The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Wiggin LLP is a third tier firm,

Wiggin LLP’s media capability sees it act on a good share of deals arising from that sector. In 2011 it advised on Virgin Media’s sale of Virgin TV to Sky. Michael Brader provides ‘creative solutions to difficult issues’.

Within Gaming and betting, Wiggin LLP is a third tier firm,

Jason Chess leads the team at Wiggin LLP, which advises IGT on its European licensing strategy, and also advises a number of media clients in relation to gameshow formats and television gambling.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy, Wiggin LLP is a second tier firm,

Wiggin LLP is ‘very strong and experienced in defamation, and growing in the area of privacy too’. Channel 4 is a key client; it instructed the firm in relation to a complaint in relating to Dispatches programme The Truth about Football, as well as a complaint by the singer Morrissey relating to a trailer for Gordon’s Christmas Cookalong. It also acted for Condé Nast on a privacy complaint by Roman Abramovich concerning Tatler magazine. Caroline Kean heads the practice, and consultant Amali de Silva is singled out as ‘a gifted tactician – one of the very best in the industry’.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

Wiggin LLP’s Matt Bullock is ‘a good communicator with great knowledge of property law and client service’. The firm focuses on the media, leisure and retail markets, and clients include BBC Worldwide Productions.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Wiggin LLP’s IP practice is ‘good for all-round media sector work’. Litigator Simon Baggs co-heads the team with Shaun Lowde, who is a ‘talented and technical’ commercial adviser. Solicitor Gurminder Panesar is ‘level headed, knowledgeable and clear sighted’, and leads on trade mark matters, an area in which the firm recently set up a filing practice. Highlights included advising the brand owner of Goal.com on licensing arrangements, and acting for various parties, including The FA Premier League, in the judicial review of the Digital Economy Act.

Within Media and entertainment, Wiggin LLP is a first tier firm,

Wiggin LLP’s expertise spans film, TV, music, computer games, digital media, and publishing. Head of litigation Simon Baggs is ‘an excellent adviser’, and represented major film studios in the claim seeking to compel ISPs to block access to Newzbin. Sean James, ‘a leader in his field and a delight to work with’, Shaun Lowde and Jason Chess lead the broadcasting and digital content team. James advised Virgin Media on the disposal of its 50% interest in the UKTV portfolio of channels and, together with Ross Sylvester, advised UKTV on its DTH carriage agreement with BSkyB as well as its airtime sales deal with Channel 4. ‘Smart, agile negotiators’ Charles Moore and Miles Ketley apply their ‘extensive studio experience’ to film and TV production matters, advising BBC Worldwide on 3D productions Life, Africa and Walking with Dinosaurs; Paramount Pictures on World War Z; and DNA Films on Judge Dredd. Caroline Kean’s publishing team advises Egmont UK and Cambridge University Press. The music team, which includes the ‘highly knowledgeable’ Alexander Ross, advised the BPI in the judicial review of copyright protection measures, and counts Decca Music Group and Universal Music among its key clients. The ‘personable, well-connected’ Nav Sunner heads the computer games team, which represents Zattikka and Firefly Studios.

Within Media finance, Wiggin LLP is a first tier firm,

Wiggin LLP’s film and TV financing team acts for borrowers and lenders, including film funds Ingenious Media and Silver Reel, and recently advised Aver Media on a loan facility to the producers of Shame. Other clients include banks (such as Coutts & Co, Bank Leumi, Bank of Ireland and Union Bank of California), distributors (Lionsgate and Constantin) and independent producers (Blueprint, DNA Films and Trademark Films). The ‘calm, reasoned’ David Quli, who is ‘great at finding practical solutions’, co-heads the practice with the ‘hardworking, competent’ Neil Gillard. Charles Moore’s clients include US studios, mini-majors and independent producers. Daniel Whybrew is ‘personable, eager, knowledgeable and timely’. Hannah Wylie joined from Stephenson Harwood.

Within Sport, tier 5

Wiggin LLP specialises in sports media rights.