Hall Of Fame

Leading Associates

Firms To Watch: Media and entertainment: Cinema

DWF (France) AARPI is a firm to watch in the space due to the addition of Stéphanie Berland, former lead partner at Steering Legal. Berland brings a wealth of experience in film, IP and technological law, acting both in advisory and litigation matters.

Media and entertainment: Cinema in France

Crossen & Borowsky

Crossen & Borowsky leverage years of technical expertise in the global media and entertainment industry to advise a network of major international clients. The boutique firm has a depth of experience in advising global studios, including Sony Pictures and Warner Bros., on rights acquisitions, investments, and navigating the specificities of the French regulatory framework and market practices. The team is led by Raechel Crossen and Sophie Borowsky, who are recognised for their 'objectivity and professionalism'. A recent mandate involved advising Sony Pictures on how best to navigate the available distribution and production structures in France, in order to maximise the marketability of its French theatrical pictures.

Responsables de la pratique:

Raechel Crossen; Sophie Borowsky


Les références

‘The Crossen & Borowsky team stands out for their warm and humane approach, depth of research and understanding of the complexity of each individual case. Despite being at the top of their game, they constantly engage in updating their skills and knowledge in this ever-changing environment. Their objectivity and professionalism brings added value, and the client feels well treated, understood and protected.’

‘Raechel Crossen is a highly experienced lawyer. Her skills enable her to negotiate with the largest media groups with ease and efficiency. She is a great professional.’

‘Sophie Borowsky is a very moderate, positive and nice person. She is always generous with sharing knowledge about current trends in the film industry, which adds to her profile as a very niche and rare specialist. A pleasure to work with her, always!’

Principaux clients

Sony Pictures International Productions Inc.


Warner Bros. Entertainment France SAS


StudioCanal SAS


New Line Productions Inc.


Columbia Pictures Industries Inc.


Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.


Saint Laurent Productions


NBCUniversal Inc.


Fremantle Studio Ltd


Working Title Film Limited


River Road Pictures Inc.


High Valley Inc.


Activist 38


Decia Films


Dream & Co Ltd


Malko Corporation Ltd.


Memento Distribution


Same Player


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Sony Pictures International Productions on how best to navigate among the available distribution and production structures in France, and on how to optimize the benefits from the complex French regulations on investment and quota obligations, production and distribution subsidies and media chronology rules, so as to maximize the marketability and attractivity of its French theatrical pictures.
  • Advised Access Industries, a leading investor in the entertainment industry, in connection with the negotiation and drafting of its first investment agreement in the French film industry. Advice further included the analysis of the chain of title and the review and analysis of the other investor agreements, including each investor’s financial waterfall.
  • Advised Saint Laurent Productions, Saint Laurent’s film production arm, in connection with its investment in a new English-language film, directed by a famous French director. Provided an in-depth analysis of the legal and financial risks raised by the offer made by the producer, and the negotiation of an investment deal memo, as well as a waterfall of the future revenues of the film. Saint Laurent Productions has since been instructing the firm with other projects and various subject matters in relation with feature films.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés has a strong reputation within the media and entertainment field, representing global film industry clients in transactional matters and litigation. Utilising a cross-practice and transversal approach, the team is well-equipped to assist a wide range of French and international entertainment industry clients. Charles-Edouard Renault is highly regarded for his specialist knowledge of film financing, and for his extensive experience in entertainment litigation and film production disputes. Georgie Courtois also represents clients in complex litigation before a number of bodies.

Responsables de la pratique:

Charles-Edouard-Renault; Georgie Courtois; Louis de Gaulle; Matthew Dary; Philippe Moncorps; Julien Horn


Principaux clients

247 Movies


ASO-Amaury Sport organization


ACE


Blue Morning Pictures


DreamWorks Animation


DWT / Apple Studio / The New Look


Forge Entertainment / The Buccaneers


GOOD HERO


HBO


Hopscotch


ITV / Studios of America / Over the Pond Productions


JP Morgan Chase


Microsoft


NBCUniversal


NoMoneyProductions


WMO / EUROPACORP


Paramount


PATHE / IMAX


Spotify


TF1


Twentieth Century Fox


UEFA


Warner Media


Working Title Films


Principaux dossiers


Taylor Wessing

The esteemed team at Taylor Wessing is noted for its cross-media intellectual property expertise, advising on IP exploitation opportunities in cinema and other media. The firm has a stellar roster of French and international clients, assisting in all operational aspects of their IP business. The team is led by Christian Valsamidis, who offers extensive experience in international film financing, and is highly regarded for his IP and banking law expertise within the entertainment industry. Of note, Claire Saint-Laurent-Mantoux acted as lead partner for Comité d’Organisation des Jeux Olympics et Paralympiques, advising on all copyright matters.

