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Lee & Thompson LLP
Department profile | Lee & Thompson LLP
Media & Entertainment: Music

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, 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, 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 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.

Work Highlights

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

  • Lee & Thompson advised James Wilson across the development, production, financing, sale and distribution of The Zone of Interest.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

The team has superb commercial knowledge and a holistic consideration of the client's business.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

L&T distinguish themselves through their ability to manoeuvre complex legal situations swiftly and dependably, while maintaining an aptitude for practical solutions rather than over-lawyering.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

I have absolute faith that they always act in the best interest of my clients and do their due diligence. They are super reliable and provide prompt responses.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

They understand the entertainment industry at such an intimate level that it helps guide our clients to make good strategic business decisions. They have expertly handled every issue.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

They are specialists in this area and so provide clear advice in a very efficient manner. They have been practising in this area for a very long time and so carry authority.

Media & Entertainment: Music respondent
UK

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Andrew Thompson
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.
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Robert Lee
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.
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Reno Antoniades
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 an outstanding Oscar-winning lawyer and executive producer.

Reno is very impressive.

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Christos Michaels
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.

Christos has fantastic knowledge and experience. He is a joy to work with.

It is always a pleasure to work with Christos.

Christos is a brilliant lawyer and a better man.

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Lawrence Engel
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.

Lawrence is very commercial and works very hard for his clients to get them the best possible deals.

Lawrence is very commercial and knows what to focus on.

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Richard Lever
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.

In my view, Richard is the top TV lawyer in the UK.

Richard is a market leader in the television space.

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Gordon Williams
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.
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Mike Brookes
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.

In an environment which is populated by big egos, Mike is refreshingly down to earth, sensible and easy to work with.

Mike is a brilliant clearance lawyer who has helped us out numerous times in some difficult situations.

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Dominic Bray
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 has served the agency world extremely well and has a very close relationship with us.

I have a lot of respect for Dominic and he is a very nice guy.

Dominic is very knowledgeable about our industry. I trust his approach and advice.

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Huw Morris
3
Huw Morris
3
Band 3
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 great help to us.

Huw is very active in the broader advertising and marketing industry.

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Julian Ward
3
Julian Ward
3
Band 3
Julian Ward represents a number of video game developers and publishers in a variety of matters, including contractual, corporate and intellectual property issues.

Julian is very valuable in terms of strategy and approach.

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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.

Lizzie knows the music industry inside and out and is very good technically too.

Lizzie is a very good lawyer with a very good profile.

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Mark Stafford
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 is excellent. He is very efficient and gets straight to the point.

I have relied on Mark for years and I will continue to rely on his services for years to come.

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Martyn Bailey
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 Bailey is a good tactician and understands what litigation can achieve.

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Nicki Parfitt
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 approachable and extremely knowledgeable.

Nicki is a true fountain of knowledge - admirable, diligent and a pleasure to work with.

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Sam Tatton-Brown
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.

What he doesn't know about financing isn't worth knowing.

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Lee Stone
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 is our main partner and has de facto become a crucial part of our organisation. He is always dependable and very commercially minded.

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Liv Lyons
4
Liv Lyons
4
Band 4
Liv Lyons is sought after for her expertise in branding deals on behalf of high-profile music talent, and in media rights licensing more widely. She also acts for talent agencies and management companies.

Liv really understands the industry and is a pleasure to work with.

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Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Thompson LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK-wide

Media & Entertainment: Advertising & Marketing
Dominic Bray
3
Dominic Bray
3
Band 3
View Profile
Huw Morris
3
Huw Morris
3
Band 3
View Profile
Media & Entertainment: Film & Television
Reno Antoniades
E
Reno Antoniades
E
Eminent Practitioners
View Profile
Christos Michaels
1
Christos Michaels
1
Band 1
View Profile
Richard Lever
1
Richard Lever
1
Band 1
View Profile
Nicki Parfitt
3
Nicki Parfitt
3
Band 3
View Profile
Sam Tatton-Brown
3
Sam Tatton-Brown
3
Band 3
View Profile
Lee Stone
4
Lee Stone
4
Band 4
View Profile
Media & Entertainment: Games, Interactive Entertainment & Social Media
Julian Ward
3
Julian Ward
3
Band 3
View Profile
Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
Gordon Williams
2
Gordon Williams
2
Band 2
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Mike Brookes
2
Mike Brookes
2
Band 2
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Mark Stafford
3
Mark Stafford
3
Band 3
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Martyn Bailey
3
Martyn Bailey
3
Band 3
View Profile
Media & Entertainment: Music: Non-contentious
Andrew Thompson
S
Andrew Thompson
S
Senior Statespeople
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Robert Lee
S
Robert Lee
S
Senior Statespeople
View Profile
Lawrence Engel
1
Lawrence Engel
1
Band 1
View Profile
3
Lizzie Payne-James
3
Band 3
View Profile
Liv Lyons
4
Liv Lyons
4
Band 4
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Members

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

Alastair Mavor

Andy Florence

Antony Swiatek

Carrie Finlay

Christos Michaels

Christos Michaels

Head of Department

Damian McParland

Frania Cooper

Johan Ewing

Lawrence Engel

Lawrence Engel

Head of Department

Lee Stone

Leo Dawkins

Liv Lyons

Luke Carey

Malcolm Murray

Marek George

Martyn Bailey

Richard Lever

Richard Lever

Head of Department

Sam Goodman

Stephen Spence

Tim Fowler

Will Everitt

Industries

Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP

Advertising & Marketing

Art

Creative Industries

Digital Media

Fashion

Film

Interactive Entertainment

Live Events

Media

Music

Publishing

Sport

Technology

Television

Theatre

Videogames