Russells Solicitors is a music specialist firm that regularly assists talented individuals, such as artists and actors, in addition to film and TV production companies, with film and TV mandates. The firm handles both contentious and non-contentious issues for independent production companies and advises on the full lifecycle of film and TV productions, assisting clients from development and financing, to production and distribution. Key disputes the firm has expertise in handling include film-to-stage adaption disagreements involving complex licensing arrangements. Music expert Gavin Maude leads the team, which is home to Simon Esplen, who handles commercial transactions for biopics and documentaries for artists and bands, and Henry Priestly, who is the disputes go-to, acting for film production companies and talent.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Simon Esplen has long been my go to lawyer at Russells. We have negotiated many deals together over the years big and small and I trust him implicitly, his personal attention to detail and ability to operate over many different areas is exemplary.'
- ‘I have been working with Russells for over 30 years. We have worked together on music, film and book deals with great success.’
Key clients
- Estate of George Michael
- Estate of Amy Winehouse
Work highlights
Advised the Estate of George Michael on the development, production, and distribution and exploitation of Wham! Last Christmas Unwrapped.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Gavin Maude
Other key lawyers
Henry Priestly; Alex Cole; Anna Ling; Simon Esplen; Simon Jordan