SKW Schwarz is among the top addresses for major players from the gaming, film, television and arts industries. The mainstays include the support in copyright disputes and the implementation of AI models. Practice head Johann Heyde primarily advises clients from the film and television sectors on film funding, copyright matters and personal rights as well as content marketing; he also advises on publishing and music law matters. Andreas Peschel-Mehner  is experienced in film funding and is regularly instructed by streaming platforms and other digital media clients on issues pertaining to terms and conditions, youth protection and age verification. E-sports law expert Moritz Mehner was appointed to partner in January 2024.

 

In 2024, DLA Piper expanded its advisory offering with expertise in gambling law, where the team regularly represents international clients in administrative, landmark as well as reimbursement proceedings and offers support in the development of new gambling products. The team is well versed in copyright matters pertaining to the gaming sector and also advises across the broadcasting and streaming industries on regulatory law. Practice head Stefan Engels is renowned for his expertise in broadcasting and online law and Michael Stulz-Herrnstadt is experienced in regulatory issues as well as media, gambling and entertainment topics. Kai Tumbrägel (IP law and e-sports) joined GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB in October 2024.

Greenberg Traurig Germany focuses on matters pertaining to the film and television industries and advises on film productions and funding as well as copyright law. The team also advises international platforms on matters pertaining to licensing and marketing rights in accordance with music IP law. Practice head Stefan Lütje, who switched to the of counsel position in July 2023, regularly supports transactions in the media sector and also represents clients in IP disputes. Laura Zentner advises on the structuring of international co-productions and offers expertise in film productions and licensing matters.

LAUSEN is regularly instructed on copyright, trademark and competition law matters and is experienced in representing clients in disputes regarding unlicensed content and the enforcement of IP rights. The practice is well versed in the streaming sector, where Lorenz Haidinger advises on the licensing of music rights to streaming and digital platforms, as well as supporting the development of new streaming content. Founding partner Matthias Lausen focuses on copyright matters and advises on licensing negotiations as well as transactions, while Kerstin Bäcker is a key contact for AI and NFT-related matters. Marco Jung, who focuses on live entertainment, heads the firm’s new Berlin location since February 2024.

McDermott Will & Emery Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater LLP is well versed in contentious and regulatory matters in the media sector and regularly represents clients before the DPMA arbitration board and before regional courts in connection with TV charges and advertising matters. Other key topics include the support in licensing negotiations and the advice to media companies and funding bodies on copyright, competition and broadcasting law matters. Practice head Wolfgang von Frentz represents clients before German and European courts in disputes Pertaining to IP and licensing law. Christian Masch, who is well versed in copyright and data protection law, has expertise in litigation.

Morrison Foerster primarily advises producers and financial institutions in connection with the funding and production of films and television shows and also covers related copyright issues. Other mainstays include the expertise in licensing law, where the team frequently advises in connection with AI matters. Co-head Christoph Wagner, who supports clients in the course of M&A transactions as well as the licensing of broadcasting rights, is also experienced in AI-related regulatory issues. Co-head Christiane Stützle is regularly instructed by US-based companies from the film and music sectors on the development and marketing of new projects. Counsel Christoph Nüßing frequently advises platforms, including social media companies and streaming service providers, on compliance at national and EU level.

Straßer Ventroni Freytag Rechtsanwälte advises across the film and music industries on copyright protection, the drafting of marketing contracts and licensing agreements as well as clients from the e-commerce sector on regulatory and data protection matters. The team’s key contacts include name partners Robert Straßer, Stefan Ventroni and Stefan Freytag, who jointly head the practice. Straßer is well versed in copyright law and also assists with international productions, while Ventroni supports clients from the film, television and music sectors in negotiations regarding licensing and cooperation agreements. In addition to copyright law, Freytag also advises on e-commerce and related data protection issues.

The Media, Entertainment and Sports team at Bird & Bird LLP is experienced in supporting platforms, including AI companies and streaming service providers, in youth protection issues as well as in contract and licensing negotiations regarding live broadcasting. A recent growth area is the advice across the gaming sector, where the team is experienced in copyright and advertising as well as gambling law issues. Practice head Joseph Fesenmair acts at the interface between media and sports law, where he supports clients in copyright, trademark and competition law disputes. Markus Körner boasts further expertise in these areas, where he regularly advises on the drafting of licensing and sponsorship contracts.

FREY Rechtsanwälte offers expertise in copyright law and supports media and telecoms companies as well as professional sports and e-sports teams in the drafting of cooperation and licensing agreements. Co-head Dieter Frey is renowned for his expertise in copyright and sports law and regularly represents clients in remuneration proceedings against collecting societies. Litigator Matthias Rudolph is particularly well versed in copyright law, he also covers matters at the interface between insolvency and licensing law.

