Media
Our specialisms
Media law / Internet law / Freedom of speech / Free speech litigation / Intermediary liability law / Image rights / Privacy law (litigation) / Advertising law / Licencing agreements / Trademark & competition law / Fundamental rights litigation / Entertainment Law / German Desk
Every day new players and technology are changing the way content is created, distributed and shared. Spearheading our practice is the tense relationship between freedom of speech and privacy. This topic is increasingly recurring in today’s society, bringing a broad spectrum of issues such as guerrilla journalism, source confidentiality, recordings of private conversations, linking and online publications, online archives, handling news coverage about suspects and convicted people, claims for rectification, recall and damages.
We support traditional and new media companies with legal advice of all manner of disputes involving media companies from defamation and privacy complaints, to data protection, contempt and reporting restrictions issues.
We specialize in advising on media regulation. Especially cases with regard to becoming part of the public broadcasting system, advertising and sponsorship, video-on-demand services and public-private cooperation. Our experience has led to a position as a highly regarded team, with strength in litigation and proving its value through recent high-profile work regarding financial technology, media regulation, defamation, e-commerce and licensing.
We are especially renowned for our expertise in internet related litigation, defamation, copyright and media regulation. We've advised on complex and high-profile media litigation cases including several cases for social media companies on the position of intermediaries and are handling disputes concerning some of the biggest TV formats worldwide.
We work closely with in-house lawyers & board members and are trusted advisers to the largest organizations in the media sector. Clients include major tv and radio broadcasters, tv/film production companies, newspapers, magazines and book publishers, major social media companies, internet access providers and blogs, political parties and NGOs.
When expertise of other jurisdictions is required, we have access to over 150 law firms in 100 jurisdictions across the globe.
Market recognition
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Industry Focus: Media and Entertainment - Tier 1
The ‘large team of media and entertainment law specialists’ at Kennedy Van der Laan ‘always delivers in often sensitive cases’. Fielding ‘very good litigators’, the firm specialises in internet-related litigation and defamation/free speech cases, as well as providing expertise in content production and transaction matters, including film and media productions and content transactions. Team head Jens Van Den Brink is a renowned media litigator with many years of experience in media defence work. Another key name is Christien Wildeman, who focuses on major defamation and copyright litigation matters in the Netherlands.
Practice head(s): Jens van den Brink
Leading Individuals
Jens van den Brink
Testimonials
- Real diversity of expertise that has helped our company in a variety of ways. They have offered guidance over a number of sensitive subject areas, often to extremely tight time frames and deadlines. This assistance has been invaluable. It’s not an exaggeration to say that we would not have been able to do some of the most prominent work we have done in recent times without them.’
- ‘They have a genuine passion for the work they do, something that really shines through in the way they have engaged with us. They have also helped guide us through some extremely tricky legal queries and opened up their network of contacts in a number of countries around the world when questions regarding different jurisdictions arise.’
- ‘Creative approach, good business sense and knowledge, strong litigation skills, proactive.’
Chambers Europe 2022 - TMT: Media - Band 1
What the team is known for
Kennedy Van der Laan boasts market-leading expertise in several areas of TMT, particularly regarding media regulations and IT outsourcing. The law firm handles a number of high-profile media disputes relating to the publication of misinformation, defamation claims and advertising litigation.
Strengths
One interviewee reports that Kennedy Van der Laan "holds its own in the Dutch scene, and its lawyers are always quite innovative."
A client reports that the team "has a strong capacity" and highlights the "great quality of advice."
Notable practitioners
One of the leading media law specialists in the Netherlands, Jens van den Brink has a strong focus on contentious matters, representing clients in defamation cases, attempts to prevent the publication of misinformation and disputes relating to advertising. One client enthuses: "Jens van den Brink is extremely helpful, experienced and knowledgeable and has expertly helped us to negotiate a number of extremely tricky legal questions and concerns we have had."
