Hugh James is well-versed at handling a range of media and entertainment work, including advice on contracts and rights issues, as well as in the context of corporate and financing transactions in the sector. Himself formerly head of legal at S4C, team head Aled Walters has an excellent understanding of the commercial and legal needs of media clients and is regularly instructed by tv production companies to negotiate and draft commercial contracts, including on production and rights agreements.
Media and entertainment in Wales
Hugh James
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Key clients
Wildflame Productions Limited
Avanti Media Limited
Welsh Government
4 Wood Group Limited
Location Solutions Limited
F X Hire Limited
Cwmni Da Cyf
Dragon Studios Limited
Keolis Amey Operations Limited
Work highlights
- Advised on the contracts, documents and rights position for its new multimillion-pound production for Viacom/Smithsonian called “True Vikings”.
- Advised Cwmni Da on numerous complex co-productions, including “Rain Stories” with various coproduction partners, Northern Ireland Screen, LDC China and Creative Scotland.
- Picking up work for new client 4 Wood Group, a major UK-based set building company for TV and film, including advising it on a new contract with Disney for the production of sets for its major new production, TrapperKeeper.
Loosemores Solicitors
The ‘very approachable, practical and knowledgeable’ team at boutique Cardiff-based firm Loosemores Solicitors includes a number of ‘practitioners at the top of their game, applying real world experience’ to clients across the spectrum of core media and entertainment contractual matters, including advice on sponsorship arrangements, film and television production and distribution agreements. Drawing upon ‘a wealth of knowledge about the media sector in Wales’ – from her time in-house at S4C as well as in private practice – Sara Griffiths has developed an excellent insight into the different requirements of the stakeholders involved in the industry. The ‘highly networked and commercial‘ Mark Loosemore also regularly handles media-related matters for his impressive roster of sports clients.
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Testimonials
‘They are very professional, timely and empathetic.’
‘Always very approachable, practical and knowledgeable.’
‘Perhaps the best media and entertainment team in the region, with practitioners at the top of their game, applying real world experience.’
‘Mark Loosemore leads from the front, and is highly networked and commercial.’
‘Sara Griffiths has a wealth of knowledge about the media sector in Wales.’
‘I have mainly worked with Sara Griffiths and have always found her to be professional, clear, extremely fair and committed.’
Key clients
Football Association of Wales
Welsh Sports Association
Studio Collective
Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru
Chwarel
Tarian Cyf
Cynhyrchiadau Twt
Coracle Productions Ltd
Pat Younge
Daring to Dream
Horse & Country TV
Welsh Athletics
Global Welsh
Matter of Form/Diffusion Web
Live Like Louise (Trtle)
Work highlights
- Advised Teledwyr Annibynnol Cymru (TAC) on reviewing and updating the bank of standard industry agreements which TAC makes available to its members.
- Advised production company Chwarel on a range of matters relating to the Bafta winning Channel 4/S4C series ‘Great House Giveaway/ Ty am Ddim’ which is in its third series.
- Advised the Football Association of Wales on various media and entertainment matters, including content commissioning, broadcast rights, and event staging agreements.
Acuity Law
At Acuity Law, consultant Angharad Evans is the main contact for media and entertainment matters. Benefiting from significant experience in private practice, as well as from her time as head of legal at S4C, Evans is particularly adept at advising clients in the film and tv sector on contractual matters, including on development and rights agreements.
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Testimonials
‘A fantastic team of professionals never afraid to go over and above for our business.’
‘We have always found Acuity to be an excellent firm which provides clear, quick and reliable advice that we can count on. The team we work with is always responsive and provides a clear direction on complex matters in which we require an expert opinion.’
Key clients
S4C
Bright Branch Media Limited
Darlun Cyf
Ie Ie Productions Limited
Kailash Limited
Little Bird Limited
Marshall Jones Music Limited
Merton Books Limited
Omeira Studio Partners Limited
Triongl Cyf
Solatots Limited
Theatr na nÓg
Severn Screen Limited
Dog Eat Dog Limited
Production Services London Limited
Finn Partners
Work highlights
- Advised Triongl Limited on the terms of a co-production agreement, broadcaster agreement and all production contracts for a back-to-back, Welsh/English production including actors, writers, composer, location and HoD agreements.
- Advised Omeira Studio Partners Limited on a tax credit advance valued at approx £1m.
- Completed two cross-border acquisitions for the US-based company Finn & Partners, including one business focused on healthcare.
Capital Law Limited
Combining IP, litigation and commercial contract expertise, in particular, Capital Law Limited provides a comprehensive service to a range of media and entertainment clients. Team head Wayne Beynon is best-known for his litigation expertise and in a media context this manifests itself in relation to core IP disputes, as well as defamation/malicious falsehood claims.
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Testimonials
‘Capital Law has helped us in a complex litigation case concerning cybersecurity. This case was extremely difficult, because it involved international operations and complex cybersecurity issues, including regulators and GDPR. They managed the case with extreme care, diligence and efficacy.’
‘Capital Law has been always available for us to explain where we were in every stage of a long and complex process. In our case, our team is very international, speaking different languages and cultures. They have been amazing at dealing with all this complexity and go the extra mile to help us understand and take the best decisions at every step of the way.’
Key clients
Handmade Films Group
Federation of Bridgend Primary Schools and Bridgend Association of Secondary Headteachers
Inbenta Technologies Ltd
Pixsy Inc.
Influence Digital
University of South Wales
Design Group
Rescape Innovations Limited
Gritty Realism Productions
British Medical Association
Work highlights
- Advised Handmade Films across a range of matters, from policing copyright infringement online to advising on, negotiating and drafting new licensing arrangements.
- Representing US-based technology company Inbenta as a Part 20 defendant following a data breach as a result of a cyber attack on Ticketmaster.
- Supporting Pixsy in their joint venture with FLICKR, whose premium service members can now instruct Pixsy to police and enforce their copyright protected work.