Law specialisms : IT, communications and media

Nick Fitzpatrick is a partner in the media practice of DLA Piper UK LLP. His work includes copyright, broadcasting, television, sport, film and sponsorship.

What does the work involve?

We advise the sport, technology and media industries on issues faced when creating, distributing and exploiting 'content' in its widest sense (TV programmes, films, music, books and digital services) as well as issues with the organising and exploiting of sports and other live events.

Media and sport lawyers can be involved in 'contentious' and 'non-contentious' work. Non-contentious work might include commercial contract negotiations for rights holders, broadcasters, record companies and film and TV producers. Contentious work includes disputes relating to libel, trade mark, copyright, privacy, defamation and contract. We also help regulators, and get involved in a variety of inquiries, tribunals and cases which progress through the courts. As a result, the lawyers are typically intellectual property specialists, commercial lawyers, regulatory lawyers and litigators.

Media law can be practised in different sized firms but the work can vary greatly from firm to firm. Some firms have a particular focus on financing deals for film or music industries while others are known primarily for defamation claims or sports and television work. It is likely that the bigger the firm, the more preference there will be to clients such as studios and major rights holders, whereas smaller firms generally tend to specialise in 'talent' work for individuals.

Who are the clients?

Clients include: studios; broadcasters; the world's leading sports rights owners; producers; distributors; financiers; individuals and corporates associated with the advertising, marketing and media industries.

What skills do I need?

Commercial media lawyers need to have a good knowledge of intellectual property and contract law, and of the technology impacting on their specialist areas. Economic, technological and international factors affect the work media lawyers do and being a highly regulated area of law, media lawyers need to keep up to date with current changes.

To keep clients happy, the skills needed are the skills expected of most commercial groups - excellent client service, reliability and core legal skills and knowledge. Media lawyers also need a personality, I'm not necessarily talking Russell Brand here, but clients generally prefer not to instruct legal robots.

What do trainees do?

Typical tasks include research of specific legal issues and current affairs as well as drafting and amending documents on smaller deals. Work can also include reviewing contracts as part of the due diligence process and checking who currently owns particular rights.

In terms of the hours, trainees are not usually sleep deprived. Very long hours are relatively uncommon and when they do happen it tends to be when closing a deal, for example a film finance transaction.

Media practices tend to use small, close-knit teams and so trainees can have a valuable role in the team. Trainees who are confident and hard working will get on well and the more willing you are to help and demonstrate your legal skills, the more responsibility you will be given to show what you can do.

The work can often be varied and interesting, attracting high-profile media attention at times. This has been an exciting year for our team as we have been involved in two cases before the Court of Justice for the European Union. The Olympics being in London has been exciting, not only because it is a great sporting spectacle, but also because of the interesting sports law issues which surround an event of this nature