Arthur Cox relies on its multi-jurisdiction presence and expertise to handle a wide range of domestic and cross-border media and entertainment mandates, ranging from defamation proceedings to commercial licensing agreements. The team works with a broad spectrum of clients, including broadcasters, cable companies, online game developers, producers, publishers, and advertising agencies. Colin Kavanagh focuses on commercial, non-contentious and regulatory matters. Gavin Woods departed to DLA Piper Ireland LLP.
Media and entertainment in Ireland
Arthur Cox
Practice head(s):
Colin Kavanagh
Key clients
Center Parcs
MCD
Coolmore Stud
Meta (formerly Facebook)
IAC Search & Media
Rugbypass
The Chester Beatty Library
Trinity College Dublin
Wireless Group plc
2RN
6 Nations Rugby
UEFA
Konami
Fitbit
The Abbey Theatre
Nike
Converse
Work highlights
- Advised an existing client on a sponsorship agreement with the HAAS Formula 1 team.
- Advised Meta on a number of Irish High Court actions brought by a number of high profile persons.
- Advised Meta in an Irish High Court action by UK online games provider, InTouch Games.
Flynn O'Driscoll
Flynn O'Driscoll handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious media and entertainment law issues, including pre- and post-publishing advice and litigation in the areas of defamation, confidentiality, privacy, and intellectual property. Kieran Kelly heads the practice and holds vast experience in business litigation with a focus on media law.
Practice head(s):
Kieran Kelly
Key clients
The Irish Independent
The Sunday Independent
The Irish Daily Star
The Sunday World
The Herald
Iconic Newspapers
Mediahuis
Reach plc
Virgin Media Ireland
Penguin Books
Hachette Books
Gill Books
Atlantic Books
Harper Collins
Irish Academic Pres
Empire Elite Limited
Hot Press
The Stand with Eamon Dunphy
Newspread Limited
Irish Licensed Merchants Association
Celtic Woman Limited
Paul Williams (Author and investigative journalist)
Ralph Reigel (Author and investigative journalist)
Nicola Tallant (Author and investigative journalist)
UTV
Belfast Telegraph
Sunday Life
Disney
Work highlights
- Advised John Kelleher Media on the touching and outstanding documentary, “Charlie Bird: Loud and Clear”.
- Advised Virgin Media on a weekly pre-publication on the Irish production of “Gogglebox”.
- Represented Iconic Newspapers in a High Court defamation case entitled Michael Reilly v Iconic Newspapers Limited.
Mason Hayes & Curran LLP
Mason Hayes & Curran LLP has a full-service media and entertainment practice which offers advice on a wide range of issues, including advertising, production agreements, media rights, content regulation, and broadcasting licence applications. The team is also active on the contentious side, where it handles factious sports broadcasting rights matters and other Irish High Court proceedings. Practice head Michael Madden has longstanding regulatory experience and regularly advises on all aspects of Irish audiovisual media services law. Associate Luke Murray specialises in Irish and EU media and communications regulation and competition law matters.
Practice head(s):
Michael Madden
Testimonials
‘The team is very knowledgeable about their industry.’
‘Michael Madden is extremely responsive and very experienced. Good blend of legal advice and commercial perspective.’
Key clients
Meta
Twitter International Unlimited Company
Bauer Media Group
Discovery
BT
Work highlights
- Advised Meta on a range of regulatory obligations including the Irish implementation of the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive and Ireland’s Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill.
- Represented Twitter in the defence of Norwich Pharmacal Proceedings in the Irish High Court.
- Advised Bauer Media on various international media mergers.
Matheson LLP
Matheson LLP has a sizable and experienced media and entertainment practice with a strong presence in the film and TV production sector, where it represents multiple producers, lenders, financiers, and distributors. The team works closely with its commercial litigation and dispute resolution group to provide holistic defamation and privacy law advice to a wide range of clients, including media and broadcasting companies and regulatory and statutory bodies. Ruth Hunter specialises in the negotiation and drafting of agreements related to distribution, writers, actors, directors, designers, and composers and co-heads the team with Michael Byrne , who leads the contentious side of the practice, with particular expertise in defamation and privacy law.
