Nicki Parfitt > Lee & Thompson LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Lee & Thompson LLP Offices
80 Charlotte Street
LONDON
W1T 4DF
England
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Nicki Parfitt

Work Department
Film and TV.
Position
Nicki trained at the city firm Denton Hall and, after qualifying in 1993, spent two years in their media department specialising in publishing and libel law and also acting for a number of film and television production and distribution companies.
In 1996, Nicki joined Pearson Television and became Head of Legal and Business Affairs for Pearson Television Productions in continental Europe and Latin America.
In 1998, she was appointed as the Head of Legal and Business Affairs and a Board Director of Portman Entertainment Group (now Digital Rights Group). During this time Portman established itself as a prominent packager, executive producer and sales agent of international feature films and television drama programming and Nicki developed an expertise in the financing, production and distribution of high profile UK and international productions and co-productions.
Nicki joined Lee & Thompson as a partner in April 2001. In 2006 she left to pursue another role as a director in the film sales sector and returned to the firm as a partner in 2011. She represents a number of financiers, sales agents and production companies. Her sales agency work is unique in that it is unprecedented for a private practice lawyer to have worked so extensively within the film sales sector as well as running a film sales agency.
Career
Qualified 1993; partner Lee & Thompson 2001.
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
Lee & Thompson LLP‘s media finance practice has considerable experience in assisting banks with the financing of film and TV productions. Other types of financiers – including private equity firms, providers of post-equity finance, as well as post house and non-bank financiers – also turn to the team for assistance with media finance transactions as do producers, with the group often acting as production counsel on films. Sam Tatton-Brown leads the practice and is the go-to for film and TV financings. Christos Michaels assists finance clients with film-related financing issues. Nicki Parfitt represents a mix of financiers, sales agents and production companies, while Johan Ewing advises on the setting up and structuring of film and TV companies and projects. Sarah Cundall is the key associate to note, whose areas of expertise cover the financing, development, production and distribution of film and TV productions. Anwen Griffiths left the firm in March 2024.
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
(Leading partners)Leading production companies turn to Lee & Thompson LLP for specialist advice on both national and international film and TV matters, including financing, production and distribution issues. Recent highlights included advising on award-winning TV series and films, such as “The Zone of Interest” where film and TV expert Reno Antoniades acted as executive producer. Christos Michaels leads the firm’s film practice and advises on a myriad of production matters, while Richard Lever leads the TV group, handling a mix of financings and commercial arrangements. Nicki Parfitt, a name to note for film sales agents, distributors, financiers, and production companies, heads up the internal film and TV department. Recently promoted partner Luke Carey is especially active in the film industry, while Antony Swiatek is known for his work with producers. Anwen Griffiths left the practice in March 2024.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading partners London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- Media: Film & TV London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
- Media: Media finance London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Media finance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
Firm Rankings
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Video games
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Employment > Senior executives
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design