience and ‘excellent legal knowledge‘ in the sports sector. David Müller, who also focuses on the sports industry, joined from Dentons.

As part of its broader TMC group, Osborne Clarke's media team is particularly well positioned in the digital media and digital transformation sphere. Practice head Konstantin Ewald advises global internet platforms and video games companies in matters touching on IT, internet and media law and also frequently assists with transactions; this represents another of the practice's central pillars alongside media regulatory issues. Felix Hilgert primarily advises on IP and IT contracts, e-commerce as well as on all aspects of interactive entertainment.

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek's media team is based in Düsseldorf and Cologne with Michael Schmittmann and Dominik Eickemeier leading the local teams respectively. The practice is primarily instructed by TV and radio broadcasters to advise on contracts, copyright and media regulatory issues.

Heussen Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH impresses with the close integration of its own IP, IT and media practices. In the latter area, the team primarily focuses on new media and has expertise in e-commerce, digital companies, social media issues and reputation management. Hermann Waldhauser heads the practice that also includes Marcus Hotze, who is a key contact for media transactions, licensing and regulatory issues as well as sports law. The firm is frequently sought after by agencies, marketing companies and medium-sized companies as well as start-ups.

Frankfurt-based unit Schalast & Partner Rechtsanwälte advises media companies in the television and radio industries as well as journalists and authors. Its broad IP, media and technology practice group focuses on the telecommunications and cable sectors, with advice including license and other media-related contracts, copyright and freedom of speech issues as well as matters pertaining to the use of digital media content and data. Udo Kornmeier and Ramón Glaßl are the key contacts. In January 2021, the group welcomed two new partners in Stuttgart, Joachim von Strobl-Albeg and Christian von Strobl-Albeg, who joined from Derpa, Bender & Sigler.

Norbert Wimmer and Sylvia Lorenz head White & Case LLP's media team which particularly stands out for its extensive forensic and media regulatory skills. The practice recently assisted with matters pertaining to the new media state treaty, transparency requirements and licensing requirements for streaming services. American technology companies instruct the team particularly frequently.