Practice head(s):
Ruth Hunter; Michael Byrne
Testimonials
‘The team has considerable expertise in this area and customises service for the project at hand and drives the closing accordingly.’
‘Ruth Hunter is very knowledgeable.’
Key clients
Treasure Entertainment Limited
Subotica Limited
Port Pictures Limited
McCann FitzGerald LLP
McCann FitzGerald LLP has an experienced media and entertainment practice which works with both domestic and international operators in publishing, broadcasting, production, betting, gaming and digital enterprises. The team has a dedicated media defence team that regularly handles complex media disputes and defamation mandates. Audrey Byrne heads the practice and has extensive expertise of handling digital media disputes and the contentious issues that affect online platforms. Alan Heuston advises on the regulatory and taxation aspects of the betting and gaming sector, while Adam Finlay specialises in advertising law matters. Lesley Caplin is another key contact and was recently promoted to of counsel.
Practice head(s):
Audrey Byrne
Other key lawyers:
Alan Heuston; Adam Finlay; Lesley Caplin
Testimonials
‘McCann FitzGerald LLP’s approach to analysis and client communications are best in class.’
‘Lesley Caplin leads an excellent team out of the Dublin office. First-rate analysis and communication.’
‘McCann FitzGerald LLP’s team offers in-depth expertise in managing media defence cases. The team has been excellent in witness preparation and in managing the discovery and document productions, including dealing with source protection issues and privilege.’
‘Audrey Byrne is experienced in managing large-scale discovery by electronic means in the context of her busy commercial court practice. Lesley Caplin manages a team of media defence specialists and a busy caseload of media-related disputes. She is an expert media defence practitioner, managing civil jury actions and advisory work for media clients. She is an adept and skilled negotiator, and clients very much value her commercial approach.
‘Lesley Caplin is top-notch, intelligent, practical, well-organised, extremely industrious, and hard-working. She is very good at witness preparation, strategic advice and managing large discoveries and document production. She manages her team very well.
‘The media and entertainment team at McCann FitzGerald is unique in its field. The team combines a wealth of experience and knowledge in the area of media and entertainment law with the ability to embrace changes to the law and procedure in an ever-changing field in this regard.
‘The team is streets ahead in terms of electronic briefing.’
‘The media and entertainment team always emphasises collaboratively solving problems. There is always an unrestrained debate about strategy or legal points when required, which ensures that the decisions made on litigation strategy or whether to run a particular point are robust. The solicitors forming the Media and Entertainment Team of MCF are litigation savvy and fearless.’
Key clients
BBC
Channel 4 television
Guardian News & Media
Independent News & Media plc (now Mediahuis)
Buzzfeed
Cable News Network, Inc.
Clooney Foundation for Justice
Malin
Work highlights
- Advised BBC on a high-stakes legal action which will involve a jury hearing, likely to take place in 2023.
- Represented Guardian News and Media in a defamation proceedings by two company directors and their fishing company.
- Represented Channel 4 in defamation proceedings brought by Ryanair in respect of a documentary by Channel 4 in respect of air safety.
Philip Lee LLP
Philip Lee LLP’s media team has a strong presence in the film and television sector, where it represents multiple studios, state media agencies, artists, banks, financial institutions, and investors. In addition, the team is also active in the advertising industry and regularly advises commercial production companies on production-specific legal matters. Brian Gormley heads the practice and has significant experience of advising on the financing and production of large international feature films, animation series and domestic television programs. Jonathan Kelly specialises in the area of film and television finance, while associate Jessica Gorman has significant experience of negotiating talent agreements and advising on production clearances and releases.
Practice head(s):
Brian Gormley
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Kelly; Jessica Gorman
Testimonials
‘The team has an exceptional knowledge of the industry.’
‘Philip Lee has more depth and experience.’
‘Jonathan Kelly is the best media lawyer; his grasp of the issues, both legal and commercial, is unmatched. Remarkably, he continues to offer outstanding client service. He is very ably supported by his associate Jessica Gorman, who works fast and communicates well.’
