Harbottle & Lewis LLP's finance expertise spans all media-related sectors, including film and television, music, theatre, publishing and video games. Reflective of practice head Abigail Payne's capabilities, the team provides advice on all aspects of film and television financing, production and distribution to a mixture of financiers, producers, content creators and rights-holders; it has a particular specialism in structuring and implementing EIS and SEIS finance. Local language productions expert Hannah Wylie joined in December 2022.
Media: Media finance in London
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Practice head(s):
Abigail Payne
Other key lawyers:
Jonathan Berger; Hannah Wylie
Key clients
Marv Studios
all3media Group
Microsoft
Neal Street Productions
Hopster
Punchdrunk Global Limited
Finstock Capital
Pixion Games
LA Media Fund
Secret Group
Jamie Hendry Productions
Gutsy Animations UK
Chris Young Films
Jovera Pictures
Rebellion Entertainment
Kindred Concepts Limited
Rainmaker Content
Entertainment Film Distributors
Greenacre Films
Work highlights
- Advised Rebellion Entertainment Limited on the co-financing and co-production of an animated feature film adaptation of “Rogue Trooper”.
- Advised Kindred Concepts Limited on their plans and series seed investment to launch F1 Arcade, a new immersive social entertainment venue concept incorporating F1 racing simulators.
- Advised Marv Studios on banking and other financing arrangements for their latest feature film “Argylle” to be shown on Apple TV.
Reed Smith LLP
Drawing on its international reach, Reed Smith LLP has extensive experience across the full spectrum of media finance. Michael Maxtone-Smith is renowned for his involvement in film and television finance, where he advises major banks and other financiers on single production or distribution financings, revolving lines of credit and tax-structured transactions. Broadcasting expert Nick Swimer is also recommended.
Practice head(s):
Elle Todd; Stephen Sessa
Other key lawyers:
Gregor Pryor; Michael Maxtone-Smith; Nick Swimer
Testimonials
‘I have worked with the Reed Smith team for almost a decade. I choose the team because in my view they are the best in the market for entertainment work. They have teams in the UK, US and elsewhere in the world. What I really like about the team at Reed Smith is that they have a deep knowledge of the sector and speak my language.’
‘Gregor Pryor is excellent. He speaks more plainly than other lawyers I have worked with. He’s direct, clever and the best negotiator I have worked with.’
‘The team has excellent lawyers with extensive industry experience. They are responsive and provide clear, commercially focused, pragmatic advice. They make themselves readily available at short notice and prioritise client needs. I would highly recommend the team.’
Wiggin LLP
With David Quli at the helm, Wiggin LLP is the first port of call to major US studios, the largest SVOD platforms, independent producers, financiers – including both banks and funds – and distributors across both the film and television sectors. The team also includes transactional expert Chris Hanson, who is adept in corporate and project finance as well as debt and equity structures, and Daniel Whybrew, a regular advisor on development loans for independent producers or multi-jurisdictional financings with tax credits.
Practice head(s):
David Quli
Other key lawyers:
Neil Gillard; Chris Hanson; Daniel Whybrew; Garth McDonald; Matt Shone
Testimonials
‘In all respects Wiggin outshines any law firm I’ve ever worked with and I have worked with a lot over my career in media. They are extraordinarily responsive, extremely clever in their thinking, spot on when assessing risk, very pragmatic in their approaches to problem solving and everyone I’ve met at the firm is simply delightful. They have a very deep back bench of talent so that when one individual might not be familiar with a another company, issue or other matter they can always find information internally which is to say they are very collaborative in all ways.’
‘Matt Shone is simply one the most organized, resourceful, calm, smart hard working and lovely people I’ve met. Matt understands all sides of a deal, which goes a long way to assist with swift and trouble free closings.’
‘Daniel Whybrew has never met a problem he can’t solve. He is extremely resourceful and knows how to get deals done. He delicately balances the requirements of the financial institution I work for as well as those of my clients. He is a truly expert negotiator and always approaches matters with a calm pragmatism that is appreciated by all sides. He doesn’t sweat the small stuff (unless it needs it) while he deftly handles the big stuff. Dan remains one of the best lawyers I’ve ever worked with.’
‘David Quli is one of the most experienced lawyers I’ve ever met, which means that I only ever need to go to him if something is getting really tricky and I go to him then because he’s the one to get the really difficult jobs done. He has seen it all and he employs that wealth of experience to get things done.’
‘One of the best UK law firm in entertainment.’
‘Chris Hanson is one of the best experts in media and entertainment financing.’
‘Dan Whybrew is unflappable, extremely knowledgeable and excellent at communicating with lawyers and lay people alike. We know that we are in good hands.’
