IPOS Mediation

With a unique background as mediator, lawyer and business adviser, Andrew brings extensive business and legal experience to his mediation practice.   Andrew has been on both sides of the table, as mediator and advising clients in mediation.  This, combined with his extensive commercial experience, gives him an enviable ability to see all sides of a dispute and to find the best way to resolution. Ranked as a leading mediator in the Legal 500, Andrew is highly effective. He is attuned to what solicitors and clients want from a mediator and can be relied on to be relentlessly proactive, tenacious and commercially focused. He combines this ability with an affable nature that allows him to deal with difficult personalities and the confidence to know when to be robust and challenging and when to defuse the dynamics in a room.

A leading Entertainment, Sports & Licensing mediator and IFTA Arbitrator, Andrew has mediated high profile cases involving Hollywood studios, broadcasters, rights owners, agents, managers, licensors, distributors, producers, creative talent, financiers, event organisers, sportsmen, franchises, brands and rock bands. His approach is underpinned by his in-depth industry experience working with creative businesses and his familiarity with the business practices and the personalities, both here and abroad. He set up and ran the commercial side of FilmFour, headed up business and legal divisions for companies like Channel 4 and ‘The King’s Speech’, Momentum and executive produced for the late Richard Attenborough. He has co-financed over 100 feature films, including ‘Motorcycle Diaries’, ‘The Madness of King George’ and ‘Trainspotting’ and numerous television productions.

Andrew also specialises in mediating disputes as they start to flare up. Disputes between businesses and disputes within businesses, including between Partners, Shareholders and Family Members. Where people are having difficulties handling a commercial relationship, he can get it safely back on track or, if they prefer, help them separate sensibly, managing the transition sensitively and productively.

Separately, Andrew acts on an exclusive basis for clients as a Dispute Settlement Specialist, working closely with them and their advisers to ensure that they manage their dispute risk portfolio effectively, settle on the most effective terms and get the best out of mediation.

2015: Cofiloisirs Bank; Senior Vice-President, UK

2014 to date: Gunner Cooke; Partner

2003 – 2012: Qwerty Films & Momentum Films; Head of Commercial & Business Affairs

1993 – 2003: Channel 4 & Film 4; Director of Business Affairs

1985 – 1993: Mishcon de Reya; Partner

English

As mediator: WIPO, Sports Resolutions.

As arbitrator: WIPO, IFTA.

Expert Adjudicator: ODA

British Screen Advisory Council, Royal Television Society, Law in Sport, Bafta, MCC & CMC

1974-78: St Paul’s, London

1979-82: Warwick Law LLB: 2.1

1982-83: College of Law, Chester