Simkins LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘Simkins is unquestionably one of the leading specialist teams in this sector. They have extensive experience and a detailed understanding of this field and the music industry generally. There are few firms who can match them.’

‘I have worked in particular, on a number of matters over the years, with Paddy Gardiner and Tom Iverson. They are both outstanding practitioners in this area. They are highly experienced and knowledgeable, with excellent strategic and tactical judgment.’

‘A diverse team with a wealth of experience including some lawyers that have been artists and previous record company managers. Delivering a personal service and guidance through contract negotiations. They are able to provide a full service to cover all aspects of contract negotiations covering commercial and corporate matters. ’

‘Ed Weidman is highly knowledgeable and understands the complexities of recording agreements and any other media-related commercial contracts. Having had practical experience working with record labels and artists previously he is able to provide advice across all elements of a contract including corporate issues. If there’s anyone you would want in your corner during contract negotiations – Ed is your man!’

‘Simkins provides a personal service, with lawyers at all levels being approachable and available. Euan Lawson and Rachael Heeley have been very helpful with commercial music matters, Paddy Gardiner and Jessica Welch have provided us with great support in litigation matters.’

‘Simkins is a centre of excellence for copyright and music. They represent talent and industry players at the highest level. They have a deep understanding of the working of this business together with preeminence in the law underpinning it. This combination is unusual and compelling. Simkins covers all the ground one would normally expect from a full-service law firm but can also answer the really hard questions that that few in industry can grasp with such certainty.’

‘I have worked with Euan Lawson, Ed Baden-Powell and Stuart Smith. These guys really know their stuff and they get deals done. They take an open minded view of transactions and contribute tactically helping clients make decisions and adding value. They are not just about identifying the risks – they really understand the opportunities too. They can offer wide ranging advice across a host of specialisms.’

‘The Simkins music team has almost unrivalled sector expertise – there is nothing they don’t know about music law! They have a stellar client list, ranging from emerging talent to global icons, and from self-releasing artists and composers to the major record labels and publishers and the UK music collective management organisations. They are able to provide high-quality, pragmatic, commercial advice on the knottiest of issues.’

‘Great sector knowledge and bespoke service.’

‘We have recently instructed Stephen Cartwright on a few digital related matters and he has been very helpful and knowledgeable. ’

‘I found Ed Baden-Powell to be extremely knowledgeable in relation to Advertising Standards Agency investigations, process and procedure. This was extremely helpful in enabling my clients to ensure they were acting appropriately and putting their best case forward. His advice and guidance on this matter was commercial, clear and helpful and gave ourselves and our clients a good deal of confidence.’

‘The practice is unique because they are very accessible, light on their feet, extremely knowledgeable yet able to communicate in a simple and digestible way. They are patient and equable. The company is clearly diverse.’

‘I worked primarily with Juliane Althoff who was fantastic. Juliane rose to every challenge and dealt with some really difficult people and scenarios on my behalf. She is knowledgeable, easygoing and very precise in detail.’

‘Simkins provides a great range of experience and skills within the division so all areas of film production are covered.’

‘Jonathan Blair has always delivered great work – he’s got an excellent knowledge of the film finance world and knows when to push for more for producers. I would highly recommend him.’

‘Simkins provides an excellent all round production finance and production legal service and can draw on expertise within the firm on music and employment.’

‘Jonathan Blair is the senior partner who has a wide knowledge base on all matters relating to production finance and production, and provides smart and commercial advice. He is brilliantly assisted by Juliane Althoff.’

‘The team at Simkins has an amazing knowledge of the film industry and is also speedy to respond and react with a very good work ethic and attitude.’

‘I have worked with Juliane Althof, Astrid Bulmer and Jonathan Blair and all have been a joy to work with.’

‘The practice is unique because lawyers are accessible, very light on their feet, extremely knowledgeable yet able to communicate in a simple and digestible way. They are patient and equable.’

‘I worked primarily with Juliane Althoff who was fantastic. Juliane rose to every challenge and dealt with some really difficult people and scenarios on my behalf. She is knowledgeable, easy going and very precise in detail.’

‘Ben Gisbey is hugely experienced and advises breakthrough and established artists as well as producers.’

‘Excellent experience in the music and TV sectors and extremely capable in preparing and negotiating agreements.’

‘The team is very personable and patient with me. Always willing to take the time to explain things further. ’

‘I think their service and professionalism is first class. They are experts, yet human. They are brilliant partners to work with.’

‘Jon Oakley and Gideon Benaim have proven themselves to be excellent, trustworthy, rational and thoughtful colleagues to partner with in complex and sometimes difficult cases.’

‘Exceptionally dedicated professional team providing quality advice at all times and are prompt to respond.’

‘The team is knowledgeable, well connected, well informed, friendly, efficient and very impressive. In all my interactions with them, I feel that I am getting the highest quality service possible.’

‘I primarily work with Gideon Benaim and Jon Oakley. I work with a lot of professional advisers, and I have yet to find any which beat these in their level of dedication, knowledgeability and enthusiasm to find and deliver the best outcome for me as their client. ’

‘A strong team with a much healthier and more honest ethos than that of some other media law firms. Does not always recommend a weaponised approach: they are interested in helping clients achieve happy outcomes. Cultivates long-term and trusted relationships with clients across the creative and entertainment media industries; much more than sabre-rattlers for hire.’

