Greenberg Traurig Germany is a key contact for domestic and international film and television producers, distributors, and broadcasters. The practice advises on a host of legal and regulatory matters, including tax compliance advisory work, transactions including platform financing and establishment, IP and licensing matters in and out of court, and data protection and management. Advising major entertainment clients, the practice often integrates the firm’s global network, and other clients include streaming providers and individual entertainers. Practice head Laura Zentner provides comprehensive media advice with a focus on copyright law, as well as cross-border transactions and market entries in television and film. Viola Bensinger‘s background is in IP law, which is applied to distribution and licensing matters in the media and technology sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Sharp, fast knowledge.’
- ‘The entertainment practice at Greenberg Traurig is a responsive, joined-up practice, providing insightful legal advice, and clear and effective drafting. Advice is always pragmatic and targeted to our needs. In fact, without ever providing us with more than we need, Greenberg Traurig almost always exceeds expectations.’
- ‘Viola Bensinger and Laura Zentner are incredibly friendly and approachable, and always available when we need them. They are supported by a wonderful team. I know that, whatever our need, Viola and Laura will be there for us.’
- 'Extraordinary skills in all rights issues concerning the film and television business.'
- 'Strong industry expertise. The attorneys are strong advocates for you and what you are trying to achieve.'
- 'They negotiate well, they have deep industry expertise, they are willing to push for what they think is possible on behalf of the client, they are creative in terms of finding solutions to get the client what the client wants, they educate the client on options the client may not have thought of, or ways to structure the deal terms in ways the client may not be aware of. Laura Zentner and Georg von Wallis are both excellent.'
Key clients
- Ehrlich Brothers/Ehrlich Entertainment
- Comerica Bank
- Motion Picture Association
- Paramount Pictures Corporation
- Rise FX/Rise Filmproduktion
- Stampede Ventures
- TikTok/Bytedance
- UFA Fiction Productions
- Wolf Bauer
- ZDF Studios
- Moonlake Entertainment
- John Strelecky
Work highlights
Advised the studios arm of an international streaming platform on numerous in-house productions, in particular on licence agreements, talent agreements and marketing and merchandising issues.
Advised the Ehrlich Brothers on all matters relating to contract, copyright, competition and broadcasting law, personality rights, trademark law and merchandising.
Advised UFA Fictions Production in connection with disbursement of GMPF production funding.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Laura Zentner
Other key lawyers
Viola Bensinger; Georg von Wallis