‘The team are a great support to producers as well as providing many solutions to contractual agreements for film production.’
‘Brian Gormley is extremely knowledgeable on the subjects. He provides good advice, especially on eligibility issues with the department. He is always prompt in returning calls and delivers on time.’
Key clients
Screen Scene
Wild Atlantic Pictures
Metropolitan Films
Merlin Film Group
Cofiloisirs
Parallel Films
Comerica Bank
Curiosity Studio
JAM Media
Windmill Lane
Work highlights
- Advised Wild Atlantic Pictures on various major productions including feature films “Irish Wish”, “The Pope’s Exorcist” and “65” and television programme “Bodkin”.
- Advised Metropolitan Films on several projects including Shelley Society, Silver and Harry Wild – Series 2.
- Represented certain Irish group companies in relation to the production and financing of the film In the Land of Saints and Sinners.
William Fry
William Fry works with a wide variety of clients from the media and entertainment sector, including daily newspapers, domestic TV channels, and top media companies. The team has particular expertise in defamation and privacy law and, of late, has been heavily involved in a lot of brand protection and reputation management work. Fiona Barry heads the team and has extensive experience in the defamation and social media sectors. Paul Convery specialises in defamation proceedings, in addition to telecommunications and media-related disputes.
Practice head(s):
Fiona Barry
Other key lawyers:
Paul Convery
Testimonials
‘Paul Convery is excellent at client management.’
‘Paul Convery is a very flexible thinker, always solutions-based when novel legal issues come up. Alice O’Connor is very good at detail.’
‘Paul Convery’s team has a very cost-efficient approach to the solutions offered and accepted to considerably adapt their usual fees for the first steps of procedures. They do have a great understanding of the laws and procedures and excellent communication.’
‘They are efficient communicators and always inform a client in advance of any substantial work to be undertaken and associated costs (with the small exception of the last invoice). They always presented different options and clearly explained the different aspects of those. They are also very friendly and amicable to work with.’
‘The team has professionals who pay attention to details, anticipating problems well in advance, and offering adequate solutions to those issues.’
Key clients
BBC
EHM Productions (TMZ)
Irish Rugby Football Union
Smurfit Kappa Group plc
The Irish Times
RTE
Sky
Diageo
Tipperary GAA
Genesis Links Holding Limited (Carr Golf)
Work highlights
- Represented parties who are the focus of a legal investigation in examining an allegation of corporate wrongdoing in a publicly quoted media group.
- Advised Tipperary GAA on a multi-year sponsorship deal with Fiserv Inc.
- Advised Genesis Links Holding Limited (Carr Golf) on the acquisition of a Golf Course.
A&L Goodbody LLP
A&L Goodbody LLP handles the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious matters in the media and entertainment space, including regulatory matters, advertising and sponsorship agreements, defamation and other content issues, and technology and media-related disputes. Practice head John Whelan focuses on the telecommunications sector and John Cahir
is the other key contact.
Practice head(s):
John Whelan
Other key lawyers:
John Cahir
Work highlights
- Advised Premier Sports on the proposed disposal of its UK operations to Viaplay Group.
- Represented Digital Europe in the proceedings in the Irish Commercial Court and the CJEU concerning the validity of the European Commission standard contractual clauses.
Dillon Eustace
Dillon Eustace has built a strong reputation for its work in the field of defamation litigation, where it handles many high-profile defamation cases for both domestic and international clients. John Doyle heads the practice and has a strong track record of providing pre-publication and day-to-day advice to leading newspapers and successfully defending clients before the High Court. David Kavanagh , Peter Bredin , and John O’Riordan are also recommended.
Practice head(s):
John Doyle
Other key lawyers:
David Kavanagh; Peter Bredin; John O’Riordan
Testimonials
‘The team is attentive and skilled.’
Key clients
Post Publications Limited (The Business Post)
Reach plc
Work highlights
- Advised Business Post on the avoidance and the defence of defamation actions.
