Bird & Bird LLP‘s tech-driven practice is noted for its involvement in premium global TV sports rights deals, brand-related projects and advertising work in the burgeoning NFT market, in addition to the regulation of audio-visual media services for the likes of Bloomberg, Formula One and Nordic Entertainment Group. Broadcasting expert Richard McMorris handles large cross-border transactions, as well as commercial, content distribution, advertising and sponsorship arrangements; his team includes commercial associates Flora Baillie and Andrew Cox.

Tim Johnson heads up Fieldfisher's cross-departmental media practice and is renowned for his involvement in complex film & TV financing structures, rights licensing arrangements, production and distribution transactions, and international co-productions - an area in which Stephen Saltzman further excels. The team, which draws on its combination of commercial, corporate and tax expertise, also includes Carlton Durrant, who advises on M&A deals, strategic investments and fundraising activities in the media sphere.

Under the leadership of Sarah Lazarides, Harbottle & Lewis LLP guides global giants such as Apple and Netflix through high-profile productions, with advice ranging from financing and production to distribution and exploitation. The team also undertakes varied work for UK indies, such as Box to Box Films, acting with equal measure on scripted and unscripted productions, as well as well-known celebrities and rightsholders. Other recommended individuals include Jonathan Berger and Abigail Payne, renowned for their expertise in digital content and structuring international co-productions, respectively. Local language production specialist Hannah Wylie joined in December 2022.

Richard Lever heads up the television side of Lee & Thompson LLP’s practice, while fellow co-head Christos Michaels is more focused on the film sector. Lever’s broad expertise spans the creation of talent-based television production companies, the set-up and financing of high-end television projects, and related commercial arrangements. Michaels specialises in the financing and production of independent films in addition to implementing exploitation models of emerging and established media. Other recommended individuals include managing partner Reno Antoniades, internal film and television head Nicki Parfitt, head of media finance Sam Tatton-Brown and Antony Swiatek.

Sheridans advises on all aspects of film and television, from development and production to financing and exploitation, often drawing on the firm’s broader corporate, employment and tech expertise. The team is the first port of call to a number of leading studios, such as the BBC, ITV and Amazon, as well as broadcasters and platforms, production companies, financiers, distributors and high-profile talent. Practice head Jeremy Roberts is noted for his involvement on the television side, while Nick Mahara is an expert on the film side. Other recommended individuals include Peter McInerney and the recently promoted Oliver Wiseman, who handles platform-related commercial and IP issues, as well as media finance head James Kay.

Charles Moore and Neil Gillard, both of whom specialise in all aspects of film and television production, finance and distribution, head up the division at Wiggin LLP alongside media finance expert David Quli, a regular advisor to banks, funds and companies on loans and investments. The team is the first port of call to various corporate giants, such as Disney, Netflix and Universal, in addition to prominent UK broadcasters, independent producers, financiers and distributors. Decoding the UK entertainment sector for US studios is a particular strength for Chris Hammond. Gráinne McKenna and Alexander Lea are also recommended for their all-inclusive film and television expertise. Sean James brings decades of experience in content distribution and transmission, while consultant partner Medwyn Jones is another hugely experienced television production expert.

With solicitor advocate and digital media specialist Ben Allgrove at the helm, Baker McKenzie‘s film & television clients – which include major broadcasters and tech giants – benefit from extensive regulatory, IP and privacy litigation expertise. Allgrove co-heads the practice with transactional expert William Holder, while former head of litigation at the BBC Nadia Banno anchors the firm’s contentious offering. John Groom was promoted to partner in July 2022.

Bristows LLP is a regular advisor to leading film and television clients, with expertise in financing and production, together with distribution matters for streamers, broadcasters and theatrical distributors. Paul Jordan, a renowned expert on issues arising around advertising and brand protection, co-heads the practice with Richard Dickinson, who focuses on commercial transactions involving the development, exploitation and protection of IP rights. Appointed Person Simon Clark has a particular specialism in digital and online copyright issues.

Handling both non-contentious matters and a range of litigation, Burges Salmon LLP is a go-to for advice on broadcasting rights exploitation, television clearance, commercial arrangements and IP - the latter being an area of particular specialism for team head Jeremy Dickerson, who has recently handled UK and European trademark applications and registrations for the BBC. Helen Scott-Lawler advises clients on commercial contracts, advertising, marketing, brand protection and sponsoring, while Emily Roberts comes recommended for her contentious capabilities.

The film and television team at CMS offers a plethora of advice on matters ranging from platform consolidation and the launch of direct-to-consumer offerings to carriage deals and rights protection. Its market-leading practice is notable for its involvement with international expansion, advising the launch of platforms such as Paramount+ and SkyShowtime throughout Europe and Asia. Other notable achievements include the firm's contribution towards the landmark deal between BT and Warner Bros Discovery. Under the leadership of Victoria Gaskell and Paul Guite, the media team is supported by esteemed lawyers such as John Cloke, who has expertise in the exploitation of media and other commercial rights in sport; Selina Potter for commercial advice in broadcasting and other audiovisual distribution, and John Enser 's expertise in the technology, media and communications sector.

The key names at DLA Piper include Nick Fitzpatrick, who has longstanding ties to household name clients such as The Premier League and ITV, advising on global broadcasting deals and media strategies. UK corporate head Jon Kenworthy also has a track record of work for media clients including Warner Bros Discovery.

Much of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's workload in the film and television space stems from co-head of the firm’s global media sector group Hayley Brady's expertise; she recently led the advice to Sky on its commercial distribution deals. The team is also adept in commercial and production incentive arrangements, and corporate transactions.