Key clients
Cofiloisirs
Natixis Coficine
IPR.VC
Anton Capital
Coutts
Comerica Bank
MUFG Union Bank
Bank of Montreal
Aperture Media Partners
HSBC
Netflix
Access Entertainment
National Bank of Canada
Work highlights
- Advising IPR.VC – a Nordic private equity fund – on various equity investments in feature films “Civil War”, “Beau is Afraid” and “Humans”.
- Representing Cofiloisirs on the financing of “Triangle of Sadness”, “Mrs Harris Goes to Paris”, “Around the World in 80 Days” and “The Ipcress Files”.
Bird & Bird LLP
International finance and financial regulation co-head Joss Hargrave takes the lead on much of Bird & Bird LLP‘s media finance work; he advises lenders and borrowers on transactions with a strong media angle, ranging from acquisition finance, real estate finance and sports finance. Senior associate Claire Barker is a finance specialist on the intersection of sports and media.
Other key lawyers:
Joss Hargrave; Richard McMorris; Claire Barker
Key clients
Epic Games
ICE
TuneIn
DAZN
Activision Blizzard
Palma Pictures
Warner Bros. Discovery
TikTok
Tencent
Radiant
Aser Media
Work highlights
- Acting for TuneIn in a complex copyright claim brought by Sony Music and Warner Music.
- Advised Mobile Premier League on the acquisition of the Berlin-based GameDuell, including its international subsidiaries.
- Advised Radiant on the acquisition of another outdoor media company.
CMS
CMS have a strong specialist film and TV production financing practice, which is a regular fixture on single picture finance deals. Rebekah Hayes advises producers and financiers on a range of issues, including co-production funding and access to appropriate subsidies and incentives, single picture and slate deal facilities and funds, and the production, distribution and exploitation of audio-visual content.
Practice head(s):
Victoria Gaskell; Paul Guite
Other key lawyers:
Rebekah Hayes
Key clients
Avia Games
BBC
BT Sport
Comcast
Coutts & Co
Cutting Edge Group
Dentsu Aegis Network
Discovery
Disney
Elisabeth Murdoch
FremantleMedia Group Limited
Global Radio
Immediate Media
ITV plc
Jeremy Clarkson
Kobalt Music
M&C Saatchi
MTV
NBCUniversal
News Corp
News UK and Ireland
Paramount Global
Sky
SkyShowTime
Spotify
The Football Association Premier League Limited
UKTV Media Limited
Unilever
Warner Music
Fieldfisher
Fieldfisher‘s media finance work includes complex film and television financing structures, where Tim Johnson – head of the firm’s broader media practice – is an essential contact, as well as international co-financing transactions and tax-structured leveraged finance transactions thanks to the respective expertise of Stephen Saltzman and corporate tax head Derek Hill. Also recommended for their capabilities in corporate finance are Carlton Durrant and Christine Phillips.
Practice head(s):
Tim Johnson; Stephen Saltzman; Carlton Durrant; Christine Phillips; Derek Hill; David Bond
Testimonials
‘Knowledgeable, detailed and impeccable advice.’
‘Attentive, organised and available.’
‘Tim Johnson is an incredibly intelligent and talented individual.’
‘Working with Fieldfisher has been one of the best law firm experiences over my career.’
‘The team are technically soundat but also very accommodating and timely. They understand the industry and apply their knowledge to complex problems.’
‘David Bond is someone whom I trust completely to give the best advice and can rely upon with any issue however big or small.’
Key clients
Library Pictures International
Magnetar Capital
BBC Studios
Timeless Films
Legendary Pictures
Huayi Brothers International
Natixis Coficine
BBC
Getty Images
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp
See-Saw Films
Live Tech Games
The William Reed Group
Tortoise Media
Constantin Film
Max Film
Swift Media
Tokyopop
Mubi
The Match Factory
Nickelodeon, MTV and Paramount Pictures
Puig
ID Comms
LVMH Louis Vuitton
Incorporated Society of British Advertisers
Latham & Watkins
Lisbeth Savill heads up Latham & Watkins entertainment, sports and media team and is an expert in media finance; her work in this space includes the creation and financing of audio-visual content, licensing and other exploitation arrangements, funds and co-financing arrangements, as well as commercial advice on the financing of entertainment and media companies. Patrick Mitchell is a regular fixture on premium commercial transactions, while Farah O’Brien specialises in cross-border private M&A deals. Clients include film and television producers and distributors (including major studios), broadcasters, platforms and digital-first companies, financiers (debt and equity) and investment funds.
Practice head(s):
Lisbeth Savill
Other key lawyers:
Ian Felstead; Patrick Mitchell; Farah O’Brien; Sam Newhouse; Mike Turner; Rachael Astin; Stewart Robinson; Alastair Mackichan
Testimonials
‘On the various matters Sam Newhouse and Patrick Mitchell have undertaken for us, the work completed has been excellent.’
