DLA Piper advises Al Jazeera on Current TV acquisition

The Qatar-owned broadcaster plans to replace Current with a new Al Jazeera news channel based in New York, a move which doubles its US-based staff.

The acquisition is a key step in the expansion of Al Jazeera in the US which represents an important market in terms of audience numbers and where Current is available in around 40 million homes.

"This is a landmark deal for Al Jazeera and one that demonstrates DLA Piper's capabilities on a global scale, advising Al Jazeera from our Middle East and New York offices," commented Paul Allen, Head of Intellectual Property and Technology for DLA Piper Middle East.

"Al Jazeera's acquisition is a major step forward in the broadcaster's global expansion, and we look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with the channel on an international level as it progresses in scaling up its presence in international markets," added Ken Dearsley, Senior Counsel, Middle East Intellectual Property and Technology Group.