Wiggin LLP

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Adrian is a corporate lawyer specialising in advising media and technology clients on a broad range of corporate and financial transactions, as well as strategic and governance issues. “I’ve spent over 20 years advising media and technology clients on their transactional work, particularly private company M&A, joint ventures and strategic partnerships and raising equity from angel and venture capital investors. Alongside the transactional work, much of my time is spent advising and guiding boards and entrepreneurs on risk and strategy, on governance and stakeholder relations and in the hard times on their insolvency concerns. I focus predominantly on the TV, software, sport, music and publishing sectors, but have experience of doing deals involving all sorts of digital businesses. Over the past decade, I’ve been involved in Wiggin management and in establishing many of Wiggin’s entrepreneurial side businesses, including Incopro, the market leading online brand protection software business where I was a board director, a role which provided me with valuable business insight and a fresh perspective on the pressures and challenges faced by clients.”

Alexander Lea

Alex specialises in all aspects of the life cycle of film and TV productions, representing a broad range of clients from US studios, cable and premium pay networks to major UK distributors, broadcasters and independent production companies. “My role is more than just providing legal advice – my clients also look to me as a strategist and business advisor. I draw on my experience and commercial sense from having worked in both the US and UK to help my clients focus on the key creative decisions. I enjoy working in a dynamic industry that continues to undergo significant change and I work hard to ensure my clients successfully navigate the risks in this evolving commercial landscape, whilst maximising the opportunities available them. Ultimately, my aim is very simple: to do all I can help my clients realise their creative ambition across all aspects of development, financing, production and exploitation.”

Alexander Ross

Alexander is a partner and head of the Commercial Music and Digital Publishing groups. He specialises in music, publishing and digital media. He advises both copyright owners and licensees in the creation, licensing and distribution of copyright works in the online and mobile environment, and also in media financing, e-commerce and m-commerce. Highly regarded by his clients and senior industry figures, he is known for his expertise, specialist advice, and in-depth knowledge in emerging media, particularly in the music and publishing sectors. He is rated in Chambers as having ‘rare experience in the evolving digital media business’.

Ben Whitelock

Ben is a partner in the Corporate group. He has a broad range of experience in advising media and technology companies across all aspects of their corporate legal requirements, including private and public M&A transactions, joint ventures, fundraisings and re-organisations. Ben has particular experience in advising on corporate deals in the betting and gaming sector where he works closely with Wiggin’s market leading regulatory gaming lawyers and regularly advises major operators and technology providers on M&A transactions and strategic investments as part of the waive of consolidation currently happening in the sector. In addition, Ben regularly advises on deals in the technology, publishing, TV and film sectors.

Calum Smyth

Calum has over 20 years’ experience as a lawyer, specialising in IP and technology and acting for a wide variety of clients. Calum previously led the intellectual property function at Barclays Bank and is listed in IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists. “Intellectual property is at the heart of every digital and tech-focused business. I help clients of all sizes understand how best to leverage value from their IP assets, with a particular focus on technology, patent and software disputes. In addition to my experience in contentious matters, I have regularly advised on software patentability, technology transactions, brand protection, M&A and structuring issues. I have a specific interest in emerging technologies, such as quantum computing, blockchain and AI, and I am passionate about how intellectual property can support our clients’ businesses; by protecting their innovations and by having an effective IP strategy.”

Caroline Kean

Caroline is a fearsome tactician with immense experience in resolving complex media disputes, ensuring her clients’ reputations and commercial interests are protected. “I’m first and foremost a problem solver. Clients come to me because they have a legal issue or a question that they need answering – my job is to help them find a solution. Sometimes that means issuing proceedings and sometimes it means being determined to go all the way to trial if that’s in that client’s commercial best interests. But that’s rare. Mostly it’s about taking the time to really understand the issues from that individual client’s point of view and working out a strategy that will resolve their problem. Success very rarely involves winning a trial or setting a legal precedent. For most clients, success means achieving their commercial requirements at a cost that’s right for them. I generally work with clients who are involved in the media business, like publishers and Film & TV companies, but at any given time I can be dealing with issues for any of our clients. I never lose sight of the fact that while the client might be a company, the person instructing me is an individual who needs to demonstrate to their colleagues, their board, their shareholders, that they are in control of what can be bet-the-company issues. As one of the firm’s founders, I was determined that Wiggin would be a place where people could be their best authentic self and I’m very proud of the firm we’ve created. I feel lucky to work with a team that are genuinely lovely to deal with but are driven, committed and deliver fantastic results for our clients. I love being a litigator because for the time that I’m working on a problem I get to dive into my very different clients’ worlds and get up to speed on incredibly diverse matters. Every case is different and plunges you into a new world with a new set of issues – even after more than 30 years in the job it’s still genuinely fascinating. And of course, most of all, I like winning.” Caroline is a legal advisor to Women in Journalism.

