TMT: Media | Europe

CMS boasts impressive bench strength with expertise across the full spectrum of TMT. The team has a top-tier offering for IT mandates, displaying involvement in complex mandates including outsourcing, cloud contracts and product rollouts as well as the implementation of large IT structures. Additionally, clients enjoy the firm's prowess in handling blockchain technologies, M&A transactions and data protection issues including data transfers, cyber attacks and GDPR compliance. The department also remains one of Germany's top media law firms, with particular expertise in e-sports, online streaming and copyright law. CMS's additional strength in freedom of expression, licensing and personality rights cases as well as gaming law complements its offering. Lastly, the team advises on EECC, cooperation agreements and nationwide network creations within the telecommunications sector. Its prestigious clientele includes multinational telecommunications providers, banks, e-commerce platforms and public broadcasters.

The international law firm Morrison Foerster houses a leading media law team. Clients benefit from the law firm's holistic coverage ranging from online streaming services and distribution agreements to broadcasting licences. The team also assists with the launch of video-on-demand platforms, international film productions and film financing. Morrison Foerster's strength in proceedings concerning licences, copyright and distribution further complements its strong offering. Its clientele includes international film production companies, publishing houses and telecommunications providers, further highlighting the firm's excellent market position.

Greenberg Traurig offers a broad range of services in the media law world. Its team regularly advises on production and distribution issues as well as on online streaming services and copyright. Clients benefit particularly from the law firm's expertise in all funding and tax issues pertaining to film production. The media practice at Greenberg Traurig has further expertise in licensing agreements and performance and personality rights. Its diverse clientele, which includes national TV production companies, cinema operators and international streaming services, additionally shows the firm's robust market position.

International law firm McDermott Will & Emery is home to a respected TMT team with a broad offering. The firm predominantly acts for well-known national and international media clients on complex litigation across all court levels regarding remuneration disputes, ad-blockers and advertising prohibitions. Its further expertise encompasses TV licensing and royalty payment disputes. Clients also benefit from the law firm's advisory work, which includes distribution and sponsorship agreements across the DACH market. Its international office network further enables the effective handling of cross-border cases.

Noerr is a German law firm boasting incredible bench strength across its offices and offering outstanding TMT advice. The firm is particularly appreciated for its expertise in IT law, ranging from large outsourcings and global IT infrastructure projects to the implementation of software systems and projects. The firm's additional strength in IT-related litigation as well as data protection issues such as data leaks and healthcare-related data processing complements its strong offering. Additionally, the law firm gains praise for its advisory work in the telecommunications sector, assisting with network rollouts, licensing procedures and broadband expansions as well as network sharing. Furthermore, Noerr's media practice is appreciated for its prowess in handling copyright, broadcasting and online streaming as well as film production-related mandates. Similarly, clients benefit from the team's experience in funding and discrimination disputes. Its clientele, comprising international market leaders from the technology, financial services, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors, attests to the firm's excellent market standing.

The law firm Raue houses a highly reputable team with a strong specialisation in media law disputes, often acting for national and international clients in courts across Germany. The team is well versed in handling copyright and personality rights issues, particularly those concerning film productions. Furthermore, clients benefit from the firm's expertise in freedom of expression and press law. Besides its strength in litigation, the practice assists with non-contentious work including product launches and TV licensing agreements. The calibre of its clientele, comprising publishing houses, broadcasters and collecting societies, further attests to Raue's market standing.

DLA Piper is an international full-service law firm with strong expertise in data protection and IT law. The team regularly advises on IT outsourcing, novel mobility concepts and platform rollouts as well as digitalisation projects. Its services are strengthened by its prowess in handling data protection mandates ranging from data breach disputes and international data transfers to GDPR compliance. Furthermore, the law firm offers media law advice, whereby the team assists with gaming law, broadcasting licences and press law. Its expertise in advertisement law and M&A-related issues as well as disputes complements DLA Piper's holistic offerings. Its client roster spans market leaders in the digital and print publishing, technology and automotive industries.

The law firm Hengeler Mueller houses a respected TMT practice with capabilities across media and telecommunications law. The team regularly advises on large 5G network rollouts and auctions thereof, with further expertise in feed-in contracts for public broadcasters and TV distribution agreements. Additionally, clients benefit from the firm's ability to handle proceedings against state authorities and to assist with the implications of the EECC implementation. Furthermore, the team is sought after for its strength in all media law-related mandates, especially those pertaining to copyright liability proceedings and new media. Licensing agreements, music streaming and copyright directives as well as negotiations with collecting societies constitute further areas of expertise. Its clientele ranges from well-known German telecommunications providers to international technology players, illustrating the firm's standing.

K&L Gates houses a well-established practice capable of handling an expansive array of media law, with a particular focus on copyright law and litigation. Based in Berlin, the team also advises on music on demand, streaming and tariff negotiations with collecting societies, with further expertise in broadcasting and licensing agreements. The law firm also assists with advertising agreements and subscription business models, with its clientele consisting of well-known media, sport and technology players. K&L Gates additionally has a strong focus on matters in the art industry, including advice on contract negotiations as well as disputes over authorship, ownership and authenticity of artworks.

Osborne Clarke is an internationally renowned firm with expertise across TMT, operating from Cologne and Hamburg. The practice group regularly assists with IT outsourcing, digitalisation projects and licensing agreements as well as strategic partnerships. The firm is also considered a top choice for data protection issues, advising on international data transfers, GDPR compliance and employee data processing. Its additional strength in compensation claims pertaining to data breaches complements its services. In addition to its particular strength in gaming law, the team assists with youth protection, copyright and advertisement mandates as well as product launches. Its client roster includes household names from the publishing, media, technology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Taylor Wessing houses a well-reputed TMT practice. The team regularly assists with IT procurements, cooperation agreements in the digital healthcare and automotive sectors, and market entries. Its further strength in IT security adds to the firm's offering. Additionally, the practice enjoys a strong standing in the data protection arena, assisting with large data transfer projects and liability proceedings. Taylor Wessing also advises clients on media law mandates, covering copyright, platform and gaming issues as well as streaming service and online marketing matters. Its clientele includes players from the technology, publishing, real estate and telecommunications sectors.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a respected full-service law firm with a comprehensive TMT offering spanning telecommunications, IT and media law. Its team is particularly known for assisting with telecommunications regulation and M&A transactions, covering issues such as new broadband connections and the EECC. Additionally, Freshfields receives praise for its strength in IT law advising on M&A-related IT issues as well as outsourcing projects, fintech, application development and software agreements. The firm complements its holistic offering with its media law coverage, often advising on broadcasting licences, competition law and consumer protection as well as gambling advertising.