Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Media: Media finance in London

Harbottle & Lewis LLP

Harbottle & Lewis LLP's finance expertise spans all media-related sectors, including film and television, music, theatre, publishing and video games. Reflective of practice head Abigail Payne's capabilities, the team provides advice on all aspects of film and television financing, production and distribution to a mixture of financiers, producers, content creators and rights-holders; it has a particular specialism in structuring and implementing EIS and SEIS finance. Local language productions expert Hannah Wylie joined in December 2022.

Practice head(s):

Abigail Payne


Other key lawyers:

Jonathan Berger; Hannah Wylie


Key clients

Marv Studios


all3media Group


Microsoft


Neal Street Productions


Hopster


Punchdrunk Global Limited


Finstock Capital


Pixion Games


LA Media Fund


Secret Group


Jamie Hendry Productions


Gutsy Animations UK


Chris Young Films


Jovera Pictures


Rebellion Entertainment


Kindred Concepts Limited


Rainmaker Content


Entertainment Film Distributors


Greenacre Films


Work highlights


  • Advised Rebellion Entertainment Limited on the co-financing and co-production of an animated feature film adaptation of “Rogue Trooper”.
  • Advised Kindred Concepts Limited on their plans and series seed investment to launch F1 Arcade, a new immersive social entertainment venue concept incorporating F1 racing simulators.
  • Advised Marv Studios on banking and other financing arrangements for their latest feature film “Argylle” to be shown on Apple TV.

Reed Smith LLP

Drawing on its international reach, Reed Smith LLP has extensive experience across the full spectrum of media finance. Michael Maxtone-Smith is renowned for his involvement in film and television finance, where he advises major banks and other financiers on single production or distribution financings, revolving lines of credit and tax-structured transactions. Broadcasting expert Nick Swimer is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Elle Todd; Stephen Sessa


Other key lawyers:

Gregor Pryor; Michael Maxtone-Smith; Nick Swimer


Testimonials

‘I have worked with the Reed Smith team for almost a decade. I choose the team because in my view they are the best in the market for entertainment work. They have teams in the UK, US and elsewhere in the world. What I really like about the team at Reed Smith is that they have a deep knowledge of the sector and speak my language.’

‘Gregor Pryor is excellent. He speaks more plainly than other lawyers I have worked with. He’s direct, clever and the best negotiator I have worked with.’

‘The team has excellent lawyers with extensive industry experience. They are responsive and provide clear, commercially focused, pragmatic advice. They make themselves readily available at short notice and prioritise client needs. I would highly recommend the team.’

Wiggin LLP

With David Quli at the helm, Wiggin LLP is the first port of call to major US studios, the largest SVOD platforms, independent producers, financiers – including both banks and funds – and distributors across both the film and television sectors. The team also includes transactional expert Chris Hanson, who is adept in corporate and project finance as well as debt and equity structures, and Daniel Whybrew, a regular advisor on development loans for independent producers or multi-jurisdictional financings with tax credits.

Practice head(s):

David Quli


Other key lawyers:

Neil Gillard; Chris Hanson; Daniel Whybrew; Garth McDonald; Matt Shone


Testimonials

‘In all respects Wiggin outshines any law firm I’ve ever worked with and I have worked with a lot over my career in media. They are extraordinarily responsive, extremely clever in their thinking, spot on when assessing risk, very pragmatic in their approaches to problem solving and everyone I’ve met at the firm is simply delightful. They have a very deep back bench of talent so that when one individual might not be familiar with a another company, issue or other matter they can always find information internally which is to say they are very collaborative in all ways.’

‘Matt Shone is simply one the most organized, resourceful, calm, smart hard working and lovely people I’ve met. Matt understands all sides of a deal, which goes a long way to assist with swift and trouble free closings.’

‘Daniel Whybrew has never met a problem he can’t solve. He is extremely resourceful and knows how to get deals done. He delicately balances the requirements of the financial institution I work for as well as those of my clients. He is a truly expert negotiator and always approaches matters with a calm pragmatism that is appreciated by all sides. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff (unless it needs it) while he deftly handles the big stuff. Dan remains one of the best lawyers I’ve ever worked with.’

‘David Quli is one of the most experienced lawyers I’ve ever met, which means that I only ever need to go to him if something is getting really tricky and I go to him then because he’s the one to get the really difficult jobs done. He has seen it all and he employs that wealth of experience to get things done.’

‘One of the best UK law firm in entertainment.’

‘Chris Hanson is one of the best experts in media and entertainment financing.’

‘Dan Whybrew is unflappable, extremely knowledgeable and excellent at communicating with lawyers and lay people alike. We know that we are in good hands.’