Ceri Stoner

Ceri is a partner in the tax group advising companies across all aspects of their taxation requirements, including tax transformation projects, with particular expertise in the technology and media sectors. She has a broad range of experience advising in relation to mergers and acquisitions, special projects, corporate structuring and re-organisations, as well as incentive arrangements for management and other employees. Ceri’s practice also includes advising on investment fund formation and carried interest arrangements, asset management and new start up business structures.

Charles Moore

Charles is Wiggin’s Senior Partner. He specialises in all aspects of film and television production, finance and distribution and is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading entertainment lawyers. Charles joined Wiggin in 2004 to establish the Film and TV Group. Prior to that, Charles was a studio executive at Paramount Pictures and Fox Searchlight Pictures in Los Angeles. Charles has an unmatchable list of film and TV clients, representing all of the US film studios, US TV networks and major cable companies, as well as many of the leading UK and European independent producers and distributors. During his career, Charles has been leading legal adviser on feature films such as Oscar-winners Schindler’s List, Braveheart and Shakespeare In Love and more recently has worked on feature films such as StarWars: The Force Awakens (Lucasfilm) and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (Paramount) and major TV productions such as The Game of Thrones (HBO) and 24: Live Another Day (Fox). Charles initiated the lobbying of the UK Government and played a leading role in the consultation process that resulted in the introduction of the UK TV High End Tax Credit. Charles was Executive Producer of films such as The History Boys, Venus, The Eagle and The Lady In The Van and established Wiggin EP to assist producers source funding and distribution for their projects.

Chris Elliott

Chris is a commercial and regulatory lawyer, concentrating on providing UK regulatory and compliance advice to various stakeholders in the online gambling and gaming industries. “I specialise in all aspects of gambling law and have extensive legal, regulatory and commercial experience advising many of the world’s largest online and land-based B2C and B2B gambling businesses. I engage with stakeholders on a daily basis, whether they are operators, software suppliers, regulators, payment service providers, start-ups, investors or financial institutions. I also increasingly advise video gaming, esports, skill gaming and other related media and entertainment businesses and help clients to navigate developments in regulation and self-regulation as their business models and practices evolve and converge with the regulated sector.” Chris is described in the Legal 500 as “fantastically knowledgeable of the regulatory issues facing the industry. An upcoming star’. Chris is also a general member of the International Masters of Gaming Law (IMGL).

Chris Hanson

Chris is a recognised expert in media and entertainment financing. He has worked on transactions valued at over US$6billion over the last 25 years. “I work with Hollywood Studios, banks, private equity, government bodies, corporate and high net worth investors across the US, Europe, Asia and the Far East. My clients include Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, Comerica Bank, Union Bank, City National Bank, Bank of America and Netflix. I look to provide my clients with practical, commercial advice, delivered in a straight-forward way. Using my knowledge of the sector, gained over many years, I aim to bring clarity and simplicity to complex financing transactions. Whether corporate or project finance, debt or equity structures, my focus is to secure the best terms for my clients, delivering transactions which meet their objectives and protect their interests.”

Chris Hammond

Chris understands the US Studio business and the complex guild issues like few other UK entertainment lawyers. He has literally lived and breathed that ecosystem almost exclusively for the past decade and was recently based in LA. “I advise US Studios financing, developing, producing, acquiring and/or distributing film and television in the UK and/or Europe. My track record speaks for itself: “Game of Thrones”, “Star Wars”, “Succession”, “Chernobyl”, “Jack Ryan”. Translating and decoding the UK entertainment industry for US Studios is at the heart what I do every single day. If you have a potential blockbuster, I can help.” He has previously completed secondments at the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) and NBC Universal.

Ciaran Hickey

Ciaran heads Wiggin's corporate team and has over 20 years’ experience advising on a variety of deals, specialising in the computer games, technology and media sectors. “I act for all types of clients in the media and technology sectors, from leading companies to investors and entrepreneurs. I am experienced across a broad range of corporate transactions including M&A, venture capital, corporate venturing, joint ventures and reorganisations and frequently work on deals spanning multiple jurisdictions. I use this experience to offer clients pragmatic and sector-focused advice throughout the process and to ensure transactions are closed efficiently and successfully. Working with clients whose sectors are constantly evolving provides constant challenges as a corporate adviser – I don’t just have today’s problems to contend with but tomorrow’s too. Identifying and solving these issues before they become major problems for my clients is particularly satisfying.”

