CMS‘ entertainment practice handles representation in copyright and consumer rights disputes, also providing regulatory advice on establishing rights management structures and cross-border marketing campaigns in addition to general media law advice. The practice has also notably led on regulatory matters for a number of major international e-sports events, as well as on AI transparency and regulatory integration for major television broadcasters and media groups. Key individuals include Pietro Graf Fringuelli, who has pedigree in technology and communications matters for clients in the film and gaming industries, Martin Gerecke, who specialises in copyright and IP law advice, Ole Jani, who leads on a range of AI matters, and is a key media law contact. Winfried Bullinger has led in appeal proceedings with complex copyright law elements. Patrick Ehinger assists in a range of matters related to gaming.

DLA Piper brings the firm’s strength in depth in litigation, regulatory advice, and transactions to bear for industry leaders in media and broadcasting, publishing, advertising, and in select areas such as online gambling and payment service provision. The group has a notable presence in digital content and gaming acquisitions and also provides IP and adverting law advice for clients in those sectors. The multidisciplinary team is led by Stefan Engels, who integrates a background in IP and competition law to act in both a regulatory advisory capacity for media, entertainment, and tech companies. Other prominent names in the practice include Michael Stulz-Herrnstadt, a litigator and a media regulation law specialist who acts for clients in the areas of telecoms and online platforms, Nico Brunotte, who leads on digitalisation and AI implementation mandates, and media regulatory specialist Christoph Engelmann.

Greenberg Traurig Germany is a key contact for domestic and international film and television producers, distributors, and broadcasters. The practice advises on a host of legal and regulatory matters, including tax compliance advisory work, transactions including platform financing and establishment, IP and licensing matters in and out of court, and data protection and management. Advising major entertainment clients, the practice often integrates the firm’s global network, and other clients include streaming providers and individual entertainers. Practice head Laura Zentner provides comprehensive media advice with a focus on copyright law, as well as cross-border transactions and market entries in television and film. Viola Bensinger‘s background is in IP law, which is applied to distribution and licensing matters in the media and technology sector.

Hengeler Mueller is retained by global software companies, streaming services, and technology companies on media, copyright and advertising matters. The contentious capabilities of the firm in media span competition litigation and supervisory proceedings, and the defence against a range of renumeration claims and license disputes for online platforms and broadcasters. The practice has also recently led on a number of matters concerning the implementation of the EU Copyright Directive and the Digital Services Act. Wolfgang Spoerr is a regulatory and public commercial law specialist, Matthias Berberich has led on contract disputes and collective proceedings, and Tobias Schubert, appointed counsel in January 2025, focuses on digital regulations.

LAUSEN‘s media team represents a client base including international film producers, entertainment trademark and copyright managers, advertising and marketing groups, and merchandise manufacturers. With a focus on negotiations and disputes, the practice has also advised on content procurement and authorisation as well as license agreements. The cross-sector team has leaders with a range of legal backgrounds: Matthias Lausen focuses his practice on copyright law, with experience in arbitration and on the effects of copyright law reform. Thomas Glückstein specialises in advising on legal aspects of film productions, including some disputes, Lorenz Haidinger acts on music licensing and rights management matters, while Kerstin Bäcker and Ursula Feindor-Schmidt are at the forefront of AI regulatory compliance in media.

McDermott Will & Schulte thrives at representing collective management organisations, advertising groups, and television broadcasters on distribution advice, and licensing negotiations with technology companies and online platforms, and has a particular strength in streaming service design and marketing. In addition to its regulatory strength, the practice also advises on the acquisition of entertainment companies and joint venture establishment, with a cross-border scope. With a speciality in contentious media matters, practice leader Wolfgang von Frentz has led on compensation disputes, renumeration proceedings, and advertising law appeals up to the ECJ, in addition to advising on media regulatory compliance. Christian Masch is another leading name in the practice, and has a focus on data protection.

Morrison Foerster is renowned for its work in film financing and production for major studios, also advising on corporate and competition law matters. Settlement negotiations on behalf of music collecting societies is also an area of emphasis of the practice, as is digital expansion for traditional entertainment companies and counselling on recent EU digital and data regulations, including on the implications of AI on German and international copyright laws and regulations. Chair of the global media practice, Christoph Wagner leads on a comprehensive range of media law matters, and he is joined by Christoph Nüßing, partner as of January 2026, who leads on EU media and technology regulatory matters and in disputes, as well as Andreas Grünwald, who primarily advises on regulatory issues in the media sector.

Noerr takes an interdisciplinary approach to media law, with the practice boasting experience in IP, competition, corporate transactions, and public law. The firm’s entertainment clients include international marketing and advertising groups, sports bodies and e-sports leagues, media studios and e-commerce platforms. The practice is home to a number of specialists: Ulrich Michel is highly experienced in acting in all facets of entertainment legal and regulatory concerns, Tobias Bosch has led on a number of media law administrative proceedings for sports streamers and broadcasters, and corporate lawyers Torsten Kraul and Hans Radau lead on complex transactions.

