Dr. Christoph Hendel

As Counsel in our IP team in Düsseldorf, I support clients across Germany and internationally at the intersection of innovation and regulation in the media and entertainment industries as well as in the consumer goods and healthcare sectors.

I advise primarily companies in the music and games industries, providers of innovative digital services, as well as manufacturers and distributors of regulated products. My expertise encompasses all matters of copyright, media and libel law, unfair competition and advertising law, as well as pharmaceutical and food law. I also represent our clients in administrative and court proceedings.

My current areas of focus include: Platform liability and the regulation of digital media, compliant deployment of AI systems, protection of IP rights and business models, development of sustainable licensing and remuneration strategies, market entry and compliance for products such as medical cannabis and novel tobacco products, lawful product communication

Before joining our firm, I worked as Legal Counsel in the legal department of the German collecting society for musical rights (GEMA), specialising in German and international copyright and collecting societies law. This experience provided me with in-depth insights into the evolving cultural and creative industries – particularly in the context of digital transformation and the challenges of cross-border IP licensing.

My goal is to help clients not only in meeting current legal challenges, but also in anticipating and preparing for future regulatory developments. I offer forward-looking, comprehensive advice – from participating in legislative initiatives and implementing new regulatory requirements within organisations, to developing and marketing products and services, and defending clients' rights and reputation vis-à-vis authorities, competitors, and infringers. A particular focus lies in the strategic support of complex advocacy projects. Early involvement in legislative reforms at both the European and German levels often makes it possible to shape the regulatory framework in a way that reflects the client's interests and works in practice.

I regularly publish articles on recent industry challenges such as AI in music creation, NFTs, sampling, modification software for games, or legal options for cannabis legalisation.