Claire Livingstone

Claire is a consumer law specialist and leads Wiggin’s Consumer Law and Regulatory Compliance team. She is also an experienced commercial lawyer, providing advice to clients across the media, e-commerce, and technology sectors. “Consumer law compliance can be daunting – the law is complex, and the sanctions for breach are getting much tougher. I work with businesses from start-ups to established global brands, guiding them through the network of consumer protection laws and drawing on long experience of my clients’ niche markets. Outside of the consumer arena, I regularly advise on and negotiate complex commercial deals for businesses across Wiggin’s media, e-commerce, and tech sectors. This experience enables me to quickly identify the key commercial and legal issues, and to bring deals to a close effectively, efficiently, and with the best outcome for my clients. Having undertaken a number of in-house secondments during my years at Wiggin, I understand the internal and external pressures businesses face on a day-to-day basis and advise with a genuine understanding of the client’s viewpoint.”

Daniel Whybrew

Dan acts for financiers, producers and distributors on the financing of television, film and video games. He has worked in LA at the heart of the film business and advises clients in the US, Canada and Europe. “I work on all aspects of the lifecycle of a project from deal set-up, development, production and financing through to distribution. I understand the needs of lenders and borrowers and what is required to structure and protect their funding and commercial interests and I can translate the real-world issues faced by all parties. Whether it’s a development loan for a new independent producer or a multi-party financing with tax credits in different jurisdictions, I have the experience to provide genuine guidance and insight. I listen to clients and provide pragmatic, clear and sensible advice. For all my clients I strive to be proactive and drive a project through to completion as efficiently as possible. I am diligent and precise but will focus on the key risks and issues at the heart of any deal.”

David Hinchliffe

Partner and Head of Sport

David McLeish

David is a partner and a member of our Corporate and Betting and Gaming groups. He advises clients on a full range of corporate and commercial matters, principally across the gambling and technology sectors, as well as providing general strategic advice. In terms of his corporate practice, David has a wealth of experience in advising companies across all aspects of their legal requirements, including private and public M&A transactions, joint ventures, fundraisings and re-organisations. Prior to joining Wiggin, David was General Counsel at a leading gambling software supplier.

David Quli

David is a partner and specialises in media finance. He advises financiers, producers and distributors on all matters relating to the financing of the development, production and exploitation of films, television programmes, video games and music. In particular he advises on all production, financing and distribution documents including loan, security, completion guarantee, inter-creditor and distribution agreements and has extensive experience structuring complex international co-productions and financings (single picture, slate and library financings). David represents a number of the banks and funds active in the media sector.

Gordon Moir

Gordon is an internationally recognised expert in telecoms and media with over 20 years’ experience in the space. With a background of working in-house, including executive roles at one of the world’s biggest carriers, Gordon brings a mix of expert legal advice and genuine industry experience, allowing him to give informed advice in a real-world context. “I’ve provided strategic advice on many of the consolidations in the global telecoms sector in the last decade, either as a participant to the consolidation or as a challenger. My clients include FTSE100 telecoms operators and many other internationally recognised names in the telecoms space, as well as niche providers and industry challengers. I specialise in complex issues in market access, regulation of next generation telecoms services. I can also help you with the specific data protection, retention and transfer issues telcos must consider, and have expertise in the legal framework in respect of content and broadcasting. I’m highly experienced in competition law in the telecoms sector, having advised telcos and industry bodies in respect of several significant competition law cases, at both a UK and European level. I’m increasingly working in the important field of litigation funding, having recently enabled a significant client to obtain funding for a portfolio of competition law actions across a number of European jurisdictions, in one of the first funding deals of its kind.”

Grainne McKenna

With over 25 years of experience advising on the full life cycle of film and TV content, Gráinne has been a key player in the industry, working on some of the biggest film and TV productions of the last two decades. She has held senior roles at Working Title and NBCU International before joining Wiggin LLP as a partner in 2015. Her client roster spans major US film and TV studios, streaming platforms, and independent production companies across the UK, US, and Europe. Gráinne highlights, "Working with such a diverse range of clients allows me to engage with every aspect of the film and TV industries. I understand the distinct commercial needs of producers, talent, financiers, broadcasters, and distributors, whether in the studio system or the independent sector. This broad perspective enables me to close successful, pragmatic deals through a clear and collaborative process." In addition to her expertise in film and TV, Gráinne also advises on theatre and immersive experiences. She is dedicated to promoting diversity within the industry, serving as a Board Trustee for "Into Film," the UK’s leading educational film charity. Her recent released production credits include Downton Abbey franchise films, Nosferatu, Lee, A Small Light, Industry, Culprits, Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness, Tár, We Are Lady Parts, and One Love.

James Peel

James is a partner in the Film and TV group. “I advise clients across the Film and TV sector on development, production, finance and distribution. I have broad industry experience and have previously worked for ITV Studios, NBCUniversal and Working Title Television.”

