CMS combines longstanding experience in traditional media matters with new, digital skills. The firm's international reach and its wide-ranging synergies with other specialist areas, such as antitrust and corporate law as well as consumer electronics, data protection and commercial, generate a very broad know-how which also contributes to its digital regulation task force; this unit handles regulatory issues particularly in relation to public, competition and antitrust law. Also worth mentioning is the team's experience in traditional sports law and digital media, which enables it to 'develop unique new models for e-sports'. Litigator Pietro Graf Fringuelli heads the global media group from Cologne and has in-depth knowledge of copyright matters in the digital sphere. Senior Associate Patrick Ehinger stands out for his expertise in contentious, rights and licences-related media usage matters and the Hamburg-based Sebastian Cording primarily advises IT companies on media law issues; principal counsel Martin Gerecke has 'incredibly extensive knowledge' of domain and internet law, social media, games and digital business.

Through the creation of strong links between its IP, IT and digitisation teams, SKW Schwarz Rechtsanwälte's media and entertainment department is able to act across several key markets as well as globally. For instance, the new esports focus group around senior associate Moritz Mehner was able to assist with the establishment of a world league in esports and thus with the development of new regulations and models. Furthermore, the firm offers strategic advice on the new media state treaty and in negotiations, for example related to short-time work collective agreements. In the latter area, Mathias Schwarz, an expert in film and television production as well as copyright and personal rights, excels in particular. Martin Diesbach focuses on national and international digital business models. Norbert Klingner heads the practice.

On both advisory and forensic level, Greenberg Traurig Germany's international team impresses with a holistic range of services tailored to the media industry's needs and acts as a strategic partner for the film and TV, video games and music industries, as well as for digital media and streaming platforms. Practice head Stefan Lütje also advises media companies and studios as well as financial institutions, funding agencies and insurance companies. Christoph Enaux works at the interface of IT, telecommunications and media law and is often instructed to assist with transactions, sales issues and litigation. Laura Zentner covers series productions, license agreements, music rights and distribution.

Lausen Rechtsanwälte fields a solid practice geared towards the media industry's needs where it provides a very comprehensive spectrum of services, ranging from copyright and media law to data protection, corporate, labor and social security law. The group is a pioneer in copyright issues, where it often acts in test cases and is instructed by clients such as GEMA and RTL Disney Fernsehen GmbH. Ursula Feindor-Schmidt (Munich) for instance represented international specialist publishers before the European Court of Justice in proceedings relating to the new EU copyright directive and copyright violations by internet platforms. Additionally, Kerstin Bäcker (Cologne) is renowned for her advice on the responsibility of online services for production and exploitation of audio content. Martin Schippan and Matthias Lausen are other key contacts. 

Munich-based Straßer Ventroni Deubzer Freytag & Jäger traditionally assists with transactions in the music and film industry, a field in which Stefan Ventroni is considered a renowned expert. The group's strong expertise in copyright, media and licensing law is complemented by its advice on digital media and regulatory issues. Robert Straßer has IT expertise while Stefan Freytag is not only experienced in copyright and media law, but also in e-commerce, data protection and publishing law.

Brehm & v. Moers has a traditional focus on media, film and employment law; in the latter area, a team around Marcus Sonnenschein was recently particularly active in relation to top-notch cinema, TV and high-end series productions. The highly regarded practice is further complemented by comprehensive advice to streaming platforms as well as gaming and media transaction expertise. Copyright and media lawyer Katharina Domnick impresses with 'high expertise in litigation, crystal-clear structuring and razor-sharp phrasing' and Stefan von Moers is a 'highly reliable partner' for media, entertainment and press issues. Kai Bodensiek focuses on the needs of the video games and mobile content industries.

K&L Gates LLP's TV, film and entertainment team is part of a broader TMT team led by Martin von Albrecht and focuses on four areas. The advice to broadcasters and online media platforms on how to deal with collecting societies is a traditional pillar for the team; here, von Albrecht advises and represents clients in matters related to blank media levies and copyright user properties among others. Music law is another mainstay, with the team being particularly active in negotiating TV and radio agreements with GEMA. Copyright in connection with music and video-on-demand streaming services represents another focus, while the assistance with sports law matters complements the practice. Olaf Fiss is recommended.