 

Responsables de la pratique:

Christian Valsamidis; Claire Saint-Laurent; Benoit Goulesque-Monaux


Principaux clients

Comité Des Jeux Olympiques Paris 2024


Mandarin Television


Curiosa


Let me be / Full players


Antoine Chevrollier


TCC


Puy du Fou Films


Le Collectif 64


Kare Productions


Haute Fidélité


Europacorp


Roger Films (Newen Studios)


Mely Productions


Les Films du Cap


Chi-Fou-Mi Productions


Principaux dossiers


111 avocats

111 avocats is a specialised entertainment law firm that leverages in-depth expertise in regulatory issues in the cinema/audiovisual industries to advise major industry clients, such as Amazon Studios and Mediawan. Founding partner Elsa Huisman has a wealth of experience in advising US studios and streaming platforms entering the French market, particularly on regulatory matters. Benjamin Giniez provides legal and strategic advice on various aspects of media production, distribution, and financing.

Responsables de la pratique:

Elsa Huisman; Benjamin Giniez


Les références

‘The team at 111 Avocats has been with us since the beginning. They have exceptional knowledge of our environment, new business and legal practices.’

‘There is a strong complementarity between the different lawyers that we solicit depending on the matter.’

Principaux dossiers


  • Advised SRAB in connection with its acquisition by Asacha Media Group and then in connection with the acquisition of Asacha Media Group by Fremantle.
  • Advised Good Hero on the acquisition of the rights to an animated film, including the rights derived from this property, and conducted an audit on this acquisition.

Brunet Riahi

Brunet Riahi was founded in April 2024 by Karine Riahi and Julien Brunet, and utilises its ‘vast network’ in France and the US to assist a range of French and international entertainment industry clients. Formerly lead partners at Spring Legal, Riahi and Brunet combine years of experience in film financing, copyright and distribution – practicing in both transactional and litigation matters. The team is supported by Vincent Amar, also formerly of Spring Legal, who provides intellectual property and digital law expertise.

 

 

Responsables de la pratique:

Karine Riahi; Julien Brunet


Autres avocats clés:

Vincent Amar


Les références

‘Karine and Julien consult with each other whenever necessary. You get the feeling of having the support of two outstanding attorneys with personalities and approaches that are different but very complementary. They also have a deep bench of friends in the industry as well as a vast network of professional colleagues they have worked with here in Europe and in the US. They are incredibly social and leave a wonderful impression such that people take their calls.’

‘It is a very good and available team that seems to know the field of cinema and the issues well.’

‘Julien is not only licensed in France but he is also licensed in California. We do business both in the US and France and he’s been extremely helpful in working with our US based attorney to make sure that our contracts work for us both in California and in France.;

Principaux clients

Glen Keane Productions, LLC


All Rights Entertainment


Mondo TV


Moon-Keys


The Jokers Lab


Je suis bien content


Tucker Tooley Entertainment


Les Films entre 2 et 4


Flach Film Production


2 OAKS


TAT Productions


Blackpills Studio


Willow Films


Cofiloisirs


Naïa Productions


Comme des Cinémas


Small Studio


Principaux dossiers


  • Provided legal assistance to the implementation in France of two world class American animation directors for their upcoming French production.
  • Provided legal assistance to the Cofiloisirs banking organization, specialised in the film industry, in its legal proceedings before the courts.

Racine

Full-service firm Racine has established a strong reputation within the media and entertainment sector, notably for its expertise in film industry regulations and a robust litigation practice. The team advises a stellar roster of French and international clients, including major production and media companies. Of note, the firm has assisted Pathé with a major renovation project for a historic movie complex, set to be the company's head office. The team is led by the ‘very dynamic’ Charles Bouffier, an IP and litigation expert, alongside Maud Bakouche and Xavier Rollet.

Responsables de la pratique:

Charles Bouffier; Maud Bakouche; Xavier Rollet


Les références

‘A very responsive and attentive team.’

‘Charles Bouffier is very dynamic.’

Principaux clients

SPL Air 217


Filmédis


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Pathé on a major renovation project for a historic movie complex, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop – designers of the Pompidou Centre. This site is intended to become not only the head office of Pathé, but also its flagship, including the most emblematic cinemas.
  • Advised SPL Air 217 on all legal matters related to the implementation of the project to create one of the biggest European film studios on the former Air Force Base 217 in the communes of Brétigny-sur-Orge and Plessis-Pâté. Set up all the infrastructure required to meet the needs of all those involved in film production in the Ile-de-France region.

