Lee & Thompson LLP fields a sizeable team working across a range of film and TV production issues. The film team is led by Christos Michaels, an expert in film financing, production, and distribution, and he often assists clients with multi-party, structured arrangements and streamer deals. Richard Lever heads up the TV team and is well-known for his expertise in creating talent-based TV production companies, financing TV projects, and commercial arrangements. Nicki Parfitt spearheads the international film and TV practice, representing a range of film financiers, production companies, film sales agents, and distributors in financing, production, and distribution mandates. Reno Antoniades boasts a wealth of experience in representing film and TV production companies, while Antony Swiatek is sought after by independent producers for assistance with financing, production, development, and exploitation of audio-visual projects. Luke Carey is also noted for his work in the film and TV sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Nicki Parfitt, Luke Carey and Laura Gibson have been the dynamic trio who deserve shout outs. Nicki is an absolute powerhouse who knows how to take charge and always provides helpful advice with a pragmatic point of view. Luke is an operator who handles the toughest cast deals with ease and always provides comfort in his steadiness. Laura is always prepared and quickly circles back with multiple helpful paths forward on any given challenge.’
‘They are fantastic in the media sphere and we would be lost without them as a company. They manage to maintain brilliant relationships across the board while protecting you in all deals, and efficiently getting through financial closings. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Antony Swiatek, Fi Tudur and Chloe Hutchings are phenomenal. They are smart, innovative, kind, efficient, and always a joy to work with.’
‘The firm has remained a specialist in media and entertainment and that is very helpful. They also have a really deep knowledge of the sector which brings both technical expertise for deal making and also a very detailed sense of going rates and other issues which may be live at the relevant time. The lawyers are working in fields for which they have a genuine interest and enthusiasm.’
‘Richard Lever is the eminent representative of independent producers in UK TV and is appropriately tough and ambitious for his clients but also very pragmatic. He has a fantastic set of contacts across the sector and great detailed knowledge of the business and the details of deals at the highest level.'
'Marek George is an associate but behaves like a partner, works at the highest level, always ready to roll his sleeves up and handles a huge workload with aplomb. Very efficient and firm when he needs to be.’
‘I think this team has a fairly unique understanding of the UK independent business. They are known rightly as the producers' lawyers and have a terrific knowledge across the business.’
Key clients
- Brookstreet Pictures
- Good Chaos
- Firebird Pictures
- BBC
- Sunnymarch Productions
- Severn Screen
- Element Pictures
Work highlights
Advised Warp Films on the financing and production of the television series "Adolescence".
Advised Sunnymarch Productions on the theatrical feature film project "We Live In Time".
Advised Brookstreet Pictures on the film 'The Brutalist'.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading partners
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Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Christos Michaels; Richard Lever; Nicki Parfit
Other key lawyers
Luke Carey; Laura Gibson; Antony Swiatek; Fi Tudur; Chloe Hutchings; Marek George; Johan Ewing; Reno Antoniades