Lee & Thompson LLP, Media & Entertainment | Chambers UK Profile

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About

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

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, 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 offers clients the full range of corporate, employment, immigration, IP, brand and reputation protection and dispute resolution services.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Media & Entertainment: Music - UK-wide

1

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Lee & Thompson is an eminent media and entertainment boutique firm with market-leading film, TV and music, theatre and live events practices. The firm 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. The firm maintains a specialist group of media and entertainment litigators. It is noted for strength in matters related to digital content across all areas of media and entertainment. The team acts for well-known brands and leading agencies on commercial, contentious and regulatory advertising and marketing matters. The firm additionally houses noted experts on the video games industry.

View ranking table

Work Highlights

Lee & Thompson advised McDonald's on the Stormzy campaign. Work consisted of negotiating agreements to enable McDonald's to create an exclusive "Stormzy" branded menu and negotiating cameo appearances.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They have a really detailed and wide ranging understanding of deal structures both nationally and internationally. We continuously receive expert and solutions-focused advice.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

Their strength is the depth and breadth of knowledge. Lee & Thompson deals with so many types and sizes of productions, I feel reassured that they will offer advice based on experience.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

The team possesses multi-territory knowledge and network. They have in-depth commercial knowledge clearly acquired from advising on a range of deals in this area.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

Their guidance on all legal matters has been well informed and has helped us find solutions in countries around the world. It seems every time we encounter a new hurdle, L&T has someone for the job.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

They excel at distilling complex legal analysis into the simpler black and white risk assessed issues essential for commercial decision-making.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

They have a really detailed and wide ranging understanding of deal structures both nationally and internationally. We continuously receive expert and solutions-focused advice.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

Their strength is the depth and breadth of knowledge. Lee & Thompson deals with so many types and sizes of productions, I feel reassured that they will offer advice based on experience.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

The team possesses multi-territory knowledge and network. They have in-depth commercial knowledge clearly acquired from advising on a range of deals in this area.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

Their guidance on all legal matters has been well informed and has helped us find solutions in countries around the world. It seems every time we encounter a new hurdle, L&T has someone for the job.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

They excel at distilling complex legal analysis into the simpler black and white risk assessed issues essential for commercial decision-making.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

S

Andrew Thompson

S

Senior Statespeople

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.

S

Robert Lee

S

Senior Statespeople

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.

E

Reno Antoniades

E

Eminent Practitioners

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 strong and benefits from having been intimately involved in the production process of movies.

1

Christos Michaels

1

Band 1

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.

He instils absolute confidence.

He plays at a very high level and is very pleasant to deal with.

Christos has been a great supporter of the company from the outset. He provided advice and support during a period of sustained growth, helping us to navigate various market challenges along the way.

1

Lawrence Engel

1

Band 1

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.

He has a phenomenal practice.

1

Richard Lever

1

Band 1

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.

Richard is super-conscientious, commercially savvy and genuinely concerned about the level of support he and his team provide. He has a great team around him too.

2

Gordon Williams

2

Band 2

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.

Gordon has a fantastic brain. He is very analytical, has fantastic knowledge of copyright and contract law, a good bedside manner and good communication.

2

Huw Morris

2

Band 2

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 a pleasure to work with.

Huw has been an excellent business partner to our company and is a key factor in us using the firm.

He is a great advertising lawyer, he is very commercial and knows the risks.

2

Julian Ward

2

Band 2

Julian Ward represents a number of video game developers and publishers in a variety of matters, including contractual, corporate and intellectual property issues.

He is good with the clients and is very approachable. He brings that key knowledge of the industry and listens carefully to different perspectives. He very much integrates into the team.

Julian gets his hands dirty. He is always available and plays almost a pastoral role.

Julian is an excellent lawyer and has great and valuable experience in gaming. I have no hesitation recommending him to others.

2

Mike Brookes

2

Band 2

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 Brookes is a well-established practitioner who doesn't put a foot wrong.

3

Dominic Bray

3

Band 3

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 an expert litigator and a true lawyer but with an excellent commercial sense.

3

Lizzie Payne-James

3

Band 3

Lizzie Payne-James is lauded for her work as a talent-side legal and commercial adviser to both emerging and established music acts. She also frequently acts for companies such as independent record labels and boutique agencies.

3

Mark Stafford

3

Band 3

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 Stafford is an astute, hard-working astute litigator.

3

Martyn Bailey

3

Band 3

Martyn Bailey has a flourishing media dispute resolution practice, with particular expertise in the music industry. He is experienced in a range of copyright issues as well as professional negligence and partnership disputes.

Martyn gets top-quality music industry work, he really understands the business and is tremendously responsive and hard-working.

Martyn Bailey attracts very high-profile clients in the media business and is a very important part of their creative offering.

3

Nicki Parfitt

3

Band 3

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 is experienced, tough, fair and effective. She has an extensive network and provides crisp clarity to issues we face, helping us solve problems together.

We have complete confidence in Nikki's expertise on film and TV.

3

Sam Tatton-Brown

3

Band 3

Sam Tatton-Brown is a leading expert on film and TV finance, advising banks, investment companies, production houses and streaming platforms. He is also recommended for advice on television programme commissioning.

4

Lee Stone

4

Band 4

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.

Lee has a good understanding of the business. He knows the market very well, is connected and has a good handle on what's happening internationally and in the domestic market.

He is an excellent all-rounder, solid and super experienced.

Lee Stone is an excellent all-rounder, solid and super-experienced.

U

Sam Goodman

U

Up and Coming

Sam Goodman leads the firm's theatre and live events practice, advising production companies and writers on talent contracts, stage rights, branding and licences for immersive experiences. He is also recommended for tax relief and structuring advice for mounting big-ticket shows.

Sam Goodman offers absolutely amazing service and knowledge of the theatre world.

Sam is great colleague to have in our corner.

Sam is an excellent lawyer who always goes the extra mile to help us with our negotiations and drafting.

Filter by

UK-wide

Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing

2

Huw Morris

2

Band 2

3

Dominic Bray

3

Band 3

Media & Entertainment: Film & Television

E

Reno Antoniades

E

Eminent Practitioners

1

Christos Michaels

1

Band 1

1

Richard Lever

1

Band 1

3

Nicki Parfitt

3

Band 3

3

Sam Tatton-Brown

3

Band 3

4

Lee Stone

4

Band 4

Media & Entertainment: Games, Interactive Entertainment & Social Media

2

Julian Ward

2

Band 2

Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious

2

Gordon Williams

2

Band 2

2

Mike Brookes

2

Band 2

3

Mark Stafford

3

Band 3

3

Martyn Bailey

3

Band 3

Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious

S

Andrew Thompson

S

Senior Statespeople

S

Robert Lee

S

Senior Statespeople

1

Lawrence Engel

1

Band 1

3

Lizzie Payne-James

3

Band 3

Media & Entertainment: Theatre & Live Events

U

Sam Goodman

U

Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

Alastair Mavor

Andrew Thompson

Antony Swiatek

Carrie Finlay

Christos Michaels

Head of Department

Damian McParland

Frania Cooper

Gordon Williams

Johan Ewing

Head of Department

Lee Stone

Lizzie Payne-James

Luke Carey

Malcolm Murray

Marek George

Martyn Bailey

Michael Lucas

Nick Swimer

Reno Antoniades

Head of Department

Sam Goodman

Sam Tatton-Brown

Stephen Spence

Tim Fowler

Will Everitt

Industries

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

Advertising & Marketing

Creative Industries

Digital Media

Fashion

Film

Interactive Entertainment

Live Events

Media

Music

Publishing

Sport

Technology

Television

Theatre

Videogames