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Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

TIER 1

August Debouzy advises on policymaking and copyright legislation at European levels and nationally. The team assists with all matters related to the acquisition of content including imagery, music and multimedia. In related work, lawyers handled the negotiation of a worldwide brand partnership and product placement with the music artist Lykke Li, Warner Music and Sony ATV. The team litigates on matters relating to press, freedom of information and cybercrime.

Bigot Avocats has expansive reach with multiple practice areas connected with media. The firm’s founders have more than 20 years of practice in communication law that is matched by a dedication to media law. Lawyers represent some of the largest international and national companies from press, radio, television and e-media segments. The team advises on advertising and are well regarded for their litigation experience. As noted by one competitor, lawyers have “excellent expertise in press law and adverting law”.

De Gaulle Fleurance & Associés has a winning cross-practice approach that makes it capable of advising on a broad range of cases. The full service firm handles libel disputes opposing television broadcasters and producers, privacy cases, film distribution agreements and transactions. Lawyers are highly reputed for handling complex litigation involving IP. The team also advises on a copyright infringement case initiated by a French writer.

Competitors describe Deprez Guignot Associés as “one of the major full service firms in media law”. Internet, television and press are core focus areas of the division. Lawyers are highlighted by peers and described as “a conscientious lawyer”. The firm’s work includes advice to global television broadcasting groups, press publishers and advertisers. The team also advises regulatory authorities.

UGGC Avocats is an independent and international French law firm covering 4 geographical areas across Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Africa. The UGGC team is assisting all types of clients in the entertainment, media, TMT and intellectual property sectors. With nearly 30 years of experience,

Anne-Marie Pecoraro, partner at UGGC Avocats, heads the TMT department. She has extensive experience in defending copyrights, analysing new regulations, audiovisual law, cinema, television, music, communication and advertising law, press law, with a particular involvement in digital law and cutting-edge innovations. UGGC's expertise is also recognised in corporate law (Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity) in the media sector, as well as dispute resolution relating to counterfeiting, data protection, IT, internet luxury, trademark licensing and sport. Learn more about UGGC Avocats.

The founding partner of Vercken & Gaullier is highlighted by competitors “for his curiosity and his knowledge of very complex and specific legal issues”. The team is highly regarded its expansive sector coverage and market visibility. The team advises on converged media and acts for clients in cases involving copyright.

TIER 2

Cabinet Boespflug Avocats has specialised in intellectual property since 1992 and works extensively on cases connected with music and media. The team advises on commercial and contract law and unfair competition. The practice is widely recognised for its sector-related work and is considered a key component of the legal market by peers.

With an unfaltering reputation, the Hogan Lovells media and entertainment practice group covers all areas of sector activity with regular advice to film and television clients. The firm represents clients including Paramount, 20th Century Fox, StudioCanal, and Pathé in production and distribution matters.

Business law firm Hugot & Associes is frequently praised by competitors for its work on free speech, publishing, broadcasting and music. The team also has exceptional experience advising on financing, advertising and programme formats. Lawyers also advise on protection and exploitation of rights and internet regulation.

The entertainment and communication focus of Wilhelm & Associés brings together multiple segments including advertising, press, cinema, theatre, gaming and sports. The firm is widely acknowledged as a national leading practice, with a long-standing presence dating 1995.

TIER 3

Niche firm ARTLAW is distinctly known for its litigation advice in the motion picture sector. The team is frequently highlighted for her extensive experience litigating on behalf of entertainment and television networks. Lawyers assist high profile clients from the press, internet and music sectors.

The media and communication department at Baker McKenzie is involved in conducting multi-jurisdictional surveys and studies for large data privacy, e-commerce and internet projects. The team assists with content deals connected with digital media and provides regulatory advice.

The media department at Bersay incorporates IP, IT and telecoms. In recent work the team advised on author and translator rights, defamation and film production. The firm also specialises in sports law, regulation of radio broadcasting and electronic communication, advertising and copyright licensing.

The Paris and Lyon offices of Bird & Bird are well regarded by peers. The firm’s media focus includes communications, data protection and copyright. The firm acts for entertainment companies and broadcasters including NBCUniversal and Global Networks.

Intervista is building a respected practice distinctly recognised for its media practice dedicated to cinema and entertainment. The team advises on feature length films, live and animated films, single television works and documentary series. The team also advises on development and exploitation.

PRD Avocats is recognised by competitors for its sector dedication and expertise. The firm covers multiple segments of media, from print, broadcasting and internet to gaming and music. Lawyers advise on freedom of expression, defamation, e-commerce and music. Other areas of work include data protection, unfair competition, copyright and marketing.

Media Lawyers at WAN Avocats are singled out for their work advising on privacy, defamation and notably e-defamation. The team acts for arts and culture stakeholders that include artists, collecting societies, audio-visual and musical productions agencies. Lawyers represent clients in disputes and routinely advise on film television production.

TIER 4

International boutique firm Crossen & Borowsky is a composition of highly experienced practitioners. Lawyers are distinctly recognised for specialist knowledge of and expertise n the area of media and entertainment. The firm represents companies in all areas of the French, European and international motion picture, television, internet and music industries. The team regularly advises on cross-border transactions.

FRANCE

The past year has been characterised by the entry into force or the preparation of various important legislation or regulations in the media and communications area.

These include the DSA, which aims to regulate the activity of major platforms and combat the dissemination of illegal content and misinformation online; the European Media Freedom Act, which proposes rules to protect media pluralism and independence in the EU; the new French law framing the activity of influencers targeting the French public (Law of June 9, 2023).

These new regulations are substantially changing the media sector, the activities of industry players and the balance of power in the market.

Intervention and regulation by competition and data protection authorities are also major issues for the French media market. By way of example, the CNIL (French Data Protection Authority) has just fined CANAL+ group a significant amount for non-compliance with regulations governing the protection of personal data (Decision dated of 12/12/2023).

In the audiovisual sector, particularly tough negotiations are underway between TV service publishers and distributors (notably Internet service providers). At stake in these negotiations is the control of customer data, with the aim of deploying new advertising offers (segmented advertising on television was recently authorized in France, whereas it was historically prohibited).

Finally, the deployment of generative artificial intelligence solutions is a major concern for the media. At stake are both the opportunities offered by new methods of content creation, and the unauthorized use of media content by AIs. Many French media, as well as collecting societies (such as SACEM), have announced that they are blocking the use of their content by AI robots.