Mark Loosemore > Hugh James > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

With a core sector-specific offering which is led by the ‘exceptional’ Aled Walters, as well as the ability to effectively leverage the relevant expertise across the firm’s full-service offering, Hugh James ‘provides a 360-degree legal service’ to a myriad of stakeholders in the sector, running the gamut from advice on co-production agreements through to IP matters and financing arrangements. Walters has a ‘deep understanding of the media sector’ gleaned through private practice as well as his former role in-house at national broadcaster S4C; consequently he has tremendous insight into the nuances of the sector, regularly advising large UK-based television and film production companies across a range of complex commercial and corporate matters. ‘Professional’ and ‘very knowledgeable’ solicitor Ilan Jones, who was also formerly in-house at S4C, aids Walters with contractual and compliance mandates. The arrival of the ‘exceptional’ Mark Loosemore  in July 2023 (following the absorption of his former firm Loosemores Solicitors) has also given the team an extra dimension, given his ‘strong legal credentials across the wider sports industry’ and the relevant media work within that sector, including advice on sponsorship and licensing agreements. Consultant solicitor Sara Griffiths retired in October 2023.

Although Hugh James previously had a not insignificant presence in the sector, it was the merger with sports boutique Loosemores Solicitors in July 2023 that truly propelled the firm to the pinnacle of the market, ensuring that clients, be they governing bodies, rights holders, sponsors or individual sportspeople, can count on a multidisciplinary offering provided by a large full-service team, as well as niche pure sports-focused expertise. ‘Exceptional’ team head Mark Loosemore draws upon ‘sharp commercial acumen’ gleaned from his many years’ expertise in the sector, both in-house and in private practice, and has ‘a deep understanding of sports law’, including on relevant regulations, contractual issues, intellectual property rights and general commercial matters. Other key practitioners include ‘very astute lawyer and tactician’ Tracey Singlehurst-Ward, who has deep expertise of dispute resolution mechanisms specific to the sports industry, and Gerallt Jones, who regularly handles corporate and commercial work for sports clients, including Welsh Rugby Union. Banking and finance head Dominic Marshall provides support in financial matters while Karl Thomas aids with employment procedures and contracts in this sector. Rebecca McCarthy left the firm in June 2024.

Led by the ‘knowledgeable and helpful’ Aled Walters, Hugh James has ‘an excellent understanding of legal issues relating to IP’. Formerly in-house at national broadcaster S4C, Welsh-speaker Walters has an excellent insight into IP issues within the media sector, and is also noted for his prowess within the gaming space, including for IP licensing agreements. IP litigation work is spearheaded by Tracey Singlehurst-Ward, who as well as handling copyright and trade mark disputes also has niche media law expertise and oversees a considerable amount of sports-related IP disputes work, including for governing bodies. The firm’s merger in July 2023 with boutique law firm Loosemores Solicitors also enhances its credentials in the sports and media sectors, particularly in light of Mark Loosemore‘s expertise in the space.

Leveraging a ‘good depth of professional knowledge’ throughout the team, Hugh James provides ‘highly attentive and commercially minded’ advice to an impressive roster of longstanding regional heavyweight corporate clients, including S.A Brain & Company and Rockwool, on their ongoing commercial requirements as well as on ad-hoc corporate transactional work. The firm’s already strong presence in the sports and media sectors were recently enhanced following the merger in July 2023 with boutique firm Loosemores  Solicitors, with that firm’s name partner Mark Loosemore  a leading expert on work in the sector. The ‘strong, pragmatic and commercial’ Gerallt Jones  also handles a considerable volume of sports-related transactions as part of his broad-based corporate/M&A skillset, including a considerable amount for longstanding client Welsh Rugby Union. Greg Williams is ‘a good communicator and provides high levels of sector expertise’, particularly in the context of healthcare-related M&A deals, as well as work for investors in the life sciences sector. Aled Walters , who heads up the commercial side of the practice, is particularly acclaimed for his work negotiating complex commercial contracts for clients in the media, tech and gaming sectors.