Dr Julia Schafdecker

My main areas of practice
I advise national and international companies in the Media and Entertainment industry. My advice covers the entire value chain - from the development and financing of productions and their realisation through to production distribution. I have many years of experience in drafting and negotiating contracts. In the area of corporate communications, I advise clients comprehensively, for example on the organisation of their advertising campaigns and cooperations as well as their social media presence. In addition to my advice in the field of audiovisual media, I have particular expertise in international Music Licensing Law.

Furthermore I specialise in providing technological advice to media groups and online platforms. I support them in the legal structuring of their digital market presence, the implementation of their business idea and the further development of their business model, for example through the use of new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain. A particular focus of my advice is on the Healthcare sector, especially with regard to the development of new digital markets by healthcare players.

I advise our clients in German and English.

Personal engagement
I regularly give talks and take part in panels on the use of new technologies and their application in the media value chain. Excerpts from my work as a speaker:

• "The current US Guild Agreements and AI trends", Producer Brunch 74th Berlinale (2024)
• "AI Copyright Law in different European Countries", Webinar MediaXchange (2024)
• "AI in Storytelling: Unleashing Creativity, Confronting Challenges and Legal Frontiers", Midpoint Institute, Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (2023)
• "How will NFTs change our understanding of authenticity, ownership and property forever?", podcast "Innovativ Natives", interview (2023)
• "NFTs and media. More than just a buzzword?", Film Festival Cologne (2022)

My background
I studied in Göttingen and Madrid. I completed my legal traineeship in Berlin.

Before joining Fieldfisher, I worked for several years as a lawyer in the media and digital business department of a large medium-sized law firm. Before that, I worked as a Research Assistant and lecturer in the field of Media and Technology Law at the Georg-August University of Göttingen. I completed my doctorate there on a Copyright topic in the field of international music licensing.