‘Gideon Benaim is a true expert on all facets of reputation law. Formulates differentiated advice and never fails to stand behind it.’

‘Giao Pacey is an excellent lawyer. Having worked on the other side to her on a deal, she is commercial, very strong technically, and works collaboratively to get the deal done in the most efficient way, ignoring unnecessary point scoring and focusing on the details that matter to the respective parties.’

‘Collaborative, pragmatic, and good people to deal with’

‘Giao Pacey is first-rate. Collaborative, sensible, and on top of her brief.’

‘Giao Pacey listens and quickly understand the client’s business and its needs. She is a brilliant negotiator, extremely able, and fantastic at explaining complicated legalese to a non-legal person.’

‘The two individuals I dealt with at Simkins were exceptional. They had specific industry knowledge and skills and were prepared to work cross-border. Their approach was collaborative while still protecting their clients’ interests.’

‘Stuart Smith and Giao Pacey not only employed their undeniable skills to getting the job done, they also engaged with good grace and humour.’

‘ The team is responsive, only requiring short notice when crises arise. They are technical experts and knowledgeable, but also commercial and pragmatic, as well as personable and easy to work with.’

‘Simkins has a special atmosphere. I am particularly impressed by the company’s outreach. They hold regular events, from contracts seminars to awards ceremonies and screenings, which simultaneously give a sense of their high standing within their field but also how comfortable they are when it comes to presenting the firm to the outside world.’

‘I have worked closely with Ed Weidman who has been exceptionally generous with his time, diligent and perceptive about the issues which have been most important to me. Overall they have always been able to navigate any part of the law which has been relevant and immediately known how to handle challenging situations. This has been a great resource for myself and my clients.’

‘A polite and professional team that work extremely efficiently to get the job done. In my case we reached a positive outcome. This wasn’t guaranteed, but was achieved through their extreme hard work and due diligence.’

‘Ed Weidman worked tirelessly to help us achieve a positive outcome. He was professional, hard-working and polite. He was completely knowledgeable about our subject matter and very thorough with his work. I couldn’t recommend a lawyer more; he’s a very safe pair of hands to look after your needs.’

‘Caroline Copeland is smart and indefatigable on complex commercial contract negotiations. Helena Franklin feels like one of our in-house team, a really pragmatic commercial lawyer. Ed Baden-Powell is one of the nicest partners anywhere and super smart for those knotty IP issues.’

‘Simkins have an excellent niche family law practice, punching considerably above its weight with the cases and clients that it handles.’

‘Deborah Jeffs is a savvy and experienced operator who understands cases extremely well and gives sensible advice to clients early on.’

‘Excellent knowledge and experience. Providing industry leaders in different areas of law.’

‘Deborah Jeff is exceptional in the care and compassion she extends to her clients, alongside the deep subject matter expertise she possesses.’

‘A solid firm which has everything under control.’

‘Deborah Jeff displays excellent client management and is very organised.’

‘Very responsive and dedicated practice, highly experienced trademark practice, always gets best results even in difficult cases.’

‘Jim Dennis is outstanding, providing very helpful advice and he is highly efficient in achieving the goals of the clients.’

‘Simkins is unquestionably one of the leading specialist teams in this sector. They have extensive experience and a detailed understanding of this field. There are very few firms which can match them.’

‘I have worked in particular, on a number of matters over the years, with Paddy Gardiner and Tom Iverson. They are both outstanding practitioners in this area. They are highly experienced and knowledgeable, with excellent strategic and tactical judgement.’

‘Their deep expertise in music, film and other entertainment law means they are in many of the largest cases.’

‘Paddy Gardiner is one of the top copyright and music litigators in the UK. He is a dream lawyer for any client: clever, pleasant, even-tempered and consistent. Always a voice of calm and reason.’

‘Tom Iverson has a blue-chip entertainment and reputation practice. His charm and sense of humour bely an extremely keen intellect and commercial nous.’

‘Top notch player in IP in the media and entertainment field. You won’t go wrong with them.’

‘The employment team attracts some of the most challenging commercial employment disputes, evidenced by it successfully obtaining high court injunctions to protect the businesses and assets of its media and entertainment clients.’

‘Andrew Czechowski led on the High Court Employment issues. He is a rising star in employment disputes (whether in the High Court or employment tribunal) with tremendous tactical and commercial nous.’

‘Susan Thompson is a strategic thinker who consistently uses her expertise to find the way to get the very best results for her clients. Her confidence and ability gives reassurance to clients in the most stressful situations.’ 

‘Andrew Czechowski is extremely highly regarded in High Court business protection litigation as well as multi-party Employment Tribunal disputes. He had the experience and intellect to put a case before a Court or Tribunal in the most persuasive (often unanswerable) terms. He leaves no stone unturned.’

‘Humans who are approachable, professional and full of common sense.’

‘Sensible, cost-effective, easy to follow advice from Susan Thompson.’

‘It has been an absolute delight working with the Simkins team. They are our first choice for support with all employment cases. We have always felt in safe hands with Simkins, and they are incredibly robust in giving us advice and guidance for all of our employment matters.’

‘Andrew Lloyd is kind, diligent, and works very hard to tailor advice and guidance to us to suit both our culture and values of the organisation to ensure that we’re not only legally compliant, but are holding individuals at the heart of our decisions. Andrew is always available and on hand when needed.’