For the team at Burges Salmon LLP, broadcasting is a key area of expertise. The group advises on television and film broadcasting rights and television programme clearance issues, names and logos. The group also has significant expertise in intellectual property, with clients in the media and music sectors. Advertising and marketing are another area of specialism, and the team advises a range of corporates on regulatory issues arising from campaigns and sponsorships. The department is jointly led by Jeremy Dickerson and Helen Scott-Lawler. Newly promoted partner Emily Roberts has a strong media disputes practice, while Georgina Shaw is the name to note for trade mark issues.
Media and entertainment in South West
Burges Salmon LLP
Practice head(s):
Jeremy Dickerson; Helen Scott-Lawler
Other key lawyers:
Emily Roberts; Georgina Shaw; Richard Hugo
Key clients
BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)
BBC Studios Ltd
Discovery Channel
Sam Branson / Sundog Pictures
Eurosport
Virgin Group (including Virgin Enterprises Limited, Virgin Media, Virgin Care)
Glastonbury Festival
Endemol Shine
20th Century Studios (Disney subsidiary, previously 20th Century Fox)
Play Sports Network (owner of Global Cycling Network)
Work highlights
- Advising Sam Branson & Sundog Pictures on their major media joint venture with Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, including the docu-series to be hosted by the Clintons and based on their Book of Gutsy Women.
- Acting for the BBC and BBC Studios on all UK and EU trade mark applications and registrations.
- Advising Discovery, Inc on new UK channel launches, programme names and content, merchandising opportunities and third-party trade mark infringement issues.
Osborne Clarke LLP
Osborne Clarke LLP's team is best known for its national and international regulatory expertise, advising clients on digitalisation strategies and production issues. During the Covid pandemic, the group advised ITV on safely returning to television production, drawing on its expertise in health and safety. Another key area of strength is advertising and marketing, and the team advises an impressive range of multinational media companies on advertising policy. Broadcasting and digital content producers, which the team advises on their output, also make up an active part of the client base. The interactive entertainment team is led by Tom Harding, a commercial transactional lawyer with expertise in the monetisation of entertainment products. Mary Lawrence is a specialist in commercial and regulatory disputes and now leads the health and safety practice. Associate Elliott Prentiss is developing a specialism in GDPR issues.
Practice head(s):
Tom Harding
Other key lawyers:
Mary Lawrence; Elliott Prentiss
Key clients
Discovery
Netflix
Facebook, Instagram
ITV
Miniclip
Bandai Namco
Vice Media
Publishers Association
Disney
News UK
The & Partners
DAZN
Work highlights
- Advised Facebook and Instagram on multiple commercial and regulatory matters over the last year as well as providing Facebook Gaming with eSports advice.
- Advising ITV on preparing guidelines to be used in the TV production industry to permit filming during Covid which were endorsed by other public service broadcasters and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (as their relevant government department).
- Advising online games site Miniclip on all commercial and regulatory aspects of its business.
Ashfords LLP
Ashfords LLP's practice includes advising on television production and adtech contracts, as well as advertising and marketing, rights clearances, pre-production issues and rights exploitation. Key partner Tom Phipps also has expertise in data protection and privacy issues.
Practice head(s):
Tom Phipps
Key clients
Aardman Animations Limited
Michael Caines
Alexander Blackman (“Marine A”)
Post Office
Sectorlight
Institute of Physics Publishing
Ginsters
Work highlights
- Advising Alexander Blackman (known as “Marine A”), who was convicted of murdering a Taliban operative while on active duty, on media matters, including throughout the period of his appeal against his murder conviction and its ultimate reduction to manslaughter, and the subsequent negotiation of his contract with a literary agent and ghost writer.
- Advising property industry PR and marketing company Sectorlight on various matters, including a promotional campaign regarding the development into residential accommodation of a former cinema in Ealing and various overseas luxury developments.
Battens Solicitors Limited
Lawyers at Battens Solicitors Limited have a strong pedigree in media and entertainment matters, advising on IP rights issues for content creators and producers across the country. The group is led by Brian Levine, who has extensive experience in distribution agreements. Dispute resolution lawyer Peter Livingstone regularly assists media and entertainment clients with commercial litigation.
Practice head(s):
Brian Levine
Other key lawyers:
Peter Livingstone
Key clients
Mallinson Sadler
Michel Haddi
Beacon Chill Music Festival
Work highlights
- Advising award-winning Bristol-based producer Mallinson Sadler Productions on all matters relating to the financing, production and broadcast of two multi-series prime-time documentaries on major terrestrial and pay TV channels worldwide.
- Acting for French photographer Michel Haddi in protecting and promoting his portfolio of work.
Foot Anstey
Foot Anstey's Exeter-based media and entertainment team is noted for its expertise in the digital publishing, film and television, and advertising and agency arenas. The group has significant regulatory knowledge, advising on legal issues arising from content and its distribution. While the team saw the departures of Tony Jaffa, who left to found his own outfit, and Neil Parkes, who moved to Lewis Silkin LLP, in 2020, practice head Peter Singfield and Alexandra Leonidou remain key contacts. Singfield focuses on publishing and commercial disputes, with a particular interest in intellectual property and brand protection issues, while Leonidou is an expert in data privacy and advertising law.
