Our Media Group provides a full range of legal services to clients in this sector. We draw on the strength of leading lawyers from our media, e-commerce, communications, IT, IP, music & entertainment and sports practices to provide a full range of domestic and cross border corporate, commercial and regulatory advice.
The depth of our knowledge of this industry combined with our international reach enables us to provide cutting edge, commercially focused advice to clients working in this sector. Our expertise in communications, e-commerce and media gives us a particular strength in advising on all aspects of digital media
We have considerable experience in acting on corporate transactions within the media sector, whether M&A, buyouts/venture capital, corporate finance, or strategic alliances and joint ventures. In conjunction with the corporate expertise necessary to perform transactional work to a very high standard in each of our offices, we have the necessary regulatory expertise to advise on deal structuring, particularly in the light of local and EU media ownership rules and local restrictions relating to foreign ownership. Our section specialisation gives us a leading edge in corporate deals in this sector, in particular in any commercial contracts negotiations, or in due diligence work where sector expertise will give added value.
Our media sector clients include broadcasters (terrestrial, cable, satellite, video on demand, web casting and radio), digital platform operators, broadcast technology suppliers, rights owners, agents, distributors, film and television producers, advertisers and publishers. In addition we act for financial institutions and other investors, including private equity houses, in their investments into media related businesses.
Our key services include:
- Corporate/M&A
- Buyouts and venture capital
- IPO's and secondary public offerings
- Joint ventures and strategic alliances, including channel and/or platform establishment
- Content acquisition and licensing arrangements
- Infrastructure and technology arrangements
- Conditional access services agreements including EPG arrangements
- Advice on deal structuring in light of media ownership restrictions
- Regulatory and competition law advice (service and content related)
- Licence applications, regulatory clearances and dealings with the regulator