Bird & Bird is regularly engaged by social media platforms, gaming companies, media conglomerates, and international sports federations. The team’s broad expertise includes privacy, defamation, contempt, licensing, and marketing and advertising laws, with strong capabilities in pre-publication advice. Shane Barber advises global businesses on media law aspects and supports video game clients with regulatory issues. Julie Cheeseman specialises in handling contentious matters, compulsory processes, and pre-publication advice. Rich Hawkins brings deep expertise in high-value sports media rights transactions. Brianna Quinn is instrumental in maintaining the firm’s prominent standing in the sports sector, but the team suffered a blow when Sophie Dawson departed in May 2024.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team were very well-resourced and I had access to information and research at any hour of the day including weekends. It was refreshing to receive a high level of service.'
‘I found the lead partner in my case, Julie Cheeseman, not only efficient but very commercial in her thinking and outlook in a complex litigation case. I also dealt with a number of associates in the team who were at all times calm and across all the relevant legal and documentary issues.'
‘Bird and Bird occupies a unique niche in Australia being mid-sized and specialised in media/comms while also being part of a global firm with this speciality.’
‘Julie Cheeseman and James Hoy have very good experience across the TMT sectors, including in-house, and have taken the opportunity to host thought leadership sessions to broaden industry understanding of key issues.’
‘Depth of knowledge from partner down to junior solicitor. Fantastic team builders.’
‘Excellent at sports arbitration.'
‘Brianna Quinn is a standout in the sports arbitration market and brings unique insights from working for sports federations and in dispute resolution at the very highest levels.’
Key clients
- Nine
- Take-Two Interactive Software
- Epic Games
- Arenova Visual Media Holdings
- Pilgrim Media Group
- Arts Law Centre
- Rugby Australia
- Football Australia
- World Aquatics
- International Tennis Integrity Agency
- International Testing Agency
- FIFA
- Basketball Arbitral Tribunal
Work highlights
- Acting for Nine and CJZ in both commercial and defamation proceedings .
- Acting for Rugby Australia in relation to the production and distribution of the Wallabies' World Cup 2023 doc.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Shane Barber