Hamlins LLP has boosted the strength of its music practice through its acquisition of boutique music firm Swan Turton LLP, adding Catherine Fehler, Julian Bentley, and Stuart Barry to its team. Fehler is a disputes expert focused on IP, defamation, and privacy, Bentley represents independent record companies, music publishers, and artists, and Barry centres his practice on commercial music law. The firm is well-known for its specialism in advising UK music collecting societies with contentious music requirements. It also stands out for its work on music merchandising and counterfeiting, where it assists clients with carrying out raids across the UK and Europe of manufacturers of infringing band and artist merchandise. IP advice is also a key area of the practice, and spearheading the group is Martin Ochs, who is trusted by music societies as outside counsel and acts for music publishing and merchandising clients in counterfeiting issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has unparalleled experience advising the media sector.'
‘Martin Ochs is a hidden gem. What he doesn't know about copyright law is not worth knowing!’
‘Fantastic service from the music team Julian Bentley, Stuart Barry, Harmony Kennedy and Catherine Fehler. These individuals provide a bespoke service to a highly respected and specific client with their in-depth knowledge of the music industry.’
‘Attention to detail, client knowledge, tenacity, sensitive to client's needs, great working relationship with artist management, efficiency, industry expertise.’
‘Martin Ochs is a hugely experienced, practical commercial lawyer in this field who provides extremely solid and useful advice.’
‘Longstanding client which provides a stream of work in the music sphere, primarily on behalf of collecting societies.’
Key clients
- Phonographic Performance Limited
- Performing Right Society Limited
- PPL PRS Limited
- George Lowden Guitars
- TRAP
- David Nicoll
- Bravado International Group
- Danilo
- Sharleen Spiteri
- Zbigniew Preisner
- Louise Redknapp
- Melanie Brown
Work highlights
Assisted Phonographic Performance Limited and PRS For Music with enforcing its copyright on behalf of their members.
Assisted Trademark and Rights-holders against Piracy with coordinating both civil and criminal infringement actions on behalf of TRAP.
Represented The Estate of Peter Green, founder of Fleetwood Mac, since 2020.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Martin Ochs
Other key lawyers
Julian Bentley; Stuart Barry; Harmony Kennedy; Catherine Fehler