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Specialist Guide to the

Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

TIER 1
ALRUD Law Firm’s focus is on media and advertising. The team advises on all aspects of publishing, broadcasting and filming. Well regarded by peers, the practice is described as a leading choice for media law. Practitioners have in-depth knowledge of the television, radio and internet sectors. The team regularly advises on advertising, regulation, individual rights issues related to film, interviewing and photography.

Dentons’ international reputation for having a high level of media law expertise is upheld in Russia, where the firm advises on multiple cases. The team advises broadcasters, entertainments companies, conglomerates and online media businesses. In representative work, lawyers assisted with the launch of a television channel, distribution of advertising and related regulations. The team also routinely advises on privacy regulation.  

Morgan Lewis has rapidly established a position among Russia’s leading firms. The team acts for print publishers, entertainment companies and film studios. The firm has notable experience advising on television and video-on-demand services. Lawyers regularly advise on new technologies for the distribution of television programming.

TIER 2

CMS handles cross-border TMT matters ranging from licensing, outsourcing and mergers. The team advises on regulation and compliance and has a highlighted emphasis on technology development system integration. The firm also specialise in sports law and intellectual property.

Gorodissky & Partners has notable experience of advising national and foreign clients on media and advertising in both traditional media: periodic press, TV channels, radio channels and the most popular segments of the media market today: mobile applications, social media, video games and multimedia. Highly regarded professional team led by Sergey Medvedev advises on compliance with legislation on media and advertising, data protection and privacy and protection of their honor and business reputation.

Hogan Lovells is a leading choice among media clients. The firm’s areas of practice cover all aspects of media, with a particular emphasis on television, radio broadcasting, social network operators and gaming. The firm’s media activity includes advice on restructuring, regulation licensing and data protection. The firm acts for high profile clients, local and international.

TIER 3

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton works on industry-specific corporate transactions, including acquisitions and restructurings in the pay-television market. With a media and advertising emphasis, the practice attracts broadcasters, print publishers, radio networks and marketing businesses.

EPAM Law Offices is highly regarded for its defamation dispute resolution. In highlighted work the team acted for a publishing house, part of Gazprom Media Holding, in a landmark defamation dispute which led to a reversal of the Moscow Arbitrazh Court award on appeal.  

Pepeliaev Group is known for its sector-related tax advice and telecommunications specialisation. The team acts for clients on corporate and commercial cases, data protection and copyright.

TIER 4

Herbert Smith Freehills has an international focus on transactional work, regulation and disputes. The firm’s media and technology specialisation attracts high profile clients. Lawyers advise on joint ventures, restructurings and mergers. In highlighted work Mr Vaughan acted for Interros on its disposal of 100 per cent of shares in ProfMedia, a leading Russian media holding company with television, radio and film distribution assets, to Gazprom-Media Holding.

Established in 2009, Peterka & Partners’ Moscow office is an expansion of the firm’s CEE presence. Lawyers act for clients in a range of advertising cases with aspects of commercial agreements and competition law. The firm’s broader focus areas include sports and entertainment. Lawyers are highlighted for their litigation and copyright experience.

Squire Patton Boggs works on a range of high profile industry cases. The team advises on marketing, advertising, publishing, content and licensing matters. Other areas of focus include cyber security, intellectual property and data protection.

  REGIONS WE COVER

  Middle East and North Africa

  North America

  Asia-Pacific

  Western Europe

  Central and Eastern Europe

Top

RUSSIA

In Russia, the media sector is regulated by the following:

• the Constitution of the Russian Federation (Article 29.5);
• the Federal Law on Mass Media No. 2124-1 dated 27 December 1991 (as amended) (Mass Media Law);
• the Federal Law on Information, Information Technologies, and Data Protection, No. 149 dated 27 July 2006 (as amended) (the Information Law); and
• other specific laws (the Federal Law No. 38-FZ On Advertising of 13 March 2006 (as amended) (the Advertising Law), the Federal Law No. 152-FZ On Personal Data dated 27 July 2006 (as amended) (the Data Protection Law), the Federal Law No. 436-FZ On Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development of 29 December 2010 (as amended) (the Children Protection Law).

The principal state authority, which is competent to secure, control and monitor local mass media legal compliance is the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor).

There are other state authorities responsible for providing state services and management of state properties in the media sector, such as the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation.

Foreign ownership with regards to media services is seriously restricted. Foreign companies cannot hold more than a 20 per cent share in a local media company. Any 100 per cent equity forms of foreign participation or foreign corporate control over the Russian media business are prohibited.

In terms of specific regulated activities, the national media sector is subject to:

• registration – for various media-products, including online editions (websites);
• licensing – for distribution (broadcasting) of media;
• permits – for distribution of foreign printed products (editions);
• approvals on allocation of frequency bands – for broadcasting of media using the RF- spectrum.

Recent, important legal developments in media industry include the adoption of the following laws, regulations and case law concerning the below institutions, as well as aspects requiring the attention of media lawyers:

• requirements for labeling materials with an indication of “foreign agents”;
• requirements regarding audience volume research on the internet;
• case law regarding turnover-based fines for non-deletion of prohibited information;
• requirement to open an office in Russia and obligations of foreign companies to comply with the “Onshoring Law”;
• the court decision to ban activities of Meta Platforms Inc. on the territory of the Russian Federation and blockage of social networks Facebook and Instagram; amendments to Advertising Law dedicated to labelling and accounting for online advertisements as well as transferring information to the Unified Online Advertising Register, which is maintained by Roskomnadzor.

Written by

Sergey Medvedev

& Nikita Maltsev

Gorodissky & Partners