DAVID SWEENEY

A lawyer and public affairs advocate David has worked for over 25 years in media; video games, music, film and television. Since 2004 David has been at the cutting edge of creativity and law in key roles in the international video game industry – the entertainment sector which has met the combined challenge of new technology and media with the most success. Clients have included EA, Nintendo, Bertelsmann, Microsoft, Warner, Sony, Disney, Universal, Vivendi, Activision, King, Supercell. He is now Global Coordinator on Digital Health for the international games industry and is retained by Video Games Europe and the Entertainment Software Federation in this role. David also represents and advises Video Games Europe in Ireland. He serves as Senior Counsel to global TV and mobile licensing body AGICOA and was Vice President at the Motion Picture Association, Senior Counsel for the music trade body IFPI, Head of EU Public Policy for Universal Music and Studios and outside counsel to Warner Music. David has represented major industries at the institutions of the United Nations, WHO, WTO and WIPO and also at the OECD. In recent years he has become an expert on Digital Health and has works with leading academic institutions around the world. David has spoken publicly and at the UN on this topic.

David co-founded Games Ireland and served on the Irish government’s industry task force on games. He runs Sweeney Consulting, an international consultancy acting for media clients well as providing advice on, and representation to, the institutions of the European Union and governments in EU states. David’s early career as a professional musician and songwriter laid the foundation for his understanding of media and entertainment.

Specialties: Leadership, strategy and inspiration, legal affairs, video games, eSports, music and music publishing, film/tv, digital health, public policy/campaign and event management, communications, rights management and licensing, competition/anti-trust law, contracts, digital taxation, state aid, data protection, analytics, content rating, intellectual property, trade associations, communications, public affairs and investment.