Harbottle & Lewis LLP

Harbottle & Lewis is a leading UK-based law firm focused on the technology, media and entertainment (TME) and private client sectors. Clients range from start-ups to multinational companies, from household names to private individuals and their family offices.

Whilst known for our stand-out expertise in the technology, media and entertainment sectors, our capabilities spread far wider than this advising for some of the most creative, talented and successful people, businesses and corporates, across all of their legal needs. Whether we are talking about wealth, relationships or information, the firm’s private capital expertise enables its lawyers to support clients, as well as to help them successfully develop, grow and protect their assets.

Harbottle & Lewis’ clients benefit from strong legal expertise delivered with industry insight and a commercial approach. Their deep client relationships are built on mutual trust and understanding.

Principal areas of work: Harbottle & Lewis provides a full service across corporate, commercial, employment, family, finance, intellectual property, litigation, private wealth, immigration, property and tax law.

The firm also advises on regulatory matters and the legal issues faced by organisations and individuals in the media spotlight, such as defamation, information protection, privacy and image rights.

Recent work highlights include:

• Advising Universal Pictures on Jurassic World, the first UK production to restart after Covid pandemic restrictions.
• Advising Stormzy on his recent exclusive recording agreement, via his #Merky imprint, with Universal Music – one of the most lucrative artist deals signed in the music industry in 2020.
• Advised the Ozone Project, which is a cutting edge digital advertising platform owned by the major news publishers, including the Guardian, News UK and the Telegraph.
• Advising members of the Royal Household in relation to reputational and privacy issues.

Other recent highlights include:

• Advising Diageo on its new global agency media buying services agreement with the Omnicom Group.
• Advising leading games publisher Take-Two Interactive on its US$1bn bid for Codemasters.
• Acting as trusted advisors to Amazon Studios across its scripted and unscripted slate of projects.
• Advising several sporting organisations including Team England Player Partnership (England Cricketers), Queens Club a number of top footballers and major sponsors on a range of matters.

The firm continues to act for high-net-worth individuals and public figures on all aspects of their personal and financial affairs. The firm has advised a number of clients on sensitive employment matters; on the sale and purchase of multi-million pound residential properties; on effective tax structuring of new and existing businesses for entrepreneurs; and on the administration of significant UK trusts and estates.