James Hope

James is a commercial property lawyer and the head of the Wiggin property group, with extensive experience advising a wide variety of international clients on their real estate requirements. “I advise on all aspects of commercial property law, but I work primarily in specialised areas for clients in the film & TV, interactive entertainment, betting & gaming and technology sectors. The requirements of this role can be fairly novel – whether that’s how to structure a multi-million-pound studio hire agreement, how to draft a location contract for driving tanks over the Sussex countryside, how a country estate can facilitate a music festival, or how an interactive gaming start-up should negotiate lease terms with a tech-hub. This sector focus means I can help clients quickly identify key points of focus and concern, navigate their way through developments in statute, case law and business practices, and implement effective solutions.”

Jason Chess

Jason has been a leading adviser to the remote gambling industry worldwide for nearly twenty years. He advises some of the largest gambling businesses on their commercial and regulatory affairs as well as media providers and financial institutions. “My clients don’t want legal advice, they want to be told what risks they face and what they need to do. They’re mostly very good lawyers themselves in the first place. So the two things you must never neglect are responsiveness and the need to get off the fence and give your honest view. The whole point of being a specialist is that you’ll have seen most things more than once: your experience and commercial sense is the crucial added-value to your legal sense. It’s odd to think of lawyers needing to show ‘leadership’ but the issues that the industry currently faces are getting bigger, more serious and more expensive. When a client calls, I realise that I need to go in to bat for them with all the knowledge and experience I’ve accumulated over the years and give them the confidence that the matter is going to be handled with professionalism and expertise. The most rewarding aspect of my role is when you pull it off: a major client recently emerged successful from a lengthy and fraught regulatory process and said “it wouldn’t have happened without you”. Good. That’s the difference we try to make every day.”

Jason Fisher

Jason is a corporate and regulatory lawyer with extensive experience advising a wide variety of international companies on their transactional and regulatory requirements. “In addition to acting on a wide range of domestic M&A, joint ventures and investments, seamlessly co-ordinating multi‑jurisdictional and cross-disciplinary teams to advise global businesses is a fundamental part of my practice. I work with my clients as an extension of their in-house legal team, providing pragmatic and commercial guidance focusing on what is most important to them. I collaborate with a vast network of lawyers throughout the world and work with market‑leading specialists at Wiggin, using our knowledge of the ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape across a variety of industries, and in particular high-risk verticals, to identify the issues that really matter and reduce the burden on in‑house resource. I pride myself on providing excellent client care, with a strong work ethic and collaborative approach always at the heart of what I do.”

Joanne Gibbs

Jo is a partner in the Intellectual Property group and is a specialist in resolving trade mark, passing off, copyright and design right disputes. “I advise clients whenever they experience conflicts with their trade mark, passing off, copyright or design rights. I also advise on registrability and clearance issues. The clients I advise are drawn from a wide variety of industry sectors, from high-end fashion brands, to pharmaceutical companies and video game studios. I draw on my experience of having acted before the High Court, Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, UKIPO and EUIPO, and in appeals to the General Court and the Court of Justice, to advise on the appropriate forum and procedure for the resolution of disputes. I also have experience of alternative dispute resolution, particularly mediation.” Jo obtained The Oxford University Postgraduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice in 2015. Jo has been recognised as a ‘rising star’ by Legal 500 and MIP, and in 2017 won the AIPPI UK prize for her work in relation to bad faith trade marks. Jo is a member of INTA’s Designs Committee, has contributed to the INTA Cancellation Guide for the EU and co-authors, together with Sara Ashby and Michael Browne, the UK chapter of ‘Design Rights: Functionality and Scope of Protection’.

John Colbourn

John has over 15 years’ experience as an intellectual property lawyer, with a broad practice covering all aspects of IP and related issues, with particular focus on brands. “My practice covers all aspects of brand management and protection. From risk to new brands or expanding existing use, through protection and registrations, enforcement and dispute management. I manage and enforce both UK and international brand portfolios for a number of brands in a variety of sectors, and advise on complex issues involving of disputes, enforcement, and related filing strategies in multiple jurisdictions. I have advised in many trade mark and passing off disputes and have particular experience running multi-matter enforcement programs against misuse of trade marks and copyright works, on- and off-line, and both domestically and coordinating overseas. I also have a particular interest in parallel imports and exhaustion of rights. I have acted in the High Court (including shorter trials scheme), Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC) and the UK IPO and the EUIPO (including appeals to the General Court of the EU) and in the European Court of Justice.” John completed the Bristol University Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice in 2007, and won the AIPPI national award for the best young contribution for work in relation to trade mark dilution laws in 2010. John is involved in a number of professional organisations, including INTA, CITMA, MARQUES and PTMG, and is presently a member of the INTA Brands and Innovation committee. Prior to joining Wiggin, John worked at Redd.

