Media and creative industries

The lawyers in the team are all extremely knowledgeable which allows them to thoroughly assess a situation and provide top notch advice.

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With long-standing experience of advising across the media, entertainment and creative industries, our multi-disciplinary team provides innovative solutions to both businesses and individuals. By leveraging the firm’s well-known strengths in the technology sector, our lawyers are able to advise clients on the latest developments in this evolving market, where new technology and traditional forms of media and entertainment intersect.

Our diverse practice group has stand-out expertise spanning advertising; film and TV; music; publishing; theatre and the performing arts; gaming and interactive entertainment; and social media. Whenever circumstances demand, we provide detailed, industry-focused advice across commercial, intellectual property, corporate, dispute resolution, employment, immigration, reputation management, and property. Additionally, we offer bespoke training sessions addressing emerging trends and legal issues.

Our experts are passionate about the sector and take pride in ensuring clients receive the most effective and pragmatic advice on all the challenges they face, from brand protection and contract disputes to the impact of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in the creative industries, as well as the evolution of well-established and developing platforms across all forms of digital and print media.

Our media lawyers act for production companies, film studios, television networks, publishers, actors, theatres, dancers, musicians, record labels, music schools, computer games developers and social media companies. The team’s clients range from household names to disruptive start-ups and those who are just beginning to forge a name for themselves. This diversity makes us uniquely well-placed to understand the wider industry, spotting trends and horizon scanning for issues that could affect our clients.    

For creative professionals and artists, we take a holistic approach providing legal support across all aspects of life and career, including visas and immigration applications (for short-term projects such as location filming, music festivals and music tours as well as permanent relocations), family advice (including prenups, international surrogacy and adoption), brand management and protection, reputation management, contractual disputes, international tax planning and wealth management.

Highly ranked by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500, our media lawyers are described as ‘an impressive group’, ‘seasoned media professionals’ and ‘easy to deal with at all levels’. They will always bring their knowledge and experience of the industry to bear in devising a one-stop solution, however complex a matter may be.  

We recognise the global nature of our sector and actively leverage our international offices and connections, which have been cultivated through our involvement in Multilaw and the European Law Group. This enables us to efficiently obtain and coordinate legal advice across various jurisdictions.

We offer expert advice on:


Recent work highlights

TV PRODUCTION DISPUTE

Acting for a television production company in a dispute over a production agreement concerning content standards and payment of substantial sums.


IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FOR MUSICIANS

Working with several musicians and their agents/managers on various matters ranging from Global Talent applications to shorter term visas, for instance for UK tours. Recently, our lawyers helped a musician resident in the UK exceptionally re-instate his visa after he inadvertently allowed it to expire by several months.


ACQUISITION OF RECORD LABEL

Advising the purchasers of a well-known record label on their multi-million pound acquisition. The deal, involving bank and equity funding, included the purchase of seven UK group companies and an overseas subsidiary, with significant funds committed to the label’s future development strategies.


NFT PUBLISHING PLATFORM

Advising a German publishing company in relation to its NFT platform which makes it possible to publish, buy, trade and collect NFT books, audio books and other literary works as digital originals. Our specialist media lawyers provided regulatory guidance and advised on the platform terms of use.

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Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP