CMS' media practice advises on traditional media as well as digital issues and covers competition, antitrust and public law matters in cross-practice cooperation via a specialised task force. The team assists with regulatory matters, where clients also benefit from expertise in data protection and consumer electronics. Another mainstay is the group's proven experience in e-sports, including licensing agreements and, more recently, issues pertaining to NFTs. Clients include German and international platforms, media companies, broadcasters and press publishers. Practice head Sebastian Cording in Hamburg is experienced in traditional sports law as well as copyright law and increasingly coordinates cross-border matters with the head of the global media group Pietro Graf Fringuelli in Cologne, whose expertise covers media regulation and digital business models. Other key contacts are senior associate Patrick Ehinger, who is experienced in rights and licenses-related media usage matters, and gaming expert Martin Gerecke, who made partner in January 2022.

SKW Schwarz advises entertainment and media law clients with a team consisting of  IP, IT and digital business experts, spanning the task forces e-sports, games, digital regulation, film and television, and music. Recent growth areas include the interface between IP law and the film and music industry, as was demonstrated in advising on copyright matters in connection with collecting societies. In Munich, Johann Heyde took over practice group management from Norbert Klingner at the beginning of 2022, who continues to advise on film and series productions. Heyde has a similar focus and is experienced in film financing, production-relevant IP issues and licensing agreements. Other key contacts are e-sports expert and senior associate Moritz Mehner, Mathias Schwarz, who is well-versed in licensing agreements, and Martin Diesbach, whose focus includes international digital business models.

Straßer Ventroni Freytag Rechtsanwälte advises national and international companies, cinema groups, TV and film producers, broadcasting companies, media houses and music groups on an equally versatile array of topics. In addition to traditional copyright, media and licensing law, the team covers music and data protection law as well as interfacing IP matters, which is complemented by capacities in in and out-of-court dispute resolution. This is also reflected at practice head level: Robert Straßer (copyright and media law) specialises in industry-specific contract drafting, transactions, dispute resolution as well as supporting productions and co-productions of international series, Stefan Ventroni (copyright, media and entertainment law) frequently advises on business model contracts and also represents clients in disputes, while Stefan Freytag (copyright, media and e-commerce law) demonstrates special expertise in the publishing industry, digital media and advice on digital business models and is also well versed in litigation. In April 2022, Stephan Bücker (media, entertainment, IP) left the team and founded Baer Legal.

Lausen Rechtsanwälte advises a versatile client roster on traditional media law as well as the interfaces with data protection, competition, corporate, social security and employment law. A strong focus is on copyright law and related model proceedings, here, audio content specialist Kerstin Bäcker frequently leads before the Federal Court of Justice and the European Court of Justice. Practice head Matthias Lausen in Munich is well versed in national and international copyright issues and is increasingly instructed by global platforms on licensing issues, while Ursula Feindor-Schmidt is an expert for platform liability and the implementation of Art. 17 of the DSM Directive (the so-called upload filter).  Martin Schippan advises on press law as well as copyright law, while Marco Jung 's expertise is regularly called upon in the context of theater and musicals. The client portfolio includes numerous traditional media and entertainment companies such as agencies, broadcasting, music, audio and film companies as well as software and games developers.

The media and entertainment law experts at Taylor Wessing are experienced in in and out-of-court dispute resolution as well as transactions and regularly advise players from the tech industry on the launch of new products and services, while the group’s regulatory expertise is increasingly called upon in connection with content and compliance; the practice is also known for its comprehensive support for the video games industry. Copyright law is another mainstay, including matters pertaining to the new EU Copyright Directive and its implementation. IT and data protection law expert Paul Voigt in Berlin heads the TMT Group and is experienced, among others, in e-commerce and advising online gambling providers. Other key contacts are IT expert Svenja-Ariane Maucher, who is well versed in the licensing and commercial use of content, and copyright and media specialist Gregor Schmid .

Brehm & v. Moers‘s media law team is well versed in the core sectors film and television, games, IT and digital business and advises film and television production companies, games providers and streaming service providers on transactions as well as series and feature content. Media employment law is another key topic, where the practice increasingly advises on remuneration issues, here, Marcus Sonnenschein is the key contact. Other key figures are Kai Bodensiek (gaming, including e-sports), Katharina Domnick, who is experienced in advising on national and international film projects, and name partner Stefan von Moers, who has longstanding expertise in media, entertainment and press law.

