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.
Media and entertainment: Cinema in France
Crossen & Borowsky
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