Sectors

Media and Entertainment

Our expertise:

While traditional M&E areas may struggle with decreased advertising spend and shifting consumer behaviour, emerging areas such as digital and mobile technologies are driving growth and creating opportunities. We recognise that our clients operate in an industry that is defined by change and that they require equally adaptable legal services.

McCann FitzGerald has a long-established M&E Group, with clients in both the traditional and emerging M&E sectors. They include some of the largest operators in publishing, broadcasting, TV and film production, internet, gaming and digital enterprises in Ireland.

We are now the only firm among the larger Irish firms with a depth of experience in media defence. Our contentious media defence practice complements our team’s broader expertise in complex commercial litigation.

Key areas:

• Regulatory matters, such as licensing and advertising
• Common dispute sources, such as defamation and privacy
• Pre-publication reporting for book publishers
• Tax-efficient structures for media and entertainment businesses and performers
• Corporate restructuring and M&A
• Film financing
• Production agreements, joint-ventures, funding and sponsorships
• Intellectual property matters
• Copyright and breach of confidence

Key highlights include advising:

• A variety of new media companies on a range of commercial and regulatory matters including LinkedIn, Google and Yahoo
• Channel 4 and Blakeway Productions, defending a defamation claim by Ryanair
• Doughty Hanson and TV3 management on the sale of the TV3 Group to UPC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Global plc. in a deal reported to be worth up to €87 million
• Guardian News & Media in respect of a high-profile defamation claim brought against it by two Cork boat owners and their company concerning an article entitled “Trafficked: Migrant workers abused in Irish Fishing Industry” that exposed widespread abuse and modern day slavery in the Irish fishing industry
• On the part financing of the proposed, recommended acquisition of King Digital Entertainment plc - maker of Candy Crush Saga® - by Activision Blizzard, Inc., by means of a scheme of arrangement under Irish law
• Schibsted Media Group, an international media group listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, in connection with the establishment of an on online classifieds joint venture with Irish online media company, Distilled Media
• Twitter to whom we provide regulatory advice and representation in respect of content related claims