Ranking tables

Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious | UK

UK-wide

The section caters to clients in the media industry in respect of contentious and non-contentious matters. We rank firms by specialist expertise in tables for Film & Television; Advertising & Marketing; Music, Theatre & Live Events; Publishing; and Games, Interactive Entertainment and Social Media. Individuals are ranked relative to one another by specialism.   Non-contentious work as covered by this section may include production, financing and distribution arrangements, as well as IP, licensing and supplementary rights planning.   Types of disputes in this area are many and may include copyright and contractual litigation (eg on behalf of studios, producers, publishing houses or talent), matters arising from film finance, comparative advertising and ASA disputes.   Please note that defamation actions are not considered in our publishing rankings; please submit such matters to the Defamation/Reputation Management section. The Publishing rankings do however consider matters concerning pre-publication clearance, reporting restrictions and press regulation.   Related sections: Defamation/Reputation Management

All Lawyers profiles

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Senior Statespeople

  1. Andrew Forbes
    S
    Andrew Forbes
    Contentious Music | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Senior Statespeople | 20 Years Ranked
    Andrew Forbes is the founder of Contentious Music. He is a legend in music litigation and is relied upon by major music publishers and artists. He acts as a sole practitioner but also works as a consultant at Bray & Krais on some matters.
1

Band 1

  1. 1
    Andrew Sharland
    Clintons
    Clintons | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 1 | 27 Years Ranked
    Andrew Sharland leads the firm's dispute resolution practice. He is a celebrated music litigator who acts largely for record and management companies in all manner of contract and licensing disputes.
  2. Steven Tregear
    1
    Steven Tregear
    Russells
    Russells | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 1 | 24 Years Ranked
    Steven Tregear heads Russells' litigation team. He has a legendary client list and comes highly recommended for IP, contract, partnership and public image disputes.
2

Band 2

  1. Gordon Williams
    2
    Gordon Williams
    Lee & Thompson LLP
    Lee & Thompson LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2 | 24 Years Ranked
    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.
  2. John Reid
    2
    John Reid
    Level
    Level | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2 | 20 Years Ranked
    John Reid of Level is a consummate media lawyer, best known for his representation of artists, estates and celebrities in all manner of commercial and privacy disputes. He also advises on a wide range of non-contentious business matters, including employment advisory, immigration and reputation management matters.
  3. Mike Brookes
    2
    Mike Brookes
    Lee & Thompson LLP
    Lee & Thompson LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2 | 24 Years Ranked
    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.
  4. Paddy Gardiner
    2
    Paddy Gardiner
    Simkins LLP
    Simkins LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2 | 16 Years Ranked
    Paddy Gardiner leads Simkins' dispute resolution team. He is a music litigator highly regarded for his work across a broad range of contentious matters, particularly copyright and breach of contract disputes.
  5. Rachel Alexander
    2
    Rachel Alexander
    Wiggin LLP
    Wiggin LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Rachel is very accessible and engaged in her work and always provides clear, commercially relevant advice. She takes into account the concerns and drivers of her clients and is a forceful litigator.
  6. Simon Goodbody
    2
    Simon Goodbody
    Bray & Krais
    Bray & Krais | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    Simon Goodbody leads the dispute resolution practice at Bray & Krais. He is a rising music litigator recommended for commercial and copyright disputes.
  7. Mike Shepherd
    Cadence Solicitors LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. 3
    Karim Bouzidi
    Clintons
    Clintons | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Karim Bouzidi has experience acting for talent clients in contentious mandates. He is adept in dealing with disputes relating to intellectual property and contractual matters.
  2. Mark Stafford
    3
    Mark Stafford
    Lee & Thompson LLP
    Lee & Thompson LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3 | 7 Years Ranked
    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.
  3. Martyn Bailey
    3
    Martyn Bailey
    Lee & Thompson LLP
    Lee & Thompson LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3 | 12 Years Ranked
    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.
  4. Phil Sherrell
    3
    Phil Sherrell
    Bird & Bird
    Bird & Bird | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3 | 12 Years Ranked
    Phil Sherrell leads the international media, entertainment and sport group at Bird & Bird. He has significant expertise in music copyright disputes. He represents many blue-chip clients in the sector.
  5. Steven Corney
    3
    Steven Corney
    CMS
    CMS | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3 | 12 Years Ranked
    Steven Corney is a media litigator with an impressive roster of music, broadcasting and digital media clients. He is highly recommended for copyright infringement, commercial, royalty and tortious disputes.
  6. Tom Iverson
    3
    Tom Iverson
    Simkins LLP
    Simkins LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3 | 8 Years Ranked
    Tom Iverson is acknowledged for his growing contentious media practice. He has experience advising on copyright infringement claims, band member disputes and breach of contract litigation, as well as reputation protection matters.
  7. Catherine Fehler
    Hamlins LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3
  8. Martin Ochs
    Hamlins LLP | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Band 3

Associates to watch

  1. Blake Wilner
    Clintons
    Clintons | Media & Entertainment: Music: Contentious
    2025 | Associates to watch | 1 Years Ranked
    Blake Wilner's previous career as a professional musician provides him with invaluable knowledge of the workings of the music industry. He has a busy practice acting in a range of disputes for musicians, production companies and rights owners.