August Debouzy has exceptional expertise in the media and press sector, representing many of France’s leading newspapers and publishers, including Radio France and CMI France. The team has a highly regarded litigation practice, representing media companies in press law issues, notably libel and defamation, harnessing cross-disciplinary experience across IP, IT, employment and commercial law. Mahasti Razavi co-leads the team alongside Basile Ader, who has an established reputation as an experienced litigator and specialises in defending media clients in very sensitive and high-profile cases. Amélie Tripet has extensive expertise, covering press, libel and publishing, and offers both advisory and litigation services to corporate and individual clients. Marie Edelstenne is also recommended.
Media and entertainment: Newspapers in France
August Debouzy
Responsables de la pratique:
Basil Ader; Mahasti Razavi
Autres avocats clés:
Amélie Tripet; Marie Edelstenne
Les références
‘We had the opportunity to work with Basile Ader and his team on a particularly sensitive case, combining complex media and legal issues. The context required not only in-depth expertise, but also careful management of aspects related to reputation and communication with several parties. From the very first discussions, Basile Ader and his team stood out for their professionalism and their ability to quickly grasp the complexity of the issues, while providing tailor-made responses.’
‘Basile Ader is a true problem-solver. His ability to quickly analyze the most complex situations and formulate appropriate solutions was essential throughout his intervention on our file.’
‘I am very satisfied with Amélie Tripet’s support; she is both hyper-responsive and at the same time extremely precise and pedagogical in her analysis and advice. She does not hesitate to highlight her analyzes with her knowledge of case law and her own experiences, which makes her work very sharp, detailed and effective. This excellent mastery of her subject has facilitated the establishment of a great bond of trust.’
‘Marie Edelstenne, Basile Ader’s collaborator, also played a decisive role in the daily management of this complex file. Her availability and proactivity made her a valuable and reliable contact. Her ability to coordinate the multiple aspects of the file, while maintaining fluid communication, greatly contributed to the success of our efforts.’
‘The team as a whole distinguished itself by its cohesion and collaborative approach. Their ability to work in a synchronized manner allowed for calm and perfectly controlled management of the file.’
‘The team of Basile Ader and Marie Edelstenne is very responsive, it is a team on which our company can rely on a daily basis. Their expertise, their advice and their professionalism are unmatched in the press sector.’
‘Amélie Tripet: expert, responsive, ease of exchange, very professional.’
‘The team are experienced, very attentive. Beyond the competence in the areas of intervention, there are real human qualities, particularly appreciated on sensitive subjects, and for audiences sometimes not at all initiated in the legal sphere.’
Principaux clients
Radio France
CMI
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Radio France in a defamation case following the broadcast on the radio show Secret d’infos of an investigation into the mediatic case of the management of the French Federation of Rugby. The plaintiffs sued Radio France’s director of publication and journalists as well as Mediapart’s.
- Advised CMI in negotiating a collective agreement regarding the journalists’ copyrights and in providing counsel on content use issues.
Seattle Avocats
Seattle Avocats has a well-established reputation in the media and communications sector, advising clients including major press groups, online press editors, television channels and platforms. The team utilises particularly innovative expertise in the defence of freedom of expression, and more recently, the firm has developed its skills in all areas of e-reputation and the fight against hate speech on social networks. Practice co-head Emmanuel Tordjman is noted for an ‘exhaustive mastery’ of press and media law, advising major players in the industry such as Mediapart, the general information newspaper L’Humanité and NGOs. François RONGET co-leads, acting for various companies operating in the media sector on IP and new technology law matters. Olivia Lévy is also recommended for her extensive experience in press law and intellectual property law. François de Cambiaire has left the firm.
Responsables de la pratique:
Emmanuel Tordjman; François Ronget
Autres avocats clés:
Olivia Levy
Les références
‘Cross-disciplinary approach to issues, global vision of subjects, fine and exhaustive technical expertise of the sector.’
‘The Seattle team is both talented and very warm in its relations with clients. Their success rate in press law is exceptional. For me, they are the best on the market. They are also very valuable to us in terms of upstream advice.’
‘We work particularly in this area with Emmanuel Tordjman and Olivia Levy. They stand out for their very in-depth knowledge of the subject, both in terms of procedure (several cases won as a result) and on the merits, their incisive and convincing pleadings, as well as the relevance of their advice.’
Principaux clients
Mediapart
Calanques National Park
League for the Protection of Birds
SOS Mediterranean
SOS Homophobia
Europe Ecology The Greens
Caroline De Haas – Egea
Marsactu
Publishing Company of the Journal L’Humanité
The Octopus
Median Digital Partner
Yuka
Mathieu Hanotin
Oxfam
Touch Pa Nout’roche
Dad’s Agencies
Oil Change International
Company of Guides of Guyana
Solidarity IT
Whistleblower Protection Platform in Africa (PPLAF)
Melissa Youssouf
The Musician’s Letter
Damien Barraud
Theo Englebert
Morgan Jasienski
Angry Rope Access Association, Rope Access in Solidarity
Benoit Praderie
City of Paris
Alter Union
Principaux dossiers
- Represented Edwy Plenel, Mediapart’s then-publication director, and two Mediapart journalists in a defamation case brought by Lionel Lavergne, former head of the security group of the presidency of the French Republic, responsible for the personal protection of the President of the Republic. The Court acquitted Mediapart and the two journalists.
Squadra Avocats
With a broad corporate offering in the press segment, Squadra Avocats handles a busy workload that includes advising on M&A, capital increases, and reorganisations, as well as supporting clients with copyright issues and partnership contracts. The practice is jointly led by Charles Morel, a key contact for restructurings and the acquisition of distressed assets; Jean Baptiste Beline, who covers the full spectrum of media, commercial, and intellectual property law; and François Lan.
Responsables de la pratique:
Charles Morel; Jean Baptiste Belin; François Lan
Principaux clients
Heroes Media
Riccobono Presse Investissement
Encre et Numérique
Datagora
Principaux dossiers
- Advised HEROES MEDIA group in the takeover of Public Magazine, owned by CMI France.
- Advising and representing Riccobono Press Investment (RPI) in various litigation proceedings relating to the judicial liquidation of Turf editions.
Vercken & Gaullier
Vercken & Gaullier leverages decades of media and entertainment law experience to advise a number of high-profile French and international clients with contractual matters, litigation, providing legal opinions and assistance in lobbying actions. The team has particular expertise in assisting collective management organisations of photographers and visual artists, negotiating individual or general licensing agreements, especially with publishers and press agencies. Practice co-head Gilles Vercken specialises in collective management negotiations, especially in the media sector. Florence Gaullier represents clients in litigation concerning copyright and neighboring rights in various sectors. Garance Dussausaye handles contracts, legal opinions and litigation in copyright and IT matters. Lorette Dubois and Noémie Enser are also recommended.
Responsables de la pratique:
Florence Gaullier; Gilles Vercken
Autres avocats clés:
Garance Dussausaye; Lorette Dubois; Noémie Enser
Principaux clients
Bayard Group
Cision
Elsevier Masson
Explore
FEVEM
France Media World
Inclusive
SAIF
Synthesis & Media
TF1
Principaux dossiers
- Negotiated for Onclusive licensing agreements with publishers, press agencies and collective management organizations, which are essential agreements for the media monitoring activities of the group.
- Assisted SAIF (a collective management organization of photographers) to negotiate an agreement with a press agency regarding the use of press photographs.
- Drafted a memorandum for a press publishers professional association regarding the impacts of ToS of Open AI when publishers are using Open AI products.