Abigail Payne > Harbottle & Lewis LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Harbottle & Lewis LLP Offices
7 Savoy Court
LONDON
WC2R 0EX
England
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Abigail Payne
Work Department
Film and TV
Position
Abigail is a Partner in the Film and TV Group providing advice on all aspects of development, finance, production and distribution of feature films and television programmes and exploitation of ancillary rights. Particular expertise is in advising film funds, EIS schemes and structuring international co-productions and providing advice on tax incentives (including the film and high-end TV and animation production tax credits), and international subsidies for a wide international client base of producers, distributors, broadcasters, exhibitors, agents, insurance companies and artists.
Her recent highlights include:
- Advising Marv Studios on the production and financing of the film Tetris, starring Taron Egerton, directed by Jon Baird, which will be available on Apple TV, including the arrangements between Marv and Access Industries, Union Bank, the completion guarantor and Apple.
- Acting for Sir Terry Pratchett’s estate on the co-production arrangements with BBC Studios for the television series The Watch based on the Discworld novels written by Sir Terry Pratchett produced in 2020.
Career
- Trained Theodore Goddard; qualified 1995;
- Business Affairs Executive BBC (Drama) 1995-97;
- Associate Harbottle & Lewis 1997 to current, Partner 2002.
- Won Legal 500 TME Individual of the Year 2019 (London)
Languages
French
German
Memberships
- BAFTA
- New Producers Alliance
- Women in Film & Television
Education
- Bath University (BA European Studies with French and German Hons);
- Nottingham Trent University (CPE; LSF).
Leisure
Polo, tennis, skiing and yoga
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
(Leading Individuals)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.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
Under the leadership of Sarah Lazarides, Harbottle & Lewis LLP guides global giants such as Apple and Netflix through high-profile productions, with advice ranging from financing and production to distribution and exploitation. The team also undertakes varied work for UK indies, such as Box to Box Films, acting with equal measure on scripted and unscripted productions, as well as well-known celebrities and rightsholders. Other recommended individuals include Jonathan Berger and Abigail Payne, renowned for their expertise in digital content and structuring international co-productions, respectively. Local language production specialist Hannah Wylie joined in December 2022.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading Individuals London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- Media: Film & TV London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Media: Media finance London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Theatre, publishing and other media
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Video games
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
Firm Rankings
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Private client > Family
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
- Employment > Senior executives
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- Employment > Immigration
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate > Residential property
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- Industry focus > TMT
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- Employment > Employers