Media

The media and entertainment industry covers a diverse mixture of business activities ranging from pop promos and recording deals to complicated tax structuring for the financing of blockbuster films or slates. The law surrounding this industry is equally varied.

As the entertainment and media industries concentrate into a handful of multi-national media empires, media businesses increasingly turn to the major international legal practices to advise on worldwide transactions involving corporate and rights acquisitions, global product development, licensing and distribution. The ability to provide legal capability in areas such as finance, tax and competition law is increasingly important and unlikely to be found within many of the traditional providers of entertainment and media legal advice.

Our media expertise

Our media group comprises lawyers with experience in the intellectual property, financing, tax, corporate, technology, dispute resolution, real estate and regulatory arenas across an international network of offices.

International media "majors", artists, financiers, newspaper empires and independent film and television companies have all sought the advice of our dedicated international media law team. With many of our lawyers having worked in-house or on secondment in media businesses our media group has in-depth capability across the principal areas likely to be of relevance to clients within this industry, whether you are engaging in the acquisition of significant catalogues, creating rights, financing your business or engaging in advertising or sponsorship as a means of marketing and enhancing awareness of your products or services.

Our clients include broadcasting giants, independent radio, film and television companies, agents, event organisers, record labels, music distributors and publishers. We advise on broadcasting agreements with satellite operators and cable companies, TV and film co-production arrangements and music recording and licensing deals. We also work closely with FRAPA, the Format Recognition and Protection Association, on the protection of rights in television formats.