SKW Schwarz has an established capability in media law, both in digital regulatory areas and in contentious matters. In particular, the practice provides legal advice on television and film productions concerning funding and financings, contracts and the use of copyrighted material, and also acts in proceedings and injunctions on rights disputes following allegations of trademark infringement. AI training and the implementation of AI-generated content has also been the subject of recent instructions for clients in film. Practice leader Johann Heyde specialises in working in film and television, and also acts in disputes for music groups and collecting societies. Streaming services are an area of focus for Norbert Klingner, and Andreas Peschel-Mehner advises on AI questions and contractual negotiations. Martin Diesbach and Elisabeth Noltenius left the firm for Fieldfisher in June 2024.

Industry leaders across the music, television, and publishing industries look to Straßer Ventroni Freytag Rechtsanwälte for ongoing advice on copyright, personal rights and contract law matters, and the firm has also been seen in litigation concerning infringements and title protection. e-commerce and social media are also sectors in which the firm has a presence. The practice is led by Stefan Ventroni, who acts in copyright disputes licensing and cooperation agreements for IT, media and entertainment clients, Robert Straßer, active in data protection and media transactions, and Stefan Freytag, who is valued by clients in publishing for his general media law advice.

Taylor Wessing’s media practice has a broad array of focus areas, covering gaming and gambling, digital and data regulations, and copyright and licensing litigation, as well as having a major presence in the area of AI. Jörg Wimmers is the practice’s transactional specialist in the media sector and also advises on platform development and liability concerns. On the AI front, the firm leads for major media companies on integration and regulatory adaptation, where the expertise of Gregor Schmid is highly valued. In gaming, the practice acts for major international games and console developers as well as for gaming industry associations, and also assists mobile developers on navigating gambling regulations, where Jan Feuerhake and Tobias Schelinski are key contacts.

ADVANT Beiten has a broad and cross-sector media group. Contentious copyright law matters are a major focus of the firm, acting in copyright enforcement cases concerning infringement on sales and distribution platforms, while also defending clients facing claims of the use of copyrighted material on social media. The practice is also highly regarded in the video gaming industry, providing counsel spanning contract negotiations, game-specific issues, and in litigation against consumer authorities on youth protection. The practice is led by Andreas Lober, who is highly regarded for his expertise in IP and IT law. Holger Weimann leads in licensing and marketing agreements. With strength in depth, other leading names are Peggy Müller and Wojtek Ropel.

Bird & Bird LLP provides copyright and contractual legal counsel to media and digital companies, with major clients including sports broadcasters and regulatory bodies, and the firm also advises cross-sector clients on licensing and IP matters for marketing and advertising campaigns, including on the compliant use of AI. Online gambling regulations for mobile app developers is another area of focus for the practice, and the team has also led on pan-European copyright disputes. Practice head Joseph Fesenmair leads on IP and media usage matters, while Markus Körner advises on video game regulations and has offered guidance on media transactions, and Niels Lutzhöft is an experienced copyright litigator.

Media law boutique Brehm & v. Moers provides regulatory and legal advice in the areas of television, film, and gaming. The practice is regularly instructed on by film and television producers on a range of advisory topics, including financing structure development, contract reviews and collective bargaining negotiations, marketing and promotion advice, and media rights clearances. Recent instructions in media and gaming have included AI model development and integration, and media law clients in broader areas include advertising agencies and public sector bodies. The firm’s leading media lawyers are Kai Bodensiek, Marcus Sonnenschein, Kai Florian Furch, and Stefan von Moers.

Fieldfisher‘s media team is formed from the firm’s depth in the areas of IT, IP and copyright litigation, digital commerce and corporate law. The practice is a leader on film law matters, with instructions covering financing structuring, distribution arrangements on streaming services, and general production advice. Other key areas include digital marketing, data protection litigation, and renumeration arbitration. Martin Diesbach and Elisabeth Noltenius joined the firm from SKW Schwarz in June 2024, both IP experts who advise on copyright disputes and on entertainment contract negotiation, also bringing with them a prominent client roster. Co-head Gerd Hansen is renowned for his production advisory work in television and film.

FREY Rechtsanwälte‘s media team is prominent in the areas of copyright law and digital content in both contentious and non-contentious cases. Rights negotiations between rightsholders and sports broadcasters, the acquisition and management of content portfolios, and representation in copyright claims and arbitration proceedings are the main areas of focus for the sector group. The firm also advises on general media, trademark, and contract law clients in fields spanning software, consumer electronics and industry regulatory bodies. Dieter Frey leads on behalf of telecoms sports groups in renumeration and personal rights proceedings, and Matthias Rudolph is well regarded for his work in media litigation and licensing matters.