‘Sam Newhouse is excellent across the board.’
‘George Venables punches so far above his weight – it is beyond impressive.’
‘Excellent knowledge of the international sports and media space.’
‘Well connected team with relationships across markets and sponsors. Extremely responsive, pragmatic and helpful.’
‘Stewart Robinson is a standout associate.’
Key clients
Anonymous Content
Centricus
Saudi Research and Media Group
Crossroads Live, Inc.
DAZN
Eon Productions
KKR
Moonbug Entertainment Limited
Pinewood Studios
Studiocanal
TeamViewer
Univision
Warner Bros
Lee & Thompson LLP
Steered by television head Richard Lever and film head Christos Michaels, Lee & Thompson LLP regularly handles financing arrangements for a range of high-profile productions, as well as inbound studio investments. Key media finance specialists within the team include Sam Tatton-Brown – noted for his representation of major banks – and Stephen Spence, who routinely acts for both financiers and production companies.
Practice head(s):
Richard Lever; Christos Michaels
Other key lawyers:
Sam Tatton-Brown; Stephen Spence
Key clients
Head Gear
Lorton Entertainment
Amy Jackson
National Bank of Canada
Lookout Point
Studio 99
Zephyr Films
Firebird Pictures
Cornerstone Pictures
Media Finance Capital
Work highlights
- Acted for producer, Amy Jackson on her Oscar-nominated, BAFTA-winning film, Aftersun.
- Advising Studio 99 in connection with its production of a documentary series on the life of David Beckham.
- Acted for Lorton Entertainment on the Apple TV backed two-feature length documentaries, “Boom! Boom: The World vs Boris Becker” about the tennis player and his life, handling the finance, distribution and key elements of the production.
Simkins LLP
Simkins LLP's wide-ranging media finance expertise covers the financing of film and television productions, the structuring and documentation of equity investments, and finance agreements including loan, security and inter-party arrangements. Practice head Jonathan Blair is a regular advisor to leading UK producers and production companies as well as international distributors and financiers. Managing partner Euan Lawson is also recommended; his recent work includes strategic investments and the financing of catalogue acquisitions.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Blair
Other key lawyers:
Euan Lawson; Astrid Bulmer
Testimonials
‘When our directors are in panic mode, Euan Lawson will respond with a calm and thoughtful clear view, resolutely moving forward with constructive resolution.’
‘Euan Lawson is a highly intelligent and experienced commercial lawyer.’
‘To adapt the lyrics from the late great Tina Turner – Simkins are ‘Simply the best, Better than all the rest’.
‘A big strength seems to be not only the diversity of knowledge within the firm as a whole, but their flexibility in bringing in different lawyers for specific contracts/cases. Astrid Bulmer is so incredibly efficient! Her speed and efficacy make such a difference to my line of work and it’s the main reason I will continue working with her. Astrid operates with a level of transparency I appreciate – I have never been surprised by the cost of a project. Astrid obviously has a great relationship with her partner, Jonathan Blair. He regularly comes onto our calls giving advice on larger matters – I have always found him willing to engage and incredibly knowledgeable.’
Key clients
Coutts & Co
MBK Productions
Blue Jean Productions
Erebus Pictures
Milo The Cat
Raw Television
Rockerdale Studios
Universal Music Group
Work highlights
- Advising MBK Productions on the financing of One Life, the biographical film of British humanitarian, Nicholas Winton, starring Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Flynn and Helena Bonham Carter.
- Acting for MBK on the financing of The Convert, an action drama directed by Lee Tamahori and starring Guy Pearce and Te Kohe Tuhaka.
- Advising Coutts & Co on the financing of various television programmes.
Preiskel & Co LLP
Under the leadership of Peter Dally and Hannah Leader, Preiskel & Co LLP 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 team, 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.
Practice head(s):
Peter Dally; Hannah Leader
Other key lawyers:
Maria Constantin; Xavier Prida
Key clients
Buffalo Pictures Limited
Dopamine
Thomas Kubr
Holofcener Limited
Work highlights
- Advice to Buffalo Pictures on the production of all of its filmed content, including the second season of “Islands of the Pacific” and the tenth season of “Doc Martin”, among others.
- Advised Dopamine in its capacity as financier on the high-end British three-part drama TV series “Granite Harbour” which was commissioned by the BBC, produced by LA Productions and distributed internationally by Eccho Rights AB.
- Assisting Holofcener Limited with drafting an option and acquisition agreement, as well as dealing with various IP issues, for producers of the feature film about the life of famous female boat racer Betty Cook.