Merel Teunissen
Lawyer
Merel advises and litigates in the fields of media law, film law, copyright, privacy law, contract law and intellectual property law. She acts for established and emerging media personalities, producers in film, television and podcasts, victims of unlawful publications and creative entrepreneurs.
Merel is a lawyer and litigator who helps clients navigate complex media cases, advises on business-strategic matters, drafts and negotiates contracts, helps prevent or limit reputational damage and defends people who are wrongly accused.
As a lawyer, Merel is pragmatic, involved and clear. She enjoys thinking alongside her clients and knows how to translate legal complexity into concrete, workable advice.
Merel keeps a close eye on where legal, commercial, PR or communications risks may arise. She flags in good time what her clients need to watch out for, so that problems do not escalate or remain manageable.
She has worked with many of her clients for years.
Her clients are diverse: creatives from literature, art, music and fashion, established and emerging media personalities, small and large entrepreneurs, producers in film, television, podcasts and other media, cultural institutions and museums, in-house counsel and individuals.
What characterises Merel is that she puts people first. Clients feel heard and know exactly where they stand. That shows: she has worked with many of her clients for years.
Additional activities
Alongside her work as a lawyer, Merel teaches law at the Netherlands Film Academy and the DAS Graduate School.
She also gives masterclasses in copyright and film law, for example at de Metselarij (the learning network for arts professionals) and the New Producers Academy (which promotes diversity among producers).
Merel is also involved with various organisations at the intersection of law, culture and media. She sits on the board of the Association for Art, Culture and Law and Museum Perron Oost.
Merel is a member of the Copyright Association, the Association for Media and Communications Law and the Netherlands Association for AI and Robot Law.
In addition, Merel is regularly invited as a legal commentator for a range of initiatives;
- Jinek (RTL 4) – Panel guest on online hate and the legal boundaries together with her client Gordon.
- De Dikke Datashow (NPO) – Legal expert in the episode ‘Onbedoeld viral’ on portrait rights and the removal of unwanted images.
- NPO Radio 1 – Villa VDB – Interview with Merel on dealing with false accusations from gossip channels.
- NPO Radio 1 – Nieuws en co – analysis of the court case concerning the Bob Vylan performance that had been scheduled at the Doornroosje venue.
- De Balie, Amsterdam – Speaker at the event ‘De Ongure Wereld van Juicekanalen’ on online shaming, the legal boundaries and the Rachel Hazes v. Yvonne Coldeweijer case.
- Legal commentary for newspapers, including:
- De Lex Media – Entertainment & Law programme – Presentation by Merel on ‘AI in the film industry’.
Media sessions
Merel also works with Myrthe van Pelt of agency MVP Management in giving media sessions, in which they guide media talent towards the best commercial and legal agreements with a client or employer.
Merel and Myrthe have also collaborated on successful projects, such as the transfer of Thomas Erdbrink to RTL-Videoland and that of Amber Brantsen to Viaplay.
A selection of Merel’s recent work
- Legal guidance for film producers and creative producers on national & international (co-)productions - including financing;
- Review of film scripts and opinions for the purposes of E&O insurance;
- Legal guidance for various app providers;
- Guiding and preventing legal proceedings in the case of unjustified claims within copyright;
- Proceedings against various broadcasters on behalf of victims of unlawful publications;
- Drafting and reviewing contracts;
- Drafting cease-and-desist letters in cases of, among others, copyright infringement, trade mark infringement and unlawful publication.
