Media & Entertainment
Overview

We have extensive experience of providing creative professionals from all areas of the media industry, including theatre, film, television, music and publishing, with comprehensive legal advice.

We advise producers on the acquisition of rights, development of projects and financing requirements, as well as all writers’ and cast agreements for straight plays, musicals, ballets and operatic productions. We have experience of dealing with the transfer of productions from Broadway and European cities to the West End stage, and the licensing of productions and rights to countries all over the world, including to Europe, China and South Korea. All of our advice is underpinned by our highly sought-after strategic guidance and production planning.

We advise on the validity, clearance and acquisition of rights for films and television programmes and series. We also deal with all agreements for the pre-production and production, financing and distribution of films and television programmes that are being shot in England or internationally.

Our work with music industry clients covers management agreements, recording and music publishing agreements. We also advise upon the acquisition and licensing of rights, touring and financial agreements, dealing with disputes arising for and against managers and agents, the collection and distribution of royalties, defamation and copyright infringement.

We seek and negotiate merchandising agreements for private individuals, and negotiate opportunities and conclude agreements if your business is seeking merchandising and franchising agreements.

Our head of media and entertainment, Brian Eagles, is an established arbitrator (ACIarb) and CEDR-qualified mediator and is regularly called upon to act as such. He is an arbitrator on many panels and one of the UK appointees to act in arbitrations under the auspices of the International Film and Television Alliance.

We advise on all aspects of copyright, including acquisition, assignment, licensing and dispute resolution. We can also advise you on your IP position and conduct IP audits designed to control and maintain your valuable intellectual property rights, which often form a significant and valuable element of your company.

We register UK and European trademarks. Our team also helps with registrations across the rest of the world, thanks to the worldwide connections that exist within our wider Burlingtons Group.

We deal with all types of media project-financing for individuals, businesses, banks and investors. We are called upon by banks considering liquidation or insolvency steps to make sure the rights over which they have a charge are not lost by the actions they wish to take.