Aled Walters > Hugh James > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Led by Aled Walters , who was formerly in-house counsel at S4C, Hugh James is noted for its ability to ‘manage all aspects of the legal framework surrounding IP in the media industry’.  On the contentious front, the ‘exceptional’ Tracey Singlehurst-Ward excels in handling media-related defamation matters, as well as being adept at representing clients on copyright and trade mark infringements, breach of confidence and passing off matters.

Hugh James regularly handles IT-related contract work for UK-wide and international clients in the financial services, utilities, gaming, infrastructure and defence sectors. Team head Aled Walters  is at the forefront of much of this, including his ongoing representation of major gaming company, Novomatic, across a range of its commercial matters, including contractual drafting. On the contentious front, Tracey Singlehurst-Ward provides a ‘considered and balanced approach’ across a range of contractual disputes in the TMT sector.

Leveraging the expertise of lawyers from across the firm’s corporate and commercial, litigation and employment practice areas, in particular, Hugh James is ‘capable of delivering first-class advice across all aspects of the media and entertainment sector’. Drawing upon his rich experience in private practice, as well as in his former role as head of legal at S4C International, team head Aled Walters  has deep and broad knowledge across a myriad issues facing clients in the sector, and is recognised by one client as: ‘perhaps the leading media lawyer working in Wales’. The arrival of solicitor Ilan Jones from S4C further enhances the team’s offering in the space in light of his commercial contract experience (including on co-production agreements), as well as his knowledge of commercialisation of content and broadcast compliance issues. In summer 2023 the firm acquired Cardiff-based boutique Loosemores, which is known for providing ‘constructive guidance and advice’ to clients across the spectrum of core media and entertainment contractual matters. Mark Loosemore provides ‘commercial and thorough’ advice to both large and small sporting governing bodies across a range of matters including on sponsorship and licensing agreements. Consultant solicitor Sara Griffiths effectively draws upon her experiences in private practice, as well as in-house at S4C, to good effect to advise across a range of contractual matters including content commissioning and production for film and television.

Benefitting from ‘good experience in the local market’, Hugh James has, over the years, developed deeply rooted relationships with a number of high-profile domestic businesses/institutions, including S A Brains and Development Bank of Wales, ensuring a steady flow of ongoing day-to-day corporate/commercial instructions, as well as M&A matters. Many of these mandates have involved disposals to UK and international-based entities, including its recent work for S A Brains on the sale of its remaining stake in coffee shop chain Coffee #1 to Caffè Nero. ‘Calm and sensible’ team head Gerallt Jones  led on the aforementioned mandate and is noted for his transactional and general corporate and commercial support advice to clients within the sports and food and beverage sectors, with the Welsh Rugby Union a particularly visible client. The ‘exceptionally knowledgeable’ Greg Williams has private equity expertise for investees and investors, particularly within the life sciences sector, work which he combines with his role as head of the firm’s dedicated healthcare group – which frequently sees him engaged in acquisitions and sales of pharmacies and dental practices. The ‘commercially astute’ Aled Walters heads up the commercial side of the practice, which has garnered particular acclaim for its expertise at negotiating complex commercial contracts for clients in the media, tech and gaming sectors. In summer 2023 the firm acquired boutique Cardiff-based firm Loosemores, taking on a team which works with range of corporate and commercial matters for clients in the sport, media and entertainment, charities and technology sectors. The ‘very professional and diligent’ Siôn Tudur  has a good reputation for handling corporate transactional work, particularly for clients within the SME spacem, working alongside the ‘very personable’ Mark Loosemore, who has a focus on commercial contracts work for sports clients.

The gaming, betting and licensing team at Hugh James is well regarded for its IP licensing, and sports betting and licensing work. Engaged by both land-based and online clients, the unit is also equipped to handle an array of domestic and international commercial, regulatory and compliance work across. Practice head Aled Walters, who divides his time between Cardiff and London, is active across business purchase agreements in foreign jurisdictions.  Cardiff-based Martin Jones  is well acquainted with matters involving anti-money laundering regulations.

Aled Walters leads a dedicated rail team at Hugh James, which supports rail operators and the wider rail industry on a broad range of issues such as procurement, dispute resolution, construction and project work. It is well-placed to represent major operators, franchises and contractors.