Hengeler Mueller's media law team offers comprehensive advice thanks to the close cooperation with the antitrust and data law practices and advises platforms and telecoms companies on media, copyright and data protection issues across Germany and the EU. The practice is also experienced in transactions in the media sector, including company acquisitions as well as the acquisition and sale of IP rights and licenses. The team is jointly led by counsel Tobias Schubert, who focuses on disputes in connection with internet regulation, and Matthias Berberich, who boasts expertise in licensing disputes as well as contract and transaction-related negotiations.

K&L Gates LLP offers longstanding expertise in art law, where the practice advises on traditional copyright law and also covers matters at the interface between art and succession law as well as NFT and blockchain-related issues. The team is regularly instructed by film and television broadcasters as well as collecting societies in the course of copyright and media proceedings before German and European courts. Art law is a focus of practice head Friederike Gräfin von Brühl, who also advises on licensing and anti-piracy measures, while counsel Olaf Fiss regularly represents clients in copyright disputes.

Klinkert Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB advises clients from the sports and streaming industries on copyright matters, including disputes, as well as on contract negotiations regarding the broadcasting rights of sports institutions. Piet Bubenzer is experienced in copyright and media law and routinely acts across the sports and music sectors, where he advises on the acquisition of IP rights and the drafting of licensing agreements. He jointly heads the practice with Annett Rombach, who regularly represents clients in disputes before arbitration tribunals and state courts.

NORDEMANN supports clients from the gaming, music and sports sectors in copyright disputes at German and EU level, including matters in accordance with the DSA, and also advises on day-to-day business matters such as contract and licensing law. Practice head Jan Bernd Nordemann is renowned for his experience in copyright disputes and has further expertise in competition and trademark law. Matters pertaining to digital copyright law are a focus of Christian Czychowski, who also advises on the enforcement of IP law in the music industry.

Osborne Clarke‘s offering includes supporting gaming developers in independent product launches, where the firm advises on youth and consumer protection issues as well as marketing. The practice also covers regulatory aspects in connection with e-commerce and IT projects across the media and digital industries; this interface is a key focus of practice head Konstantin Ewald, who also advises on platform compliance and software licensing.

Baker McKenzie routinely advises clients from the gaming and social media sectors on regulatory matters, including youth protection, content restrictions as well as advertising law and the team cooperates closely with the firm's M&A team in the course of media-related transactions. Counsel Sebastian Schwiddessen focuses on regulatory and transaction support and took over the role of practice head following the departure of e-commerce and data protection lawyer Holger Lutz, who moved to Clifford Chance in May 2023.

Advertising law boutique FECHNER Rechtsanwälte regularly assists advertising agencies with the launch of new advertising campaigns as well as with related issues of copyright and licensing law. Name partner Georg Fechner handles matters at the interface between advertising, copyright and IP law, while Jann Cornels offers support in the development of AI models and other digitised projects; the latter also has expertise in data protection law.

GRAEF Rechtsanwälte advises a client roster consisting of producers, studios and broadcasters on film productions and related copyright and advertising law issues. Practice head Ralph Oliver Graef is a key contact here, he is also well versed in gaming law.

Lentze Stopper focuses on sports law and advises football clubs and governing bodies on ticketing, merchandising and related licensing matters as well as the protection of IP rights. Gregor Lentze focuses on contract drafting, particularly in connection with major events, while Martin Stopper advises on antitrust issues in addition to sports law. Christian Keidel regularly acts before CAS and other association courts and advises on the transfers of football players, and Felix Holzhäuser regularly assists with contentious and strategic matters regarding ticketing. Tim Bagger von Grafenstein covers the interface between sports law and digitisation, the latter is also experienced in NFT and e-sports matters.

Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB focuses on innovations in the digital sector and advises clients on technology-related contracts, obligations under the EU-DSA and the implementation of AI models. Nils Rauer heads the firm's global AI practice and advises on digitisation projects as well as digital advertising issues. Rauer jointly heads the German team with Stephan Appt, who is experienced in IT law.

Vy - BRIX LANGE VERWEYEN Rechtsanwälte focuses on copyright law and is particularly experienced in advising on device and storage media levies. Among the client roster are companies from the art, music and film sectors, which are advised on data protection and IT law matters. Practice head Urs Verweyen specialises in copyright levies and also has expertise in copyright law, where he regularly acts in landmark and model proceedings.