Marcus Bagnall

Marcus is a leading telecoms and technology specialist with over 15 years’ experience advising TMT sector clients and their sponsors on commercial and regulatory aspects of significant digital infrastructure and industry digitalisation arrangements. “I provide commercial and regulatory advice to technology, media and telecoms clients in Europe, Australia and the Middle East on strategic, technical and complex telecommunications and technology arrangements. I have a wealth of experience both in private practice and in-house, handling complex telecommunications and technology commercial arrangements regarding the delivery of next-generation networks and digital infrastructure. I’ve worked on industry-shaping arrangements including a Europe-wide tower demerger, national telecommunications infrastructure carve-outs, fibre network build and wholesale services arrangements, subsea cable systems, smart city implementation projects and significant technology procurement and outsourcing agreements. I also advise on commercial and regulatory issues arising from cutting-edge technology developments and industry digitalisation driven by blockchain-based decentralisation and AI solutions. I’ve advised on the deployment and adoption of blockchain solutions in various industries, crypto-based payment services, token classification, NFT development and collaborations. In addition, I advise on M&A transactions, fundraising, structuring and governance, IP licensing, protection and exploitation and privacy / data protection matters. I’m excited about the opportunities arising from industry digitalisation and evolving network technologies and applying my experience gained across different jurisdictions to these new challenges.”

Mark Deem

Mark is a solicitor-advocate and thought leader in the digital and technology sector. “I am passionate about working with my clients to protect their assets and supporting them in realising their goals at critical times in their commercial lives. I pride myself on finding creative solutions and make a point of getting to know and understand what is important to my clients and – perhaps crucially – what is not. My practice focuses on helping optimisers and adopters of technology products and services, and disruptors using cutting-edge digital and technology solutions. My recent book, AI on Trial (pub. Bloomsbury Professional) explores the present status of artificial intelligence and proposes a Manifesto for Responsible AI, a blueprint for any ethical, legal and regulatory framework for this transformative technology. I am also the editor of the Global Data Review Guide to Data as a Critical Asset. I’ve conducted litigation in all commercial divisions of the English High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and Court of Justice of the EU; represented clients in international arbitration proceedings under the rules of the ICC, LCIA RIDR and IFTA; and have a broad experience of mediation and other dispute resolution mechanisms. Clients value my strategic advice and ability to manage exposure to the risk and cost of commercial disputes through innovative use of funding arrangements. Away from work I live with my family in rural Cambridgeshire and enjoy playing piano, clarinet and saxophone, and performing in various ensembles.” Mark is a widely regarded practitioner and is recognised as a “leading lawyer” and “highly rated adviser” by the main directories.

Matthew Dando

Matthew is an experienced litigator, specialising in contentious commercial matters and publication disputes in the media industry. “In any given day, I’m a lawyer, business adviser, strategist and manager of my team. I think clients particularly value my broad knowledge of media businesses and the media sector so they can be confident I understand their objectives. As someone with experience of working in-house, I appreciate the need for excellent service and pragmatic, commercial advice that goes beyond the purely legal. My work is hugely varied, reflecting the wide-ranging issues that my clients face. I handle hotly fought disputes such as libel and privacy litigation for publishers, often against prominent and well-resourced public figures, as well as substantial and often international pieces of commercial litigation and arbitration. I help clients at earlier stages too, working with media clients at a pre-publication/production stage to assess the risk profile of their content before it’s distributed and with commercial clients to consider contractual issues and stress test commercial scenarios so they can best prevent difficult situations arising at all. Across all of this, I feel lucky to work in partnership with smart clients, often doing ground-breaking work, to find a path through problems that sometimes seem intractable. I approach these situations in a calm, level-headed way always with my clients’ perspectives and objectives front of mind. Sometimes it’s necessary to go all the way to court to achieve a result, but there is often a more constructive way. While a lot of my work has a media focus, I also have a depth of experience with contractual and commercial disputes, including issues of rights exploitation, endorsement agreements, contractual interpretation, boardroom fallouts and responses to misuse of confidential information. No matter the situation, my aim is always to help clients gain early leverage and get back to their day job free from the distraction of disputes.”

