Ranking tables

Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing | UK

UK-wide

The section caters to clients in the media industry in respect of contentious and non-contentious matters. We rank firms by specialist expertise in tables for Film & Television; Advertising & Marketing; Music, Theatre & Live Events; Publishing; and Games, Interactive Entertainment and Social Media. Individuals are ranked relative to one another by specialism.   Non-contentious work as covered by this section may include production, financing and distribution arrangements, as well as IP, licensing and supplementary rights planning.   Types of disputes in this area are many and may include copyright and contractual litigation (eg on behalf of studios, producers, publishing houses or talent), matters arising from film finance, comparative advertising and ASA disputes.   Please note that defamation actions are not considered in our publishing rankings; please submit such matters to the Defamation/Reputation Management section. The Publishing rankings do however consider matters concerning pre-publication clearance, reporting restrictions and press regulation.   Related sections: Defamation/Reputation Management

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Lewis Silkin
    1
    Lewis Silkin
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 1 | 13 Years Ranked
    Lewis Silkin is a pre-eminent advertising and marketing practice which acts for many of the major global advertising agency networks, along with other leading agencies and advertisers. The firm is also active in the gaming space, advising on development and licensing agreements. It frequently represents trade groups and associations in various media sectors. The team demonstrates additional expertise in music, film and TV, with a presence in digital media.
  2. Osborne Clarke LLP
    1
    Osborne Clarke LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 1 | 13 Years Ranked
    Osborne Clarke houses a market-leading advertising and marketing group offering expertise in regulatory and corporate matters for clients in advertising, digital media and gaming. The team is knowledgeable on developments in adtech and OTT services.
  3. RPC
    1
    RPC
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 1 | 13 Years Ranked
    RPC is a highly respected digital media and publishing practice, advising on a variety of pre-publication, IP, regulatory and commercial matters. The firm also features a strong advertising practice which acts on behalf of a number of major digital businesses and retailers. The team regularly handles disputes arising in online and print media, and has substantial resources with regard to competition law.
2

Band 2

  1. Bates Wells
    2
    Bates Wells
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    Bates Wells has a renowned advertising regulatory practice, acting for the ASA and other UK regulatory bodies. It also provides commercial advice and litigation services to charities, cultural organisations and global brand owners. The firm provides extensive knowledge of prize draws and promotions, database issues and direct marketing.
  2. Bristows LLP
    2
    Bristows LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    Bristows has a strong advertising offering, complemented by longstanding strength in IP law. It advises household-name brands on international campaigns, social media, programmatic advertising and compliance, with particular prowess in the digital media and technology space. The firm also offers accomplished advisers to clients in the gaming sector on IP and regulatory issues.
  3. CMS
    2
    CMS
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    CMS has a major presence in the media sphere, offering superb expertise in corporate matters. It advises broadcasters on channel distribution agreements, and film producers on major motion picture development. The firm also offers a celebrated gaming and games tax relief practice, and strong presence in the digital and social media field. The firm also has a highly respected advertising and marketing department with a glittering brand-side client base. Additionally, the team features a significant commercial and contentious music practice.
  4. Fieldfisher
    2
    Fieldfisher
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    Fieldfisher has an impressive cross-disciplinary media offering, with well-respected media finance expertise and a strong advertising and marketing department. It advises on film and television production and finance. The firm also acts for clients in gaming, digital and social media, and has advanced knowledge and experience with technological developments.
3

Band 3

  1. Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
    3
    Gowling WLG (UK) LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 3 | 6 Years Ranked
    Gowling is an international firm instructed by prominent UK and global companies to help them promote their brands. It advises on a broad range of issues, including promotional campaigns, comparative advertising, developments in digital marketing and the implementation of new regulations.
  2. Harbottle & Lewis LLP
    3
    Harbottle & Lewis LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 3 | 13 Years Ranked
    Harbottle & Lewis provides outstanding strength in media and entertainment, with impressive expertise within the video games, film, TV, music and theatre sectors. The firm is widely regarded as a destination firm for publishing clients, offering expertise in commercial and IP matters. The team is experienced in representing major multinational studios and production companies from the gaming and film spaces throughout development. The firm also demonstrates additional strength in growth areas such as virtual and augmented reality, e-sports and online platforms.
  3. Lee & Thompson LLP
    3
    Lee & Thompson LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 3 | 5 Years Ranked
    Lee & Thompson is an eminent media and entertainment boutique firm with market-leading film, TV and music practices. The firm acts for independent film and TV production companies, distributors and financiers. Its music department advises global artists and breakthrough talent, songwriters and producers on a host of commercial and contentious matters. The firm maintains a specialist group of media and entertainment litigators. It is noted for strength in matters related to digital content across all areas of media and entertainment. The team acts for well-known brands and leading agencies on commercial, contentious and regulatory advertising and marketing matters. The firm additionally houses noted experts on the video games industry.
  4. Squire Patton Boggs
    3
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 3 | 13 Years Ranked
    Squire Patton Boggs has a specialist advertising practice, assisting major brands and agencies with contract drafting, enforcement, regulatory matters and other issues. It is noted for expertise in the media agency sector and pan-European advertising legislation. The firm provides further experience in data protection regulation with regard to online marketing.
4

Band 4

  1. Bird & Bird
    4
    Bird & Bird
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    Bird & Bird has an excellent profile in digital media and technology, supported by well-established expertise in all aspects of IP and internet law. It draws on its international network to provide a full service to clients, including commercial and regulatory advice and dispute resolution services. The firm acts for a number of games studios, with additional strength in e-commerce, telecommunications, IT and sports law. Further, the team has noted experience representing clients in advertising and marketing matters, and has a strong adtech offering.
  2. DLA Piper LLP
    4
    DLA Piper LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 4 | 13 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper is a stalwart of the media and entertainment industry with a strong international presence. Advertising, sponsorship, gaming and digital media are all areas of strength for the firm, which also has an excellent publishing offering, ranging from copy clearance to advice on e-book and digital distribution opportunities. The firm offers additional expertise in commercial, corporate and copyright infringement matters with respect to sports broadcasting.
  3. Simkins LLP
    4
    Simkins LLP
    Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
    2025 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    Simkins is a renowned media boutique firm providing transactional advice, dispute resolution, pre-publication and regulatory compliance services to clients across the creative industries. It has noted expertise in live events, film and TV, music, publishing and theatre. The firm has the resources to assist media clients with corporate, tax and IP matters.