Harbottle & Lewis LLP is the first port of call for global publishers and IP owners, including Take-Two Interactive, Electronic Arts and SEGA, in addition to leading trade associations, indie studios and esports organisations. With combined expertise in commercial, corporate, IP and regulatory matters, Mark Phillips and Kostyantyn Lobov co-head the firm’s interactive entertainment group. Also recommended is Rupam Davé for his involvement in tech and commercial partnerships, which includes advising on emerging technologies, adtech and software licensing, among others.

Sheridans provides the full breadth of interactive entertainment advice, advising on corporate transactions, commercial contracts, finance, IP and tax matters. The team acts for leading national and international games companies, from independent developers to big name publishers, as well as esports teams, streamers, and influencers. The team is jointly headed by Alex Tutty, an expert in emerging areas such as the use of NFTs and blockchain technologies, and Jamie Smith, an established individual in the advertising sector. Computer game veteran Alex Chapman places a particular focus on the exploitation of IP rights.

Deeply ingrained in the video game sector, Wiggin LLP is a go-to for leading content creators, publishers, platforms, esports companies and trade associations. Specialising in tech and commercial transactions, Paul Gardner heads up the interactive entertainment team, which is a regular advisor on various contractual, IP and regulatory matters. Peter Lewin – promoted to partner in April 2023 – is further praised for his expertise in games publishing and licensing, IP rights and games-related regulation. Associate Isabel Davies also comes recommended for her insight the mobile and casual gaming markets.

With clients such as Google and Take-Two Interactive turning to Baker McKenzie, the team is noted for its expertise in the video game arena. Solicitor advocate Ben Allgrove, who anchors the regulatory and IP litigation offering, co-heads the practice with William Holder, whose transactional capabilities cover acquisitions and disposals, consortium arrangements, IPOs, venture capital investments, corporate structurings and reorganisations, among others. John Groom - promoted to partner in July 2022 - comes recommended for his focus on copyright, digital media, and new technologies.

Bird & Bird LLP is a regular advisor on major corporate, data, IP, consumer and advertising mandates. Senior associate Will Deller heads up the practice, which continues to receive instructions in the burgeoning Web3 and Metaverse markets, as well as from traditional sports bodies seeking the team’s expanding esports expertise. Seasoned litigator Phil Sherrell is the first port of call for global gaming giants including Take Two Interactive and Epic Games.

Known for his work in the convergent worlds of content, tech and e-commerce, Duncan Calow heads up DLA Piper's gaming, social media and interactive content practice, which focuses on guiding gaming giants through high-value corporate transactions. Nick Fitzpatrick is a regular advisor to global rights holders on IP and regulatory matters in the esports space, as well as exclusive management arrangements with esports competitors.

Lee & Thompson LLP has an extensive client roster comprising of UK and international game developers, publishers, platforms and creative individuals. With digital, IP and tech expert Julian Ward at the helm, the team is well-placed to advise on music licensing arrangements in the Metaverse, video game development and publishing transactions, M&A deals and IP rights. The group often draws on the firm’s broader media finance expertise, as well as from members within its corporate, commercial, employment, data protection, IP and dispute resolution teams.

Commercial and transactional IP expert Nick Allan heads up the interactive entertainment practice at Lewis Silkin, which receives regular instructions from large multinational publishers, independent game developers, VR/AR game studios, metaverse and esports developers, and adtech companies. The team has experience advising on commercial contracts, publishing and licensing agreements, IP rights, brand management and content distribution, as well as various corporate, consumer and data protection matters.

Under the leadership of Gregor Pryor and Sophie Goossens (who splits her time between Paris and London), Reed Smith LLP has a notable roster of major players in the video game sector and is sought after for its expertise in matters involving games regulation, creative content licensing, streaming, esports, crypto and NFTs. Music expert Nick Breen is also praised for his involvement in regulatory, commercial and copyright matters pertaining to video games.

Taylor Wessing LLP's comprehensive client roster includes start-ups, investment funds and investors, big tech platforms, gaming developers and publishers. Commercial, data and IT specialist Graham Hann co-chairs the gaming and esports practice with Robert Fenner, a transactional expert with experience advising Chinese and Asian companies looking to expand on a global scale. Other recommended individuals include skilled IP advisor Mark Owen, and Adam Rendle, who guides companies through the entire lifecycle of their media assets.

Under the Liverpool-based Sean Crotty's leadership, Weightmans LLP's media and entertainment practice has had recent success advising on commercial contracts for mobile app game developments, in addition to voice talent and motion capture agreements with high profile actors. IT, IP and data protection expert Nicola Gonnella – who splits her time between Glasgow and London – is also recommended for her expertise in the video game sphere.