Media Entertainment: Television and radio TIER 1
Lawyer – Actor – Teacher – Sailor – Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Christian Valsamidis is a lawyer at the Paris Court of Appeal and a leading figure in film, audiovisual, and media law in France and Europe. He is a partner at the international law firm Taylor Wessing, where he has been a founding partner in Paris since 2003 and served as Managing Partner from 2006 to 2011.
Cinema, audiovisual media, and professional commitment
For more than thirty years, he has been assisting producers, distributors, financial institutions, authors, and artists with all legal and financial aspects of audiovisual creation, including financing, international co-production, distribution, and intellectual property.
Teaching and knowledge sharing
Christian teaches at Sciences Po (IEP Paris) and Paris-Sorbonne University, where he gives courses on the economics of cinema, film financing, and the legal mechanisms of the cultural industry.
He is also a speaker at numerous international festivals and professional events.
Film institutions
Member of the Académie des César since 1994
Participant in the Cannes Film Festival without interruption from 1989 to the present day
Sailing and sporting commitment
A committed sailor, he has:
participated in the Spi Ouest-France for several years,
crossed the Atlantic by sail twice.
Distinctions and awards
Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2023) - Awarded by the Ministry of Culture in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of culture, cinema, and the arts.
European Legal Award – Media & Entertainment Law
Regularly ranked in Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, IP Stars
Media Entertainment: Television and radio TIER 1
Intellectual property: copyright - ‘Christian Valsamidis, Claire Saint Laurent, and Sandrine Jasserme are very responsive.'
Media Entertainment: Cinema TIER 1 Leading partner - ‘A diverse team, with complementary skills and approaches to cases. For every problem or question, there's the ideal person to talk to. ‘
TMT:Media (Individual ranking) - "He gives bright and clear advice." "He is the industry's greatest lawyer." "His extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of the national and international markets allowed our team to establish the best strategy and to have constructive and reassuring exchanges throughout."
Copyright Star
TMT:Media France (Individual ranking) -"Christian came from a background in cinema and he is an excellent lawyer."
Since 2020, Leading individual - TMT: Media - France - band 2: Christian Valsamidis of Taylor Wessing LLP is well reputed for his expertise in the film industry. He assists production companies and private individuals with a range of transactional and contractual matters. "Christian came from a background in cinema and he is an excellent lawyer."
Copyright star
Leading individual: Media & entertainment (France)
Leading individual - Media and Entertainment - France
Media Law, Entertainment and copyright - Silver trophy
A group of nine film producers on structuring and setting up a new film production and distribution studio, to be financed via private investors. We took charge of the closing of several high-budget animated long feature films, including chain of title agreements, all distribution agreements, completion bond, banks loans, intercreditor agreement, specific audiovisual securities, and collection agreements. As part of the project, we also assisted a US private equity house on its investment in a French listed film production and distribution company, and also on bailing the French company out of insolvency proceedings (including the due diligence review of the films library and the advice in operational reorganization of the company before refunding).
by multiple authors
by Megan Eaton
by multiple authors
by multiple authors
by multiple authors
by Susan Lipeyko, Lic. en droit (Toulouse I Capitole) and Alexander Schmalenberger, LL.B.