Medwyn Jones

With over 30 years’ experience advising the television production sector, Medwyn is one of the UK’s leading television lawyers. “Having grown up with the UK independent television sector (I have acted for leading production companies, rights owners, writers, on-screen and production talent since the late 1980s), I have seen the amazing development of the sector to its current world-beating status. I see my role as more than simply a lawyer, but rather as a key advisor, helping to achieve both the creative and financial aspirations of our clients. Whether it is development, finance, production or distribution of television programmes, I draw on my extensive experience and contacts across the industry to help get production made, and maximise revenues. Having spent the first part of my career involved in UK and international corporate acquisitions and disposals before focusing on the television industry, I continue to work closely with my colleagues in our Corporate Group to provide a high quality, holistic service to clients involved in sales and acquisitions in the television sector. My commitment to the audio-visual industries is demonstrated by my long association with BAFTA (where having served as a Board member and Trustee from 2009 to 2016, I continue to act as Chairman of the BAFTA’s operating company, BAFTA Management Limited, as well attending Board meetings as an advisor to the Board). I am passionate about the UK audio-visual sector, and it is this passion which I bring to my work with our clients.”

Michael Browne

Michael advises on the enforcement and exploitation of all forms of intellectual property, as well as competition law issues which frequently arise in IP matters. “IP is the driving force behind today’s economy. I help clients to make the most of their IP by putting in place the right agreements to get their products and services to market on the right terms, as well as defending their rights when competitors step over the line. I have more than a decade of experience working with clients from a range of IP-rich industries including fashion, technology, computer games and sports, to name a few. My transactional IP work often has an international flavour, and I have particular experience in helping clients to establish international distribution networks and franchise operations. Where a dispute cannot be avoided, I am able to draw on considerable litigation experience from cases I have undertaken across the English and EU IP courts and registries, as well as my involvement in cross-border arbitrations and mediations, to identify the right strategy for a given scenario and commercial objective. IP is a constantly evolving field and I enjoy contributing to the development of the law in this area through my involvement in organisations such as UNION-IP (for which I am currently the GB Group Council member and Honorary Secretary), the Competition Law Association (of which I was the National Reporter General for several years) and CIPA. I also enjoy helping to train the next generation of IP lawyers in my role as a visiting lecturer on the Oxford University Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Law and Practice, where I teach IP Litigation and design law.”

Michael Brader

With over 25 years’ experience, Michael is the go-to UK corporate adviser in the independent television production sector, where he has advised on some 120 investments and sales. “I engage with creatives on a daily basis, whether they are producers, writers, directors, commissioners or on-screen talent. I ensure they never have to contend with jargon and always clearly understand each stage of the transaction. My work leaves them free to focus on the key creative decisions. When clients set up new TV production companies, I draw on my experience to help create business plans, to identify and engage with potential investors and then to package deals to turn my clients’ ideas into scalable businesses. I also advise on the sale of production companies. I’ll negotiate the best possible deal for my clients with a focus on the points that really matter.”

Neil Gillard

Neil advises on all aspects of film and television production, finance and distribution. ‘‘I advise on the entire lifecycle of a production, from development, financing, production right through to exploitation. I advise a range of production companies (see some examples below) as well as broadcasters such as Sky, film/television distributors and sales agents such as eOne and Endeavor Content, and banks and other funders such as Creative Scotland.’’ My TV production company clients include: Cowboy (“Top Boy”) DNA (“DEVS”), Ecosse (“Keeler”), Eleven (“Sex Education”), Eleventh Hour (“Alex Rider”), Fulwell 73 (“The Late Late Show”, “Bros”), The Ink Factory (“The Night Manager”, “Little Drummer Girl”), Mammoth (“World on Fire”), See Saw (“Slow Horses”) Sister Pictures (“Chernobyl”), Synchronicity (“The Cry”) and Turbine Studios (“Small Axe”).

Patrick Rennie

Patrick is a highly experienced data protection expert with specialist knowledge across the Film & TV, Interactive Entertainment and Betting & Gaming sectors. “Data protection is a passion for me, but I understand that this might not be true for all our clients. My role is to help you understand how data protection applies to your business and the most effective way to solve your privacy issues. I pride myself on providing commercially focused advice to clients and explaining complicated matters in a clear, jargon-free way. Whether you are a new business or an established multinational, you will need to consider GDPR and other data legislation. I have advised on almost every aspect of data protection, from conducting audits to acting as the DPO for a FTSE 250 company. If you have a question that relates to GDPR, cookies or direct marketing then I would be pleased to help. My Film & TV experience means that I understand the lifecycle of a production and the data protection issues that will arise – such as appropriate wording in a Casting Director’s agreement or collecting health data of talent for the purposes of obtaining production insurance. I work with many games publishers and developers and provide advice on all aspects of personal data, with a particular focus on the Age Appropriate Design Code (also known as the Children’s Code). On the Betting & Gaming side, I work closely with our market leading gambling team and understand the regulatory obligations that operators face and how data protection fits into licensing requirements. On the Telecoms side of things, I have worked closely with Gordon Moir to assist clients (both b2b and b2c) on data protection compliance and the intersection between Telecoms regulation and data protection.”

Paul Gardner

With over 25 years’ experience in the computer games industry, Paul advises on a range of industry-specific commercial and regulatory issues. “I was an early adopter of the Atari 2600 and fell in love with the games industry. As a junior lawyer I spent over a year working on disputes relating to the licensing arrangements concerning the game Tetris, and then another year working as a virtual in-house lawyer at a games publisher, just as the industry was moving from 8 bit to 16 bit games. I’ve worked on commercial and technology transactions relating to the development and commercialisation of games and game services ever since and have been fortunate enough to work with some of the most interesting and creative companies in the industry, ranging from indie studios to global companies. I helped write the original proposal to the UK government which ultimately led to the introduction of Video Game Tax Relief. As the industry has grown in size and complexity, I’ve become increasingly involved with the regulatory issues relating to the industry, such as age ratings, consumer law, and betting and gaming regulations. I’m the author of Practical Commercial Law’s guide to the computer games industry and a member of the Editorial Board of the Interactive Entertainment Law Review. I was one of the original trustees of GamesAid, the charity set up by the UK interactive entertainment industry and am a member of the advisory board of the BGI, a charity established to champion British games culture.”

Peter Lewin

Peter is a commercial and regulatory lawyer with nearly a decade of experience working in the video games and wider interactive entertainment industry. “I work with businesses of all sizes throughout the entire interactive entertainment industry, including game developers, publishers and distributors to esports and tech businesses. I specialise in commercial deals negotiation, particularly games publishing and licensing, intellectual property exploitation and games-related regulation. The games industry is constantly evolving, which keeps it such an exciting place to work in. I particularly enjoy helping clients navigate novel commercial and legal challenges, whether that’s due to the utilisation of developing technologies such as AI and blockchain, new distribution methods and monetisation models, or expansion into territories with complex local regulatory environments like China. I’m also an avid gamer, which means I’m able to quickly understand a client’s product and get to the issue at hand. This also provides me with a solid perspective on industry trends and latest market practice, which I regularly layer into my advice.”

Peter Dawson

Peter advises on the full spectrum of brand strategy, protection and management issues. Peter deals with the complete lifecycle of brands from conception and clearance, through to filing strategies and securing rights, and maintaining their scope of protection via watching services and contentious registry disputes (including negotiating and drafting undertakings and co-existence agreements, where appropriate). “I engage with brand owners on a daily basis across a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on the entertainment sectors. I provide a proactive and value driven approach to brand strategy. This helps clients ensure their portfolios align to their businesses and are underpinned by commercial data and a cost-benefit analysis. Put simply, I see brands as a commercial tool which can give a competitive advantage in the marketplace when secured and deployed strategically.” Peter is a UK Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, European Trade Mark and Design Attorney and Irish Trade Mark Agent. He is a member of CITMA and Chair’s INTA’s Non-Traditional Marks Europe and Central Asia Subcommittee. Prior to joining Wiggin, Peter started his career at a leading firm of trade mark attorneys before joining an international law firm.

Rachel Alexander

With a wealth of experience in high profile IP cases and online enforcement matters, Rachel has established herself as a trusted adviser to those seeking to protect their IP assets. “I assist clients to protect their copyright, trade marks, confidential information and other IP rights, both in the online and offline world. I’ve helped clients in the film, music, sports, publishing and fashion sectors establish important legal precedents to enable effective enforcement of their rights, and have acted in a number of the leading cases that have tackled the interplay between IP rights and the internet. I have navigated clients through proceedings in the IPEC, High Court, Court of Appeal and the UK Supreme Court, and have coordinated strategic litigation on a multi-jurisdictional basis. Not all cases require substantive litigation. I also have extensive experience of finding practical and cost-effective solutions when an alternative route is needed.”

Robin Shaw

Partner

Ross Sylvester

Ross is a partner in the content distribution and transmission group and head of the firm’s sport group. He acts for a number of leading broadcasters, distribution platforms and blue chip media businesses; providing advice in relation to the distribution of channels and programming via traditional broadcast means such as satellite, cable and DTT and the exploitation of content across more nascent internet and mobile platforms. Ross has also developed a particular specialism in relation to the creation, acquisition and exploitation of sports media and data rights. In addition, he advises on the end-to-end chain of transmission, negotiating arrangements with the technical service providers who provide the processes, infrastructure and delivery systems for the distribution of channels and content as well as with the sales houses and media agencies who sell the advertising around this content.