Practice head(s):
Peter Singfield
Other key lawyers:
Alexandra Leonidou; Annalisa Checchi
Key clients
Sky UK Limited
Netflix
HarperCollins UK
Future Plc
Conde Nast & National Magazine Distributors Limited
Reach PLC
The Independent and Evening Standard
Newsquest Media Group
Silvergate Media Limited
Ministry of Sound Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for Netflix in a high-profile £9m claim against a landlord of film studios.
- Advised a major media organisation on the implementation of the 2020 Children’s Code published by the Information Commissioner’s Office, which will require major changes to the client’s consumer-facing products including apps, online services and digital broadcast services.
- Continuing to act for the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) in representing members such as Disney, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures, Paramount, Universal and Netflix, and the members of the ACE, in connection with the protection and enforcement of film and TV content being unlawfully made available online.
White Jackman
White Jackman is a media and entertainment boutique based in Plymouth, which has an impressive roster of television and digital media production company clients. ‘Extremely knowledgeable in legal matters in the media sector‘, the group provides a wide range of services, including advising on programme and content compliance, co-production arrangements, business affairs issues, reputation management and title searches, in addition to intellectual property issues associated with formats and programming. Founding partners Duncan White and Tim Jackman take the lead, demonstrating significant media industry experience.
Practice head(s):
Duncan White; Tim Jackman
Testimonials
‘White Jackman is one of our key go-to practices for commercial and production support. The firm is well versed in the type of content we produce and is adept at supporting our needs as effectively and efficiently as possible.’
‘Duncan White is like an extended member of our team, supporting both day-to-day production needs and any curveballs as they may arise. He is a valued sounding board, offering sage counsel and advice.’
‘Duncan White is a skilled and experienced media lawyer with sound knowledge of the television production industry.’
‘This team is an invaluable partner in all our work, whether it be television or corporate. Their knowledge of the media industry is invaluable as it enables contracts to be approved quickly and with a good understanding of what changes, if necessary, can be made.’
‘We have found White Jackman extremely knowledgeable in legal matters in the media sector, and responsive and capable on diverse topics from fair dealing of copyright material under criticism and review to complex contracting of tie-in book deals.’
‘As the client one of the best things about the firm is you get really excellent, practical advice at a very reasonable price. This is a godsend – all too often good advice comes with an eye-watering price tag that is unsustainable for an us. White Jackman is fantastic value for money.’
‘I found Tim Jackman to be highly professional and very personable, which is a good combination in a lawyer. The work he did was excellent – he was pragmatic, solution orientated and concentrated on the material aspects of the matter while not jeopardising the deal by taking small, insubstantial points as matters of import. He is technically very competent and his availability was also very good.’
‘Tim Jackman is pragmatic and commercial. He provides clear advice, remains unflustered and exudes confidence.’
Key clients
Label1 Television Limited
Appeal TV Limited
Oxford Scientific Films Limited
Brinkworth Productions Limited
72 Films Limited
South Shore Productions Limited
Beagle Media Limited
Boom Cymru TV Limited
Rebel Television and Media Limited
Forest Ventures Limited
Gritty Pearl Productions Limited
TedxBristol Limited
Outline Productions Limited
Salamanda Media Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Label1 Television on all matters relating to the pre-production, production and broadcast of Hospital: Fighting Covid-19, a two-part special on the BBC.
- Provided legal and business affairs support to 72 Films, the producers of The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty, a three-part documentary on the BBC.
- Advised Twofour Broadcast on all matters relating to the pre-production, production and broadcast of Educating Greater Manchester, a four-part series on Channel 4.
Laceys
At Laceys, the team advises music, film and social media industry clients on contractual and intellectual property rights issues. The group is led by Sam Freeman.
Practice head(s):
Sam Freeman
Other key lawyers:
Natasha Jones
Steer & Co
Noted for its 'deep sector expertise', Steer & Co is entirely focused on the media, creative and digital content production industries, with clients including live events businesses and film and television production companies. 'Exceptional' founding partner Rebecca Steer is an expert in commercial agreements relating to licensing and royalties, as well as broader intellectual property issues.
Practice head(s):
Rebecca Steer
Testimonials
‘A small team who know their clients inside out.’
‘Rebecca Steer is exceptional. Always available to speak to and nothing is ever too much trouble.’
‘I have great confidence in the sector expertise of this practice.’
‘Very personal and explains legalese in an accessible way whilst at the same time demonstrating deep sector expertise and also pragmatism. Rebecca Steer is the standout partner we have dealt with.’
Key clients
vvast
A Productions
Calling The Shots
Ambitious
Calvium
Firehaus
Great State
Gravitywell
Splash Worldwide
Lobster Pictures
Aspect Films
Team Love
Work highlights
- Advised Aspect Films on the licence and royalty models for the use of voice-over artists’ works in films, as well as on archive obligations for historic footage held by Aspect, and the development of a new business model for the charging and storage of footage for new film productions.
- Advised Calling The Shots on the clearance of rights and the securing of an option agreement to use a deceased artist’s artwork in future feature films, as well as on the Random Acts and New Creatives partnerships with Arts Council England, Channel 4 and BBC Arts.
- Advised Team Love on a range of matters relating to the cancellation and postponement of live music events in and around the South West.