Hayes Solicitors LLP
Hayes Solicitors LLP provides day-to-day advice on all aspects of media law and is well renowned for its expertise in the areas of defamation, copyright, data protection, privacy and contempt law. The team works with publishers, podcast producers, authors, production companies, and studio developers. David Phelan heads the practice and has extensive experience of advising pre-publication consideration of articles, advertisements, media contracts and copyright. Joe O’Malley assists clients with litigation matters related to media law.
Practice head(s):
David Phelan
Other key lawyers:
Joe O’Malley; Ken Casey
Testimonials
‘The partners and solicitors are strong in the media field through their partners David Phelan (litigation) and Ken Casey commercial.’
‘David Phelan is an expert in this field and is responsive, wise, pragmatic, an excellent communicator and knowledgeable of the media landscape and of his clients’ needs. Ken Casey’s legal expertise and commercial nous are acknowledged by all his clients. He too is available, pragmatic and provides wise counsel.’
‘Hayes always provides detailed and clear legal guidance.’
‘While a smaller practice it punches above its weight due to the calibre of the individual lawyers. It focuses on quality lawyers and quality work rather than quantity. The firm collaborates with its clients rather than providing services.’
‘David Phelan stands out in contractual and media matters. He has a very solid judgement and a calm approach to problematic situations.’
‘The open and thorough team gives solid and reliable advice. The briefing sessions and feedback come from good knowledge, research and reflection.’
‘The individuals in the team stand out for getting things done within the timeframe that’s promised. Briefings are thorough, and questions are always answered in a professional way and without jargon.’
Key clients
The Irish Times
Tara Studios
Noel Kelly Management
Boys and Girls
United Biscuits
Association of Promotional Marketing Consultants
Publicis
Irish National Teachers Organisation
Nestlé
Institute of Promotional Marketing in the UK
Pepsi
Benecol
Integrated Marketing Communications Council of Europe
MMC Commercials trading as Mitsubishi Ireland
IAPI
CMS
Work highlights
- Advised The Irish Times newspaper on pre-publication and reporting restrictions issues.
- Represented Tara Studios Limited in their process of developing film and television production facilities at a 250,000 ft.² state-of-the-art facility in Co. Wexford.
- Advised many of the celebrity talents with Noel Kelly Management on their agreements with TV and radio broadcasters.
RDJ LLP
RDJ LLP has extensive experience in all legal issues related to print, broadcasting, and digital media and boasts two dedicated teams for contentious and non-contentious media law-related matters. Darryl Broderick heads the contentious media team and has extensive experience of handling reputation management and other media disputes before the Irish courts. Diarmaid Gavin heads the non-contentious media team and advises on media merger notifications, advertising compliance, content acquisition and licensing arrangements, data protection, and advertising law.
Practice head(s):
Darryl Broderick; Diarmaid Gavin
Key clients
Poppulo
GTT Communications
Bakhchysarai Ireland
PFH Technology
Compliance and Risk
Wissam Al Mana
Stanhope Financial Limited
Sirwan Saber Mustafa
Irish Examiner
ByrneWallace LLP
ByrneWallace LLP has built a strong reputation for assisting public and private organisations with reputation management, where it protects clients from the reputational damage caused by product recalls, bad leavers, data breaches, cyberattacks and adverse media intrusion. Mark O’Shaughnessy heads the practice and works closely with Valerie Hourigan .
Practice head(s):
Mark O’Shaughnessy
Other key lawyers:
Valerie Hourigan
Testimonials
‘Mark O’Shaughnessy is a leading expert in the fields of media and technology law, his knowledge of these constantly evolving areas is impressive, and his ability to present developments in the law in a clear and concise way is of great assistance. He has the ability to identify practical pathways and solutions to overcome difficult legal issues faced by clients in these areas.’
Key clients
Irish Studio Media Publishing Limited
Work highlights
- Represented Irish Studio Media Publishing Limited in proceedings arising from the content of an article published in an online publication.
- Represented county councils in issues arising from an investigative journalist broadcast regarding certain alleged corporate governance issues.
- Represented state health agency in defending High Court defamation proceedings.