Home About MLI Firm Rankings Products e-Zine Research & Methodology

Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

TIER 1

Borenius is one of the largest firms in Finland covering multiple media segments including television, music and entertainment. Known for its high quality work, the team routinely advises on audio-visual broadcast production, sports rights and online media. The firm specialises in commercial and contractual work and has extensive experience acting for wide ranging clients in cases of digital transformation of businesses and the planning and development of new digital media services.

Focussed on media, sports and entertainment, Castrén & Snellman is a leading choice for local and global media clients. The practice is one of the oldest in the region with a high profile reputation for handling core media law and broader cases of licensing, e-commerce and competition law. The team represents Songhi Entertainment in various legal matters related to the re-launch of the Songhi music portal service and acts for several Finnish video game companies on sponsorship deals.

Magnusson works on sector-related corporate transactions, freedom of speech cases and entertainment. The firm is also known for its focus on the sports sector, music and film. The team advises on mergers and acquisitions, new media and technology agreements and content production.

Roschier is routinely highlighted by peers and clients as a leader in the legal market for media and entertainment. The practice focusses on copyright law, broadcast license applications and compliance. In representative work, the firm assisted Discovery Networks with a complex broadcast license re-organisation involving new licenses and the reorganisation of free-to-air channels. Lawyers also advise on communications regulation, competition law and data protection.

TIER 2

Media lawyers at Dittmar & Indrenius have in-depth knowledge of data protection and marketing. The firm’s broader focus on media stems from its intellectual property, technology and outsourcing practice groups. The team has notable experience advising digital media companies. The practice is also known for its focus on games, entertainment and privacy.

Hannes Snellman’s combined IP and TMT practice group has a primary emphasis on risk management, technology transfers and litigation. The firm represented Japanese corporation GungHo Online Entertainment on its USD1.53 billion acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in Supercell Oy, a Finnish online gaming company. The practice also works with broadcasters, publishers and music companies.

With emphasis on copyright and data protection, media work at Krogerus is grouped with technology and intellectual property. The firm is noted by competitors for its high visibility and sector specialisation. The media devision handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters including commercial exploitation through distribution.

Procopé & Hornborg regularly advises on film, music and game matters. The practice also specialises in copyright licensing and enforcement. The firm is notable for its work representing clients in litigation and international arbitration proceedings.

TIER 3

Eversheds Sutherland works predominantly with international publishing houses and content producers. The firm’s media division brings together entertainment, sport and consumer services to provide expansive sector coverage. Lawyers regularly advise on book and music publishing, television and film, the games industry, as well as online services such as content provision for online platforms.

Merilampi works with media clients from multiple segments, from television and film to advertising and publishing. The team advises on regulation, legislation and the contractual framework of sports and entertainment events. Lawyers assist with production agreements, corporate transactions and litigation.

TIER 4

Copyright and marketing specialist HH Partners works closely with publishing and technology companies on all aspects of licensing and dispute resolution.The team represents domestic and international clients in courts, including administrative courts.

FINLAND

Finland’s mobile gaming industry is among the fastest-growing in the world, with continued growth over the past year to reach USD641 million by 2027 and 3.2 million users, according to market data from Statista.

Helsinki has come to be recognised as the world’s capital of mobile gaming, with new gaming studios launching in the region.

In Q4 of 2022, Netflix announced the launch of its gaming studios in Helsinki. The media giant acquired three studios in Finland, including Next Games for USD72 million.

In a statement, Netflix commented: ‘Why Helsinki? It is home to some of the best game talent in the world. This will be a games studio that we build from scratch, and our second games studio in Helsinki alongside Next Games, which became part of Netflix earlier this year.

Along with Night School Studio and Boss Fight Entertainment, these four studios, each with different strengths and focus areas, will develop games that will suit the diverse tastes of our members.’

In other developments, lawyers say the media industry has produced a high volume of cases relating to IP and marketing law.

Legal teams have advised on copyright disputes in the gaming and broadcast segments, as well as on regulatory matters. Other high-volume industry work includes advice on core media law and licensing as well as transactional cases with media-sector M&As.