Howard Kennedy LLP provides major UK and international broadcasters with pre-broadcast, pre-publication and reputation management advice. Mark Stephens CBE, an expert in international comparative media law, co-heads the broad media & entertainment practice with Robert Lands, who focuses on IP and data protection matters pertaining to the creative industries. Seasoned litigator Elizabeth Morley regularly advises on defamation, privacy and data protection.

Renowned practitioner Lisbeth Savill is co-chair of Latham & Watkins' entertainment, sports and media industry group, which handles an array of work in the film and television space, encompassing major commercial and corporate transactions, disputes and IP issues. Savill and the team are a regular port of call for producers and distributors (including major studios), broadcasters, platforms and digital-first companies, financiers and investment funds. Other recommended individuals include Patrick Mitchell, an expert on sponsorship and media rights arrangements, and counsel Rachael Astin, a go-to in transactional and regulatory matters with a focus on digital media and content distribution.

Lewis Silkin is a regular advisor to major and independent film and television clients on matters pertaining to talent engagement, content creation, finance, production and exploitation. The team’s contentious capabilities – where Neil Parkes is the main point of contact – include reputation management and defamation, as well as the protection and enforcement of brands and IP rights. Parkes has particular expertise in online content protection strategies and often acts for media giants such as Sky, the Motion Picture Association and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment. He co-heads the practice with the employment-focused Russell Brimelow.

Sports law boutique Onside Law LLP is best known for advising sports-related talent on broadcast appearances, as well as rights holders and broadcasters on licensing arrangements that concern media rights, production and content distribution. James Tobias – who was promoted to partner in September 2022 – handles contractual arrangements relating to the licensing of sports media rights and the production and exploitation of original content. Founding partner Jamie Singer is further noted for his commercial practice.

Osborne Clarke LLP's work for film & TV clients includes advising on joint ventures, corporate transactions, licensing and distribution, as well as competition, regulatory and copyright matters. Key names in the team include John Davidson-Kelly and Jamie Heatly; they regularly work together on commercial matters for clients including Warner Bros. Discovery and ITV.

Russells Solicitors has developed considerable expertise in the film and television space, acting for production companies, individual actors, presenters and other artists. Typical work involves negotiating presenter agreements, option agreements, production and production services agreements, and other commercial contracts, as well as high-profile corporate transactions. Managing partner Simon Esplen and music head Gavin Maude lead the team alongside Steven Tregear, who handles copyright infringement, contractual, and audit claims on the contentious side. The contentious-focused Henry Priestley joined from RPC in December 2022.

Jonathan Blair heads up Simkins LLP’s film & TV division, which is a go-to firm for financiers and producers in matters involving audio-visual content; he has particular expertise in structuring international co-productions and financing packages. On the contentious side, the team is well-versed in copyright infringement claims, distribution disputes and contractual litigation. Other recommended individuals include managing partner Euan Lawson and associate Astrid Bulmer, who can advise film and television clients on all stages of the production lifecycle.

Simon Goldberg and Razwana Akram lead the film and television team at Simons Muirhead Burton, a firm that advises film financiers, independent production companies and traditional broadcasters such as Channel 4, ITV and the BBC across all areas of development, production, finance and distribution. The team, which also includes film finance expert James Greenslade and senior associate Blaise Gaymer, has noted an uptick in matters involving an AI or gaming component. Data protection specialist Stephen Shotnes heads up the contentious function. In a notable development, Nick Miller – former head of ACK Media Law LLP’s film and television department – joined the team; he has particular expertise advising on BAFTA and Emmy-nominated animation projects and children’s programmes.

ACK Media Law LLP is a regular advisor to producers and financiers on UK projects and multi-jurisdictional co-productions, as well as writers, distributors, and other media rights owners on various IP issues. Practice head Sue Charles handles defamation, privacy and compliance matters.

A number of hugely experienced media law practitioners now ply their trade at Keystone Law; film & TV experts include litigator Lawrence Abramson, whose recent work has included copyright claims, shareholder disputes and a range of other contentious matters in the media sphere.

Level Law‘s film and television offering includes Jennifer Parker, who advises on the development, production, financing and exploitation of audiovisual content across all platforms, and Tony Morris, an expert on contractual, commercial and IP matters. Seasoned litigator Tim Lowles is a regular port of call for media rights holders in contractual disputes and is also geared to provide reputation management advice to the firm’s high-profile roster of talent.

Mayer Brown International LLP is well-placed to handle commercial and contractual matters for major film and television productions, both in the UK and the US (with a particular focus on California), in addition to a broad range of contractual and IP-related disputes. Robert Hamill and Rebecca Bothamley focus on M&A and corporate finance work for the likes of eOne and other high-profile media clients.

Steered by media practice head Lewis Cohen, Mishcon de Reya LLP works with a number of leading broadcasters, production companies, and other film and television industry players on a range of corporate, commercial, and IP-intensive matters. Other key names include Adam Rose, a highly experienced commercial partner, and David Rose, who regularly works with clients on the protection and enforement of IP rights.

With Peter Dally and Hannah Leader at the helm, Preiskel & Co LLP receives regular instructions in the film and television sectors; the team specialises in the financing, production and exploitation of filmed content for feature films and television, as well as independent and studio-based distribution arrangements. The group, which also includes associate Maria Constantin, is a regular port of call for film and television producers and financiers, as well as distribution, sales and rights acquisition companies.