Key clients

Cofiloisirs


Natixis Coficine


IPR.VC


Anton Capital


Coutts


Comerica Bank


MUFG Union Bank


Bank of Montreal


Aperture Media Partners


HSBC


Netflix


Access Entertainment


National Bank of Canada


Work highlights


  • Advising IPR.VC – a Nordic private equity fund – on various equity investments in feature films “Civil War”, “Beau is Afraid” and “Humans”.
  • Representing Cofiloisirs on the financing of “Triangle of Sadness”, “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris”, “Around the World in 80 Days” and “The Ipcress Files”.

Bird & Bird LLP

International finance and financial regulation co-head Joss Hargrave takes the lead on much of Bird & Bird LLP‘s media finance work; he advises lenders and borrowers on transactions with a strong media angle, ranging from acquisition finance, real estate finance and sports finance. Senior associate Claire Barker is a finance specialist on the intersection of sports and media.

Other key lawyers:

Joss Hargrave; Richard McMorris; Claire Barker


Key clients

Epic Games


ICE


TuneIn


DAZN


Activision Blizzard


Palma Pictures


Warner Bros. Discovery


TikTok


Tencent


Radiant


Aser Media


Work highlights


  • Acting for TuneIn in a complex copyright claim brought by Sony Music and Warner Music.
  • Advised Mobile Premier League on the acquisition of the Berlin-based GameDuell, including its international subsidiaries.
  • Advised Radiant on the acquisition of another outdoor media company.

CMS

CMS have a strong specialist film and TV production financing practice, which is a regular fixture on single picture finance deals. Rebekah Hayes advises producers and financiers on a range of issues, including co-production funding and access to appropriate subsidies and incentives, single picture and slate deal facilities and funds, and the production, distribution and exploitation of audio-visual content.

Practice head(s):

Victoria Gaskell; Paul Guite


Other key lawyers:

Rebekah Hayes


Key clients

Avia Games


BBC


BT Sport


Comcast


Coutts & Co


Cutting Edge Group


Dentsu Aegis Network


Discovery


Disney


Elisabeth Murdoch


FremantleMedia Group Limited


Global Radio


Immediate Media


ITV plc


Jeremy Clarkson


Kobalt Music


M&C Saatchi


MTV


NBCUniversal


News Corp


News UK and Ireland


Paramount Global


Sky


SkyShowTime


Spotify


The Football Association Premier League Limited


UKTV Media Limited


Unilever


Warner Music


Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher‘s media finance work includes complex film and television financing structures, where Tim Johnson – head of the firm’s broader media practice – is an essential contact, as well as international co-financing transactions and tax-structured leveraged finance transactions thanks to the respective expertise of Stephen Saltzman and corporate tax head Derek Hill. Also recommended for their capabilities in corporate finance are Carlton Durrant and Christine Phillips.

Practice head(s):

Tim Johnson; Stephen Saltzman; Carlton Durrant; Christine Phillips; Derek Hill; David Bond


Testimonials

‘Knowledgeable, detailed and impeccable advice.’

‘Attentive, organised and available.’

‘Tim Johnson is an incredibly intelligent and talented individual.’

‘Working with Fieldfisher has been one of the best law firm experiences over my career.’

‘The team are technically soundat but also very accommodating and timely. They understand the industry and apply their knowledge to complex problems.’

‘David Bond is someone whom I trust completely to give the best advice and can rely upon with any issue however big or small.’

Key clients

Library Pictures International


Magnetar Capital


BBC Studios


Timeless Films


Legendary Pictures


Huayi Brothers International


Natixis Coficine


BBC


Getty Images


Lions Gate Entertainment Corp


See-Saw Films


Live Tech Games


The William Reed Group


Tortoise Media


Constantin Film


Max Film


Swift Media


Tokyopop


Mubi


The Match Factory


Nickelodeon, MTV and Paramount Pictures


Puig


ID Comms


LVMH Louis Vuitton


Incorporated Society of British Advertisers


Latham & Watkins

Lisbeth Savill heads up Latham & Watkins entertainment, sports and media team and is an expert in media finance; her work in this space includes the creation and financing of audio-visual content, licensing and other exploitation arrangements, funds and co-financing arrangements, as well as commercial advice on the financing of entertainment and media companies. Patrick Mitchell is a regular fixture on premium commercial transactions, while Farah O’Brien specialises in cross-border private M&A deals. Clients include film and television producers and distributors (including major studios), broadcasters, platforms and digital-first companies, financiers (debt and equity) and investment funds.

Practice head(s):

Lisbeth Savill


Other key lawyers:

Ian Felstead; Patrick Mitchell; Farah O’Brien; Sam Newhouse; Mike Turner; Rachael Astin; Stewart Robinson; Alastair Mackichan


Testimonials

‘On the various matters Sam Newhouse and Patrick Mitchell have undertaken for us, the work completed has been excellent.’

‘Sam Newhouse is excellent across the board.’

‘George Venables punches so far above his weight – it is beyond impressive.’

Key clients

Anonymous Content


Centricus


Saudi Research and Media Group


Crossroads Live, Inc.


DAZN


Eon Productions


KKR


Moonbug Entertainment Limited


Pinewood Studios


Studiocanal


TeamViewer


Univision


Warner Bros


Lee & Thompson LLP

Steered by television head Richard Lever and film head Christos Michaels, Lee & Thompson LLP regularly handles financing arrangements for a range of high-profile productions, as well as inbound studio investments. Key media finance specialists within the team include Sam Tatton-Brown – noted for his representation of major banks – and Stephen Spence, who routinely acts for both financiers and production companies.

Practice head(s):

Richard Lever; Christos Michaels


Other key lawyers:

Sam Tatton-Brown; Stephen Spence


Key clients

Head Gear


Lorton Entertainment


Amy Jackson


National Bank of Canada


Lookout Point


Studio 99


Zephyr Films


Firebird Pictures


Cornerstone Pictures


Media Finance Capital


Work highlights


  • Acted for producer, Amy Jackson on her Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning film, Aftersun.
  • Advising Studio 99 in connection with its production of a documentary series on the life of David Beckham.
  • Acted for Lorton Entertainment on the Apple TV backed two-feature length documentaries, “Boom! Boom: The World vs Boris Becker” about the tennis player and his life, handling the finance, distribution and key elements of the production.

Simkins LLP

Simkins LLP's wide-ranging media finance expertise covers the financing of film and television productions, the structuring and documentation of equity investments, and finance agreements including loan, security and inter-party arrangements. Practice head Jonathan Blair is a regular advisor to leading UK producers and production companies as well as international distributors and financiers. Managing partner Euan Lawson is also recommended; his recent work includes strategic investments and the financing of catalogue acquisitions.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Blair


Other key lawyers:

Euan Lawson; Astrid Bulmer


Testimonials

‘When our directors are in panic mode, Euan Lawson will respond with a calm and thoughtful clear view,  resolutely moving forward with constructive resolution.’

‘Euan Lawson is a highly intelligent and experienced commercial lawyer.’

‘To adapt the lyrics from the late great Tina Turner – Simkins are ‘Simply the best, Better than all the rest’.

‘A big strength seems to be not only the diversity of knowledge within the firm as a whole, but their flexibility in bringing in different lawyers for specific contracts/cases. Astrid Bulmer is so incredibly efficient! Her speed and efficacy make such a difference to my line of work and it’s the main reason I will continue working with her. Astrid operates with a level of transparency I appreciate – I have never been surprised by the cost of a project. Astrid obviously has a great relationship with her partner, Jonathan Blair. He regularly comes onto our calls giving advice on larger matters – I have always found him willing to engage and incredibly knowledgeable.’

Key clients

Coutts & Co


MBK Productions


Blue Jean Productions


Erebus Pictures


Milo The Cat


Raw Television


Rockerdale Studios


Universal Music Group


Work highlights


  • Advising MBK Productions on the financing of One Life, the biographical film of British humanitarian, Nicholas Winton, starring Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn and Helena Bonham Carter.
  • Acting for MBK on the financing of The Convert, an action drama directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Guy Pearce and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
  • Advising Coutts & Co on the financing of various television programmes.

Preiskel & Co LLP

Under the leadership of Peter Dally and Hannah Leader, Preiskel & Co LLP specialises in the financing, production and exploitation of filmed content for feature films and television, as well as independent and studio-based distribution arrangements. The team, which also includes associate Maria Constantin, is a regular port of call for film and television producers and financiers, as well as distribution, sales and rights acquisition companies.

Practice head(s):

Peter Dally; Hannah Leader


Other key lawyers:

Maria Constantin; Xavier Prida


Key clients

Buffalo Pictures Limited


Dopamine


Thomas Kubr


Holofcener Limited


Work highlights


  • Advice to Buffalo Pictures on the production of all of its filmed content, including the second season of “Islands of the Pacific” and the tenth season of “Doc Martin”, among others.
  • Advised Dopamine in its capacity as financier on the high-end British three-part drama TV series “Granite Harbour” which was commissioned by the BBC, produced by LA Productions and distributed internationally by Eccho Rights AB.
  • Assisting Holofcener Limited with drafting an option and acquisition agreement, as well as dealing with various IP issues, for producers of the feature film about the life of famous female boat racer Betty Cook.