NORDEMANN‘s entertainment capabilities span representation in copyright and intellectual property disputes and comprehensive media law advice on contractual, licensing, competition and distribution management matters. The firm’s clientele include leading global game developers and film producers, and prominent German media and publishing groups. Cases against internet platforms and websites, as well as illegal IPTV providers, are a notable area of focus for the practice. Jan Bernd Nordemann heads the practice, with experience in proceedings at the domestic and European level for major media groups. Thomas Boddien advises on trademark and data protection law for clients in gaming and online gambling, Christian Czychowski specialises in digital copyright matters and Julian Waiblinger is a name of note in trademark infringement proceedings.

Raue‘s entertainment practice synthesises a depth of experience in IP, media, and administrative law to act in a range of significant copyright disputes. The group represents record labels and music licensing organisations in concerning data protection and generative AI models, and has also led for regional media authorities on public and media law supervisory proceedings against television and radio broadcasters. The firm is also consulted by global media groups on out of court matters relating to usage rights and contract negotiation. Robert Heine and Felix Stang specialise in copyright disputes, while Wolfram Hertel leads on administrative law proceedings.

Valued for contentious and non-contentious advice for clients in media and the arts, K&L Gates LLP has the capability to act in media litigation and advise on copyright legal matters, particularly in the negotiation between artists and media groups. The practice can also count large global media companies as clients in matters concerning the use of third-party content. Friederike Gräfin von Brühl leads the practice and acts in both court representation and on internal regulatory advice, and Olaf Fiss also has experience in media copyright disputes.

Luther Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH‘s multidisciplinary media practice specialises in acting at the interface between media law and telecoms, IT, and data protection law, and the firm also advises on media acquisitions, as well as contractual and regulatory matters at a broader scale. Public sector procurement has also been a recent area of focus for the group. Stephan Rippert is retained on corporate and contractual law matters for major media companies, Maximilian Dorndorf has acted in both media regulatory mandates for prominent individuals, and Michael Rath leads on entertainment licensing and tenders processes.

With a roster of clients including industry leaders in the tech, social media and gaming sectors, Baker McKenzie advises on media and advertising regulations, often at the international scale. Recent work has included instruction on youth protection laws, investments in e-sports companies, and on platform liability law. Sebastian Schwiddessen is an IT and digital media specialist who has also assisted on a range of corporate matters.

Boehmert & Boehmert‘s strength lies in copyright disputes on behalf of major entertainment companies, music labels, and specialist media groups, with experience in major arbitrations and hearings before district and higher regional courts. The firm’s multi-sector capabilities include specialists in competition, patent litigation, and trademark infringement cases. Martin Schaefer leads in copyright contract law across film, music, gaming and the visual arts, and Silke Freund leads on trademark infringement and portfolio management matters.

FECHNER Rechtsanwälte is renowned for leading on advertising law matters, and clients include prominent advertising agencies, networks and associations for whom the practice advises on campaign review launches and AI integration, as well as news aggregators and licenses and rights managers. Georg Fechner is among the foremost specialists on advertising law on the German market, and he is assisted by Jann Cornels. who provides general media law advice.

GRAEF Rechtsanwälte works on behalf of film producers on regulatory questions surrounding copyright proceedings, film adaptation regulations, and the review of funding schemes and agreements, as well as in some disputes. The practice also advises on general media contractual and trademark matters. Ralph Oliver Graef and Timo Rosenkranz are the team’s leading names, experienced in film and copyright issues.

GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB acts for clients across the media and entertainment industries, including online streaming platforms, television and film producers and developers, and technology companies. Practice head Kai Tumbrägel joined the firm from DLA Piper in October 2024, and brings experience in advising online platforms and game developers on media, IP and advertising law, with a background in competition law cases. Stephanie Reuvers and Ricardo Vocke-Kerkhof are other prominent names in the practice.

Heussen Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH‘s entertainment practice works with media companies, marketing agencies, and television producers and broadcasters on contract law concerns as well as personality rights and reputation management. Practice leader Hermann Waldhauser leads on IT and IP regulatory and licensing matters. Media law specialist Marcus Hotze is consulted by clients spanning private individuals and well-known industry clients on freedom of expression law and co-operation agreements, with experience in contentious proceedings.

Renowned for its work in sports law and relationships with major football and sports clubs, Lentze Stopper advises in the contract drafting of bidding processes and negotiation, ticketing enforcement and association regulations, as well as general advisory work on labour, media, and marketing law. Gregor Lentze leverages experience as in-house counsel on sports law matters, Martin Stopper has a background in competition litigation, and Felix Holzhäuser has experience in trademark disputes.

Vy - BRIX LANGE VERWEYEN Rechtsanwälte focuses its entertainment practice on copyright disputes, representing service providers, marketing agencies and individuals in litigation relating to copying levies, fair compensation and intellectual property law, often acting against collecting societies. Urs Verweyen has experience in precedent-setting competition and trademark law proceedings.