Baker McKenzie primarily stands out for its niche expertise in gaming and youth protection, with associate Sebastian Schwidessen 'earning a reputation as an outstanding advisor'; he recently moved from the firm's Munich to the Berlin office to further establish its local media team. The practice's expertise also includes media regulation and copyright law, with a particular focus on upload filters, as well as advice on film and video-on-demand; the latter division is led by the Frankfurt-based Holger Lutz.

Bird & Bird LLP‘s Munich office has strong advisory skills in the media, entertainment and sports (including esports) sectors, with the firm’s strong technology focus enabling it to successfully assist media corporations and other clients also with media-adjacent matters, including international marketing campaigns. The practice also advises on regulatory issues related to lottery, sports betting and gaming. Joseph Fesenmair further assists with sponsoring and contract drafting, while matters pertaining to licenses, commercial legal protection and domain law are overseen by Markus Körner.

Media boutique FREY Rechtsanwälte occupies a strong position in the copyright market, especially in contentious cases and in connection with sports and esports matters. The team also has 'extremely in-depth' knowledge of European law, particularly in the competition sphere; practice head Dieter Frey is a renowned expert in matters pertaining to European copyright directives as well as their implementation in German law and also excels in motorsports, football, content exploitation and licensing issues. Matthias Rudolph is recommended for his advice on rights management by collecting societies as well as on freedom of speech, press law and personal rights.

Hengeler Mueller predominantly focuses on contentious proceedings pertaining to copyright, antitrust, media regulatory and telecommunications regulatory law. Particularly noteworthy is the group’s commitment to European law issues, where the team is also active in proceedings at ECJ level. The team also advises blue-chips such as Google and YouTube on European copyright directive matters. Collective copyright disputes represent another mainstay; here, the team is particularly active on the user side and especially in arbitration proceedings before the German Patent and Trademark Office. Wolfgang Spoerr and Albrecht Conrad, both of whose media and copyright know-how is described as ‘market leading’, jointly head the department.

klages.legal was founded by Christlieb Klages, former partner at dissolved law firm KVLEGAL, in January 2022. Copyright and privacy lawyer Klages has deep roots within the media industry and represents authors, celebrities, labels, agencies and publishers among others.

Media and sports law are among Klinkert Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB‘s core specialisations, with copyright and licenses playing a particularly central role; here, co-head Piet Bubenzer assists with both contentious and non-contentious matters. Annett Rombach, who made partner at the end of 2020, took over co-practice lead from André Söldner, who joined Blue Port Legal; she is particularly renowned for her experience and ‘excellent legal knowledge‘ in the sports sector. David Müller, who also focuses on the sports industry, joined from Dentons.

Nordemann Czychowski & Partner Rechtsanwälte mbB‘s entry into the German media market in 2020 resonated well. The group around Jan Bernd Nordemann, a spin-off of Boehmert & Boehmert, represents leading companies in the film, television, music, video games and sports sectors and stands out in particular due to its high level of copyright expertise. In a recent highlight, the team advised clearing unit ‘Copyright in the Internet’ on the blocking of websites with business models that are illegal under copyright law; Julian Waiblinger, Stanislaus Jaworski and practice head Nordemann led on the matter. Christian Czychowski is another key contact.

After KVLEGAL ceased its practice in January 2022, Urs Verweyen founded new law firm Vy Verweyen which focuses on copyright and IT, e-commerce, trademarks and data protection.

HERTIN & Partner has a good reputation due to Paul Hertin's decades of experience in copyright, media, trademark and competition law as well as personal rights. In January 2021, Sandra Wagner left the firm to found Schulz Wagner Rechtsanwälte PartG mbB.

Lentze Stopper is a Munich-based boutique exclusively specialising in sports law and provides comprehensive advice to associations, clubs, agencies and individuals by applying ‘extraordinarily extensive knowledge and many years of experience in the field of national and international sports‘ . Gregor Lentze focuses on statutes issues, tendering rights and the design and allocation of media, marketing and license rights, while antitrust lawyer Martin Stopper is particularly popular with Bundesliga clients; they jointly head the practice.

At UNVERZAGT Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB, Andreas Pense heads the Hamburg-based media team and focuses on the development, structuring and financing of film and series projects. Expertise also exists in copyright, press, trademark, design and competition law.