Stephen Saltzman > Fieldfisher > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Fieldfisher Offices

RIVERBANK HOUSE
2 SWAN LANE
LONDON
EC4R 3TT
England
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Stephen Saltzman

Work Department
Head of International Entertainment Group, Media
Position
Head of International Entertainment Group, Media
Career
Stephen has extensive experience in domestic and international transactions in the entertainment and media industries. He focuses on innovative and complex international distribution, co-production, and co-financing transactions as well as cross-border transactions involving the creation, production, financing, and/or exploitation of content, and brand building.
Stephen advises a broad range of clients across the media and entertainment spectrum, including US, European and Asia-based producers, production companies, studios, theme park operators, distribution companies, broadcasters, digital content companies (including esports teams), banks, film funds, directors, talent, and authors. Recent engagements include the representation of DZ Bank in connection with the co-financing of “Those About to Die”, one of the highest budgeted independently financed television series, assisting See-Saw Films in an innovative partnership with Michael Ende Productions to adapt the Michael Ende novel “The Never-Ending Story”, representing Tokyopop in connection with an anime production financing transaction with MBC Group, and advising various production companies on GenAI use cases and related copyright and contract language issues.
Before moving to London from Los Angeles, Stephen regularly appeared on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Power Lawyers Top 100” list and on Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report”, and frequently participate as a featured speaker and panellist in seminars and symposiums in the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition to my US and Asia experience, I utilise my language capability in connection with my German-speaking practice, which has been profiled in various German publications.
Memberships
Stephen serves as the Non-Executive Chair of Snipple Animation in the UK and as a member of the Advisory Council to Asia Society of Southern California.
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
(Leading partners)A popular destination for financiers and production clients alike, Fieldfisher fields a strong media finance practice that draws on its international network to advise on multijurisdictional deals, including international media finance transactions. The team has been particularly active in the structuring of co-financing and co-production deals, but its wide-ranging expertise in the sector also extends to M&A involving the film and TV industries and media-related tax issues. Co-head Stephen Saltzman handles a mix of international distribution, co-production and co-financing transactions. Fellow co-leader Carlton Durrant focuses on M&A, joint ventures and fundraising matters. Tim Johnson is a longstanding expert in media finance, with over 30 years’ experience in advising US clients on complex film and TV finance structures and rights licensing arrangements. Senior associate Alice Taylor works closely with Durrant on deal structures for corporate acquisitions of film and TV production companies.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
Standing out for its expertise in financings and corporate-focused matters in the film and television spaces, Fieldfisher has a strong track record in M&A transactions and joint ventures, rights licensing arrangements, and production and distribution issues. Clients of the firm also benefit from its specialist media tax team and strong capabilities in contentious matters. Stephen Saltzman, who leads the media and entertainment practice, excels in transactional work and AI-related issues, while Carlton Durrant is the go-to name for corporate finance and M&A in the film and TV sectors. An authority in the media and entertainment market, Tim Johnson possesses a wealth of experience in international co-productions, rights licensing, and distribution deals.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading partners London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- Media: Media finance London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Media: Film & TV London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: claimant
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Franchising
- Employment > Senior executives
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: corporate and commercial
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- Insurance > Personal injury: claimant
Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Real estate > Construction: contentious
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Finance > Derivatives and structured products
- Corporate and commercial > Equity capital markets – small-mid cap
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: civil
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Digital content & social
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Investment fund formation and management > Retail funds
- Dispute resolution > Tax litigation and investigations
- Finance > Trade finance
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: premium
- Real estate > Construction: non-contentious
- Private client > Court of protection
- Industry focus > Emerging markets
- Employment > Employee share schemes
- Employment > Health and safety
- Public sector > Healthcare
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Video games
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Mining and minerals
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys
- Employment > Pensions (non-contentious)
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Finance > Securitisation
- Private client > Art and cultural property
- Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: contentious
- Dispute resolution > International arbitration
- Employment > Pensions: dispute resolution
- Real estate > Property finance
- Risk advisory > Regulatory investigations and corporate crime (advice to corporates)
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Real estate > Commercial property: investment
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Corporate and commercial > Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals)
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Finance > Corporate restructuring & insolvency
- Employment > Immigration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport