The Legal 500

Work Department

Media – film and television.

Position

Work includes: establishing the documentation pursuant to which The Royal Bank of Scotland provided finance (gap and discounting) in relation to single picture film projects and advising RBS on its financing of various films including Ken Loach’s Palme D’Or winner ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley’. Establishing the documentation pursuant to which Alliance & Leicester issued Letters of Credit in respect of the Sale & Leaseback Net Benefit and advising Alliance & Leicester on their Letter of Credit in relation to the Bond film ‘Casino Royale’. Establishing the documentation pursuant to which Magna provides equity investments into films and advising Magna on its equity investments in various films in 2010 including Ralph Fiennes’ forthcoming ‘Coriolanus’, the Sean Bean and Danny Dyer WW2 epic ‘Age of Heroes’, Independent’s ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ starring Tilda Swinton and John C Reilly and ‘Hunky Dory’ starring Minnie Driver. Establishing the documentation pursuant to which banks discount BBC commissions from independent producers and advising Barclays on its first such transaction – Wall to Wall’s ‘New Tricks Series 4’ and Bank of Ireland on their first such transaction – Box TV’s ‘Wind in the Willows’. Establishing the documentation pursuant to which banks discount C4 commissions from independent producers and advising RBS on the first such transaction – Company Production’s ‘Skins Series 3’. Advising Barclays on numerous discounting of ITV’s commissions including Linda La Plante’s ‘Trial and Retribution’ and ‘The Commander’, RBS on its financing of various All3Media entities’ programmes (‘Midsomer Murders’, ‘Ultimate Force’ and ‘Wild at Heart’) and Coutts on various TV financing transactions including Linda La Plante’s ‘Above Suspicion Series 3’, ITV Kid’s TV show ‘Tati’s Hotel’ and forthcoming Kudos series for ITV ‘Eternal Law’ and BOI on its TV financing activities (including Kudos’ ‘Ashes to Ashes’, ‘Moving Wallpaper’ and ‘Law & Order’). Advising Investec Bank on their first film financing transaction – financing Ealing Studio’s ‘St Trinians’ starring Colin Firth and Rupert Everett. Advising Stephen Woolley’s Number 9 Films on their feature film ‘How To Lose Friends And Influence People’ starring Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst. Advising the producers of Series 2 and 3 of ITV’s Stephen Fry vehicle ‘Kingdom’. Advising Platinum Films in relation to various production, licensing and distribution arrangements in relation to their children’s properties ‘Planet Cook’, ‘Dream Street’ and ‘Matt Hatter’. Advising Ealing Studios in relation to their development finance arrangements. Advising Deuce Films on their car racing show ‘Slips’ for MTV hosted by the Fun Lovin’ Criminals’ Huey Morgan, one of the flagship shows MTV commissioned to launch their Freeview channel Viva. Advising the sales agent Contentfilm International in relation to the medieval action film ‘Ironclad’ starring Paul Giamatti, James Purfoy and Derek Jacobi.

Career

Trained Frere Chomeley Bischoff; qualified 1998; joined Clifford Chance’s securities group documenting bond issues 1998-99; joined media group of Davenport Lyons 1999; partner 2004.

Education

Durham University (1989); Durham University (1993 History First Class Hons); City University (1995 CPE); College of Law, Store Street (1996 LPC).

Leisure

Being with his family, surfing (badly), film and watercolouring.

Practice Areas

Film, TV, theatre, music; Media and entertainment