David Deakin > Lewis Silkin > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Lewis Silkin Offices

Arbor
255 Blackfriars Rd
LONDON
SE1 9AX
England
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David Deakin

Work Department
Media & Entertainment
Position
Consultant. David is a commercial digital media and technology lawyer. He specialises in digital content and disruptive technology businesses operating online, on mobile and in social media. He has particular expertise in relation to video, magazine publishing and social media, and deals with content and technology creation, development and distribution along with consumer facing, marketing and regulatory issues. His expertise really lies in where all these elements converge. As such, he helps innovative businesses, whether they be in the media, retail, marketing or tech sectors, execute novel uses of content and technology to facilitate interactive, immersive and connected experiences. David is a partner in our Commercial; Brands & IP; and Data Privacy practice groups. David is a core member of our Media & Entertainment; and our Retail, Fashion & Hospitality sector focus groups; and also a member of our Advertising & Marketing; and our Technology sector focus groups.
Career
David qualified in 1996 and spent 3 years in private practice specialising in IP and IT. In 1999 he left private practice and spent over 12 years as an in-house lawyer in internet and media companies, including as Head of Legal for Digital Media at BBC Worldwide Limited (the commercial arm of the BBC). He returned to private practice in 2012, spending 3 years with Wiggin LLP, before joining Lewis Silkin in 2015.
Lawyer Rankings
London > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
The music department at Lewis Silkin continues to evolve with the industry itself, focusing on new technologies and digital. AI plays an important role in the firm’s practice, which excels in advising advising AI music companies and Web3 players on the use of AI, digital goods, tokens, AR and VR. The practice is retained by a diverse client roster comprised of labels, publishers, performing rights organisations, digital platforms, agents, streaming services and multi-channel networks, who turn to the team for assistance with copyright ownership and infringement disputes, catalogue acquisitions, live performance issues and joint ventures. Practice leader Cliff Fluet is the go-to lawyer for advice on AI, blockchain, NFTs, immersive entertainment and the metaverse. Jeremy Summers is a key contact for IP-related issues, while David Deakin assists with interactive entertainment and digital content matters. Lauren Stone is proficient in rights clearances for live events, the negotiation of talent contracts for awards shows, and also assists labels and publishers with securing rights for marketing campaigns. Michael Szlesinger focuses on music disputes, including infringements concerning copyright ownership, chain of title, and recording rights.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Employment > Employers
- Employment > Immigration
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Advertising & marketing
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Theatre, publishing and other media
- Employment > Senior executives
Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial > Commercial contracts
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Video games
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Artificial intelligence
- Real estate > Commercial property: development
- Industry focus > Hospitality and leisure
- 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: Digital content & social
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Patent attorneys
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > PATMA: Trade mark attorneys
- Real estate > Property litigation
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management
- Industry focus > Retail and consumer
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Franchising
- Real estate > Planning
- Risk advisory > Data protection, privacy and cybersecurity
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: patents (contentious and non-contentious)
- Corporate and commercial > Venture capital
- Industry focus > Life sciences and healthcare