Due to their skilful representation of publishers and media companies, Damm & Mann's press and freedom of speech practice is among the market leaders in this area, whereby the group predominantly focuses on cases related to political and economic reporting, especially those that raise fundamental legal issues before the BGH and the Federal Constitutional Court. The group is also active on the side of affected parties which are usually companies and industrialist families who require support to prevent unlawful media reporting, as well as journalists and NGOs facing claims. Roger Mann and Holger Nieland are the key contacts.

Well-known Hamburg firm NESSELHAUF Rechtsanwälte is among the market leaders for representing affected parties, where the team particularly focuses on the prevention of negative publications and the enforcement of legal claims resulting from illegal publications. Till Dunckel, Michael Nesselhauf and the 'professionally excellent' Stephanie Vendt are the key contacts.

In Berlin and throughout Germany, Schertz Bergmann Rechtsanwälte is primarily known for its representation of celebrities: entrepreneurs, athletes and other individuals benefit from the group's longstanding experience in reputation protection and suspicion-based reporting. Within this sphere, the practice has recently been able to increase its involvement in the finance and real estate, logistics and pharmaceuticals sectors, while also experiencing an increasing number of instructions by companies, associations and clubs. Helge Reich, Sophie Heuchemer and Christian Schertz are the key contacts.

HÖCKER is regarded for its preventive advice and representation of affected parties in matters pertaining to press law, freedom of speech as well as at the interface between freedom of speech and competition law. Most recently, Carsten Brennecke assisted the Archdiocese of Cologne with the handling of critical reporting as a result of the publication of an abuse report, while Ralf Höcker successfully represented the Dutch royal couple in proceedings against Axel Springer and photo agency action press related to the publication of vacation photos. Marcel Leeser is another key contact. Of counsel Hans-Georg Maassen left the firm at the beginning of 2021.

In the press and freedom of speech field, Redeker Sellner Dahs' media team primarily advises state bodies, private individuals and industrial companies on the run-up of media reports, the response to media inquiries as well as necessary measures in reaction to reputation damaging media reporting. Gernot Lehr heads the team and Christian Mensching is recommended.

BUSE's Nina Lüssmann and Volker Perten advise professional and private individuals and in some cases also companies on press and publishing law issues, with reputation protection increasingly becoming the group's mainstay.

From its Hamburg location, CMS assists broadcasters, prestigious publishers and online content providers with the entire spectrum of press and freedom of speech matters, but also advises affected business individuals as well as public bodies and politicians. The practice, including key contacts Michael Fricke and Martin Gerecke, deals with issues such as false media reporting, defends clients against official warning letters, tracks and eliminates reputational damage caused by social media posts and also assists with the deletion of Google search results.

DÜNNWALD LEGAL relies on the expertise and longstanding experience of Dirk Dünnwald, who founded the firm in 2020 and has been representing affected parties for more than 20 years; he was joined by associate Daniela Thurner, who focuses on the protection of personal rights in the social media sphere as well as on data protection issues and contributes 'to all matters in a professional and profitable way'. The duo mainly assists companies with investigative and media-related matters and crisis situations, whereby the enforcement of freedom of speech rights represents another important pillar of the practice.

KNPZ Rechtsanwälte's team around Gerald Neben is particularly known for its ongoing advice to publishing houses Bauer and Springer on copyright, freedom of speech and competition law matters.

Matthias Prinz' longstanding experience in representing affected parties is continuously sought after by clients such as the Swedish royal family, the Monegasque royal family and Volkswagen. Prinz Rechtsanwälte's team also includes Diana Grun, who focuses on press and freedom of speech advice and representation of companies and private individuals as well as on reputation protection.

SSB Söder Schwarz Berlinger Rechtsanwälte's Stefan Söder represents and advises prestigious clients from the electronic and print media on matters concerning free speech, copyright, competition and contract law.