Hengeler Mueller impresses with in-depth copyright, antitrust and media law expertise as well as additional competencies in media regulation, telecommunications regulation and competition law, where the group advises on contracts, transactions and corporate strategies and leads in regulatory proceedings and disputes, also in the context of the EU Copyright Directive. Albrecht Conrad (contract drafting and transactions, among others) and Wolfgang Spoerr (regulatory focus) jointly head the group; IT expert Tobias Schubert was appointed counsel in January 2022.

Baker McKenzie's media law team is headed by renowned Holger Lutz in Frankfurt, who is well versed in IT and IP law as well as the German gaming sector. The advice predominantly covers matters in the digital arena, such as supporting social media companies in connection with the much-discussed upload filter and Network Enforcement Act. Other key topics include transactions in the media sector as well as e-sports and licensing matters. Sebastian Schwidessen in Berlin was appointed counsel in July 2022 and offers comprehensive advice on platforms, interactive content and IT.

Cologne boutique FREY Rechtsanwälte demonstrates advisory strengths in data protection, IP, media, copyright, sports and press law and places a particularly strong focus on the interface between media and sports. Other key areas include the production and commercial use of content – such as on-demand, e-books and film -, advertising, the design and negotiation of license and cooperation agreements, and content marketing in the context of social media and influencer marketing . Key contacts are name partner Dieter Frey, who advises on media, copyright and sports law, and litigator Matthias Rudolph, who is experienced in copyright disputes.

GRAEF Rechtsanwälte offers tailored advice on media, entertainment and IP law and thus supports film production companies, television broadcasters, rights dealers, gaming companies, advertising agencies and tech companies, among others, in the negotiation of film and music rights and in copyright disputes. The practice also places a strong focus on gaming, where Christian Rauda is the key contact. Ralph Oliver Graef in Hamburg is experienced in media and film law and heads the group.

Klinkert Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB 's media and sports law expertise is regularly utilised in supporting a wide variety of media companies on production, procurement, marketing, distribution and e-commerce issues. The team also represents clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings, with sports lawyer Annett Rombach frequently in the lead pertaining to the latter. Practice head Piet Bubenzer is experienced in copyright and media law and also covers the interface to competition law, while sports expert Christian Frodl, who joined the team as counsel from Sky Germany in autumn 2021, advises on licensing and rights allocation. Peggy Müller (IP) joined ADVANT Beiten at the end of 2022.

Vy - BRIX LANGE VERWEYEN Rechtsanwälte specialises in data protection, copyright, IT and trademark law and advises companies, creative individuals, agencies and collecting societies as well as start-ups on media, competition and telecommunications law. Other key topics include copyright, e-commerce, marketing and compliance. Urs Verweyen has extensive experience in litigation.

Lentze Stopper comprehensively advises on sports law and supports clubs, individuals, associations, sponsors and agencies on all sports law issues related to media. Practice head Gregor Lentze in Munich is a key contact for the organisation of major events, while the head of the newly opened Berlin office, Martin Stopper, often acts for Bundesliga clients and sports associations. The team has additional advisory skills in the allocation of media, marketing and licensing rights and in antitrust law.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB's media law team focuses on three central pillars: digital transformation, copyright law and advertising communication; Further key areas include licensing matters and clients' representation in contentious proceedings. Recently, the team was particularly focused on market regulations of the digital single market and on issues in the NFT context; the latter were advised on in cross-border cooperation, thanks to the firm's international network. Stephan Appt in Munich comprehensively avises on media, entertainment and infotainment matters, while Nils Rauer in Frankfurt covers the IP interface; both jointly head the practice.

Integrated into the IP, Media & Technology practice group, Schalast Law | Tax advises companies in the telecoms and cable sector as well as authors, journalists and artists on a range of media and sports law issues, including contract negotiations on license and production agreements, the acquisition and sale of rights portfolios, compliance concepts in the IP, media and technology areas and litigation matters at the antitrust interface. Practice head Ramón Glaßl in Frankfurt is a key contact for the latter, while Udo Kornmeier is well versed in copyright, IP and media law.