Seattle Avocats

The team at Seattle Avocats assists a range of clients across the entertainment industry, including The Jokers Lab and Mediapart. François Ronget  leads the team, bringing more than 20 years of expertise within intellectual property and industry experience within a production company. Emmanuel Tordjman is another key contact, with a strong background in press law.

Responsables de la pratique:

François Ronget


Autres avocats clés:

Emmanuel Tordjman


Les références

‘The strength of this team seems to me to be its perfect understanding of my profession and the particularities of the world of cinema. This strength translates not only into precise answers to support me, but also to anticipate future problems.’

‘François Ronget has a perfect knowledge of the mechanics at work at all stages of production of an audiovisual project – from its development, financing, and delivery of the project, but also the distribution of the project – therefore its exploitation in the short and long term.’

Principaux dossiers


UGGC Avocats

UGGC Avocats is reputed for its depth of expertise in complex film financing, production and dispute matters, assisting leading industry clients such as BPIFrance. The firm is particularly well-known for its cross-border work, notably advising on co-production projects between clients in the US, Europe and Africa. Anne-Marie Pecoraro leads the team and is highly regarded for her extensive experience in film law and the wider media and entertainment sector. She is supported by Rodolphe Boissau, with the pair recognised for their work ‘at the forefront of innovation’ within the industry.

Responsables de la pratique:

Anne-Marie Pecoraro


Autres avocats clés:

Rodolphe Boissau


Les références

‘Anne Marie Pecoraro: expertise, energy, reliability, agility.’

‘UGGC Avocats is our go to firm if we need advice on French Media law. They are very knowledgeable and quick to respond. Anne Marie Pecoraro is an absolute market leader.’

‘Anne Marie Pecoraro has been a force to be reckoned with for the past decades. She is an undisputed expert and also a very nice person.’

‘Anne Marie Pecoraro has the qualities of a great lawyer. Rodolphe Boissau is very good, with personal qualities and technical qualities at the highest level. They are remarkable lawyers.’

‘I consider the team unique, given its agility, its performance in innovative cutting-edge subjects and its ability to support customers across the entire IP IT communication landscape.

‘Anne-Marie Pecoraro and Rodolphe Boissau are always at the forefront of innovation.’

‘Anne Marie Pecoraro is my go-to lawyer for all matters of film law, offering top-notch expertise.’

‘Anne Marie Pecoraro offers a high level of expertise in the relevant matters, combined with an excellent strategic mind. Personality and professionalism make Anne Marie a great lawyer.’

Principaux clients

BPIFrance


Pif et Hercule – Editions Vaillant


Euzhan Palcy


Les Films de la Plage


Pap et Pille


Birth


Hikayet Films – Malek Bensmail


Ephemere Production


Chloe Saada


Reveurs Nomades LLC


Helsinki FILMi


Paradiso Media


Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC)


Chloe Saada


Rafe Production


Echo Studio


Self Media


Thraces Productions


360 Paris Music Factory


Selfmedia


ECI Agency Vince Fischer


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Edouard Calipe, the author of a comic strip inspired by a Senegalese legend known as the False Lion, to protect the interests of all parties involved in the co-production of a feature length animation project.
  • Defended the team of the Algerian co-producer and writer-director of Hikayet Films – Malek Bensmail, against the other co-producers, as the film is an audiovisual adaptation of a pre-existing best-selling book.
  • Advising Vince Fischer, a professional in the film industry who re-opened his ECI talent agency (representing well-known film talent, writers, directors and actors to film producers) in all his film-related activities.

Simon Associés

The multidisciplinary team at Simon Associés is led by Julien Grosslerner, whose extensive experience within the entertainment industry is reflected in the calibre of the firm’s international client base, notably Paramount and DreamWorks. The team advises on a broad range of matters impacting international production companies and independent French studios.

Responsables de la pratique:

Julien Grosslerner


Principaux clients

Mediawan


Warner Bros Discovery


Eurosport


NBCUniversal


Federation


Paramount


Professional Fighters League


Newen


Netflix


Autorité de Régulation Professionnelle de la Publicité (ARPP)


Dreamworks


Fresh LaPeufra


Mesdames Productions


Robin & Co


Maienga Rallye des Gazelles


TF1


Théatre Rive Gauche


CBS


Showtime


Principaux dossiers