DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Lee & Thompson LLP

Media & Entertainment

17 ranked lawyers

Band 1

UK-wide

UK 2022 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Lawyers

Chambers Review

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What the team is known for

Eminent media and entertainment boutique firm with market-leading film, TV and music practices. Acts for independent film and TV production companies, distributors and financiers. Its music department advises global artists and breakthrough talent, songwriters and producers on a host of commercial and contentious matters. Maintains a specialist group of media and entertainment litigators. Noted strength in matters related to digital content across all areas of media and entertainment. Acts for well-known brands and leading agencies on commercial, contentious and regulatory advertising and marketing matters. Houses noted experts on the video games industry.

Strengths

A source says: "They recognise the commercial objectives clients are trying to achieve and accommodate these within a legal framework," adding: "They view themselves as part of your inner team and communicate extremely well."

Clients say the lawyers have "unbelievable industry experience and technical knowledge."

Interviewees report:"They are super responsive, always accessible and very reliable; they very much go above and beyond."

Work highlights

Represented Katherine Jenkins in all matters related to her Albert Hall concert film 'Katherine Jenkins: Christmas Spectacular', including rights and distribution agreements.

Notable practitioners

Andrew Thompson has a fantastic roster of talent clients built over a long career advising on the music industry. He is one of the firm's founding partners and continues to assist with commercial and contractual agreements for composers, producers, managers and artists.
"He really knows his stuff, is sensible, well connected and really understands the music business.""Andrew is very charming; he puts clients at ease and people like working with him because he is very down to earth."

Anwen Griffiths handles a variety of finance and production issues in the film sector.
"She is good technically, efficient and very dedicated.""Anwen is really personable and will work hard for clients."

Christos Michaels leads the firm's film practice. He acts for financiers, distributors and sales agents as well as UK and international producers and studios large and small.
"Christos is highly experienced, really well networked, returns calls immediately and has his finger on the pulse.""He is really practical and wants to get the job done."

Dominic Bray is head of the dispute resolution department at Lee & Thompson. His contentious media practice covers contractual disputes, advertising clearance, sponsorship work, IP litigation and regulatory compliance.
"Dominic is very clear, to the point and very pragmatic in his recommendations for how to approach a matter."

Gordon Williams represents talent and industry clients in all manner of contract, copyright and brand litigation. He has extensive experience supporting clients in the USA with cross-border matters.
"He is a totally unflappable and charming individual.""Gordon is very thorough."

Huw Morris advises on the full span of copy clearance, intellectual property, commercial and regulatory matters. His clients include brands and advertising agencies, as well as high-profile individuals involved in social media campaigns and partnerships.
"Huw is incredibly collaborative and has a great understanding of clients' needs.""He is very commercial, attentive and proactive."

Julian Ward represents a number of videogame developers and publishers in a variety of matters, including contractual, corporate and intellectual property issues.
"Highly knowledgeable, very responsive and pragmatic.""Julian is very client-focused."

Lawrence Engel leads the firm's music practice. He is the relationship partner to many of the best-loved UK artists to have emerged in recent years.
"Lawrence is very commercial.""He is very good with clients and an absolute joy to work with."

Lee Stone advises producers, financiers, post-production houses and distributors on all facets of film production and finance. He is well versed in dealing with the international aspects of producing and financing projects based in the USA.

Lizzie Payne-James is lauded for her work as a talent-side legal and commercial adviser to emerging music acts. Her particular niche lies in supporting break-out artists in the UK urban and grime scene.
"Lizzie really puts the work in to build up the relationship with a client and negotiates fiercely on their behalf, all the while being affable and nice to work with.""She is bright, personable and good at what she does."

Mark Stafford is best known as a music litigator and acts for artists, agents, record labels, management companies and publishers in contract disputes of all kinds. He is further recommended for copyright and trade mark litigation.
"Mark is very calm, measured and strong in his approach.""He shows attention to detail, writes beautifully and clearly, and gets the work done on time."

Mike Brookes is a seasoned media litigator recommended for all manner of commercial and copyright infringement disputes. He also leads the firm's reputation protection team and acts on behalf of a number of high-profile music clients in defamation cases.
"Mike is particularly approachable and reasonable, and knows what he is doing."

Nicki Parfitt represents corporate clients from all sides of the film and television industries, including financiers, sales agents and production companies. She is one of the UK's leading experts in sales and distribution due to her previous in-house experience in this sector.
"Nicki has a really good understanding of deals and the different elements to them, and she sees the whole picture, knowing which issues to pursue and which don't matter."

Reno Antoniades is the firm's managing partner. He is recognised as one of the country's leading film lawyers, advising on finance and myriad production, sales and distribution agreements.
"Reno is very personable, really experienced, very well connected and also supportive as he manages clients' anxieties well."

Richard Lever leads the firm's TV practice. He is relied upon by production companies and talent-side clients for all facets of production finance and the commercial arrangements required to bring shows to people's screens.
"A very good negotiator."

Robert Lee has a long and successful track record as an adviser to both artists and record labels. He has worked with independent, up-and-coming and internationally popular acts, advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters.
"Robert Lee has good strategic knowledge.""He knows so much and focuses on the important things."

Sam Tatton-Brown is a leading expert on film and TV finance, advising banks, investment companies and production houses and OTT platforms. He is also recommended for advice on television programme commissioning.
"Sam is very diligent and really thinks of all the angles of a deal and anything that may have been missed."

Department Information

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Overview

Whatever the challenge, issue or requirement, Lee & Thompson provides unparalleled legal and commercial advice to the media, technology, entertainment and the wider creative industries.

With a team of more than 50 lawyers dedicated to this sector, the firm is at the top of its game, its expertise spanning all major areas of media and entertainment, from film, music, television, art, theatre and live events to publishing, marketing & advertising, digital media, fashion and technology.

Since 1983, Lee & Thompson’s remarkable team has been at the forefront of media law and represents some of the most impressive businesses and talented individuals in the creative industries.

A true one-stop-shop, Lee & Thompson also offers clients the full range of corporate, employment, IP, brand and reputation protection and dispute resolution services.