The Legal 500

Within M&A - smaller deals up to £50m, Harbottle & Lewis LLP is a first tier firm,

Media deals in the sub-£50m bracket remain a theme for Harbottle & Lewis LLP, where a triumvirate of partners - Colin Howes, Tim Parker, and Mark Phillips- succeeded in breaking firm deal records in 2008. Target Entertainment and MAMA group were particularly active clients in 2008.

Within Venture capital, Harbottle & Lewis LLP is a second tier firm,

Praised for its ‘excellent knowledge and industry understanding’, Harbottle & Lewis LLP mainly advises growth companies and entrepreneurs in media, entertainment and technology, but in 2008 it continued to build its investor client base, adding Hemisphere Capital to existing clients Atomico and London Seed Capital.

Within Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy, Harbottle & Lewis LLP is a second tier firm,

Harbottle & Lewis LLP, under Gerrard Tyrrell, regularly represents the Royal Family in privacy and defamation matters, including recently acting for the Duke of Edinburgh in responding to a claim made by the Evening Standard that he was suffering from cancer.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 6

Headed by the ‘extremely knowledgeable and experienced’ Alison Wilds, Harbottle & Lewis LLP’s asset finance practice leverages off the firm’s blue-chip client base; it advises the finance division of Nokia-Siemens Networks, and is a panel member for Virgin Atlantic. Clients praise the team’s ‘intimate industry knowledge and constructive approach’.

Within Employment, tier 7

Max Craft now heads the team at Blake Lapthorn following the departure of Howard Hymanson to Harbottle & Lewis LLP. Recent instructions include advising Harvey Nash Group plc on a major outsourcing project. Advice is ‘top of the tree’.

Within Employment, tier 7

Harbottle & Lewis LLP boosted partner numbers in early 2009 with the appointment of the ‘supremely able’ Howard Hymanson, former head of employment at Blake Lapthorn. Marian Derham leads the practice, which has ‘good industry knowledge and a solid range of individuals’. Key client Visit London instructed the team on a diverse range of matters in 2008, while new client wins include Cadbury plc.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 5

Harbottle & Lewis LLP is noted as ‘one to watch’ since the arrival of Alison Maclennan from Radcliffe Chambers in 2008. The practice is well known for assisting entertainment industry clients including Comic Relief, and has recently taken on a number of new clients including Timebank and The Kevin Spacey Foundation. Colin Howes is ‘fantastically knowledgeable, straightforward and responsive’.

Within Family, tier 5

Tom Amlot, practice head at Harbottle & Lewis LLP, is ‘good with clients and offers good analysis of cases’. The group regularly handles high-value ancillary relief work.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 5

Harbottle & Lewis LLP’s ‘excellent team’ regularly advises high-net-worth and high-profile individuals on tax-planning and trust structures. The ‘commercial and approachable’ Glen Atchison and ‘likeable and practical’ Sarah Bridge co-head the thriving practice, which includes ‘competent and assured practitioners at all levels’.

Within Commercial property, tier 7

Robert Reilly’s team at Harbottle & Lewis LLP is ‘quick to respond and provides sound legal advice with good commercial awareness’. It is recommended for its expertise advising on capital projects, and is also experienced in handling sale and leasebacks, notably advising IMO Car Wash Group on a series of purchases. Leo Marino provides good advice in a timely manner.

Within Brand management, Harbottle & Lewis LLP is a second tier firm,

Harbottle & Lewis LLP’s newly promoted partner Paul Groves is ‘always a pleasure to work with, and very knowledgeable about games and sponsorship, and the sports market’. New partner Paul Cairns has joined from the business affairs team at Electronic Arts, and has expertise in gaming advertising. The team handles an increasing amount of work for Take 2 Interactive - historically a gaming client but now also a client of the advertising practice - which is led by Andy Millmore. The firm is also active on franchising, particularly for its core media and entertainment clients.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Harbottle & Lewis LLP has a strong media and brands practice, and recently acted for the successful parties in two leading copyright cases. Lawrence Abramson advised the defendant in the Whiter Shade of Pale dispute in the House of Lords, while Mark Owen acted for Lucasfilm as claimant in the Star Wars case which is pending in the Court of Appeal. Clients are ‘always very pleased with the level of work’.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 4

At Harbottle & Lewis LLP, communications expert Tony Ballard is recommended.

Within Media and entertainment, Harbottle & Lewis LLP is a first tier firm,

At Harbottle & Lewis LLP, Paul Cairns, formerly in-house at Electronic Arts, joined computer games experts Mark Phillips and Paul Groves advising Rockstar Games on Grand Theft Auto IV. ‘Experienced and capable’ broadcasting and telecoms expert Tony Ballard advised Phorm and DTG Testing. Medwyn Jones heads the film and TV practice, which advised on Summer, Bronson and Telstar. Film finance clients include RBS and Scion Films. Abigail Payne advised Ealing Studios on Easy Virtue. ‘Knowledgeable’ partner Paul Jones, who ‘turns around work at short notice’, advised Omnifone on a strategic partnership with Sony Ericsson. He is also instructed by record labels including Universal Music Group and artists such as Jamie Cullum. Lawrence Abramson handles music litigation while Caroline Turner advises publishers on commercial and digital rights, and TV tie-ins. New clients include Informa and Safari Books Online. Theatre lawyer Neil Adleman advises on Spring Awakening and Billy Elliot.

Within Sport, Harbottle & Lewis LLP is a third tier firm,

Key clients for Harbottle & Lewis LLP’s ‘well-balanced, efficient, knowledgeable and responsive’ sports practice include football’s League Managers’ Association, and the England Cricket Team. Led by Bob Mitchell, the team also advised Cadbury on its sponsorship of the 2012 Olympics, and received first-time instructions from Powerboat P1 Management. Paul Cairns joined the firm from Electronic Arts.