Media

The media market is changing fast as technology develops new diversions for consumers and ways for us to connect. The research and development costs and revenue resulting from major games franchises are on a par with blockbuster movies. Esports are set to create interest and stars to rival major sporting events and their stars. And digital and social media platforms consume ever increasing amounts of our time, attention and data.

We support our clients across the media sector covering film, television, gaming and esports, digital and social media, publishing and advertising. And the services we provide to our clients in the sector range from the legal and regulatory challenges affecting all TMT businesses to issues particularly close to the hearts of media companies such as: copyright and trade mark protection, liability for user generated content and digital advertising.

Our core services include:

• Competition: advice on compliance with competition rules, including dealing with competition investigations brought by the national authorities and the European Commission, obtaining competition clearance for corporate transactions and defending and bringing competition based litigation claims
• Commercial contracts: advice on hardware and software supply and development agreements, data centre and cloud services contracts, IT and business process outsourcing agreements
• Data/cyber security: advice on GPDR and wider data regulation compliance, data commecialisation, authority investigations, complaints and claims and processes associated with the exercise of individuals’ rights. We also advise on data and cyber security incidents – prevention, planning and incident management
• Disputes: advice on resolving disputes through litigation, arbitration or ADR. We advise on all stages of bringing or defending a claim, as well as steps to be taken before or during the process to negotiate a settlement
• Employment: advice on employment documentation, employee benefits, talent management, restructuring/reductions in force, works councils/unions, sensitive investigations, whistleblowing, harassment and related litigation
• Finance/insolvency: advice on debt and equity financing, securitisation and dealing with insolvency and corporate recovery
• Gaming/esports: advice on restructuring intellectual property assets, esports player professional services agreements, and the regulatory treatment of loot boxes and in-game virtual currencies
• Intellectual property: "one-stop, international shop" for IP services. From registration of brands, designs and copyright (in China); to advising on IP collaborations, TV and film production agreements and music licences; to clearing content and advertising campaigns; and high-profile disputes for household names, involving the range of IP rights.
• M&A, JVs, fundraisings and corporate governance: advice and support on private and public acquisitions, investment and divestment transactions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, partnerships and collaborations and equity and debt capital markets, as well as the requirements of good governance
• Tax: advice across the full range of taxes focusing on corporate tax, transfer pricing, VAT, employment tax and the developing digital services tax landscape Specialist expertise in the direct/indirect taxation relating to IP, as well as the indirect taxation of online video and gaming services.

We have created a series of byte-sized TechNotes summarising the legal challenges posed by the disruptive technologies that are revolutionising business today.