Sara Ashby

Sara heads the Intellectual Property team and has over 25 years’ experience as a specialist IP litigator. Sara litigates in the High Court, including under the Shorter Trial Scheme, and in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court (IPEC), in the registries, the UK Court of Appeal, and she has taken cases to Europe’s highest court, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), as well as coordinating parallel litigation in other jurisdictions. “My practice is intentionally broad, covering disputes and strategy across all IP rights. I have experience conducting major patent litigation across a wide range of technical fields, handling significant design and trade mark disputes, and assisting clients in formulating portfolio strategy. I started my professional career as a general commercial litigator, and I think many clients value that broader strategic approach, particularly when dealing with complex problems which may include multiple and overlapping rights, contractual matters and non-standard IP disputes.” Sara is heavily involved in thought leadership in intellectual property law and procedure. She is President of AIPPI UK, the leading non-government organisation for research into and formulation of policy for intellectual property, and a member of the UK Government’s Expert Trade Advisory Group for IP. She was an assessor to Lord Justice Jackson in his review of fixed recoverable litigation costs, a contentious area of law reform. “Intellectual property laws have a global economic impact and they are constantly evolving. It is critical that as practitioners we contribute to safeguarding and improving IP law, and ensure that all views and interests are represented. As President of AIPPI UK, I am able to contribute to policy work that has an impact in the UK and internationally, and the UK group provides valuable training events to our membership.” Sara is also and has been for many years heavily involved in the Oxford University Post Graduate Diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice, lecturing on litigation, tutoring and examining on designs and copyright, and is a member of the Diploma’s Management Committee. Sara speaks and writes regularly on intellectual property law, including having contributed chapters to Sweet & Maxwell’s EU Trade Mark Handbook and Community Designs Handbook, Wolter Kluwer’s publication on Design Rights, and publishing articles in leading IP journals, such as Journal for Intellectual Property Law and Practice and European Intellectual Property Review.

Sarah MacDonald

Sarah leads Wiggin’s advertising, marketing and sponsorship team and is also active in the digital, content distribution and sports sectors – in fact, there really is no media sector in which Sarah has not worked. “I work with global brands creating, marketing and distributing content across all platforms. Whether you are at the content development/acquisition stage or want help with its distribution and promotion, I will have a raft of useful tips from my experience working on similar deals. I particularly enjoy getting to grips with complex regulatory issues around the exploitation of advertising and audio-visual content and can quickly get to the bottom of queries relating to the codes and rules administered by Ofcom and the ASA. During my time at Wiggin, I have also worked as Legal Counsel at Manchester United, as well as spending time on secondment at Disney, Virgin Media, Universal Music and the BRIT Awards. Not only has this allowed me to gain some invaluable sector experience in sport, film and TV and music, it also allows me to advise with a genuine understanding of the client viewpoint.”

Seth Roe

Seth has over 15 years of experience helping media and technology businesses with their HR needs. “I’m passionate about my clients and the businesses they run. I provide practical and effective solutions to the executives, managers, in-house lawyers and HR teams that I work with as well as regularly dealing with complicated employment disputes. I will not stop until I’m confident the best possible result has been achieved. Recent work highlights include successfully defending a number of highly sensitive Employment Tribunal claims related to whistleblowing and discrimination (including achieving sizeable costs awards against the claimants), and strategising and advising on a number of large scale business restructurings. I recently chaired a Film and TV industry working group analysing the developments in holiday pay law and their implications for productions, and regularly deliver workshops and training to clients and industry bodies on a variety of topics, from TUPE to harassment prevention. I previously led our team’s work in relation to HR-related Covid-19 advice during the pandemic which involved advising all our major US studio and SVOD clients in this area.”

Stephen Ketteley

Steve is a highly-regarded regulatory adviser to the global gambling industry. He is trusted by many of the industry’s leading operators and suppliers to help them navigate the challenges they face. “It’s remarkable how much the gambling industry has been through since I began advising in this sector more than 15 years ago, and how much my role has changed as a result. Today, much of my time is spent acting as a sounding board, providing a quick, effective assessment of the relevant risks for clients as they make some of their most difficult decisions. I advise operators on their interactions with regulators, be that in compliance or enforcement cases. I help industry participants construct and manage jurisdictional risk. I guide stakeholders in assessing and mitigating risk, generally, that attaches to their participation in the gambling space. The most rewarding aspect of my role is being trusted by many of the leading decision-makers in the industry. A client recently commented they would turn to me when “I want to really press something in a new area with a lot of uncertainty”.”

Sue Crawford

Sue has over 35 years of steering media and technology businesses through the maze of corporate tax. “I have an exceptional range of experience advising corporates and entrepreneurs on all aspects of tax – from VAT to stamp duty, gaming duty to corporation tax, PAYE/national insurance to withholding tax. One particular focus is entrepreneurs and their investors – advising on their journey from start-up to exit to ensure their commercial aspirations are fully realised as tax efficiently as possible. Motivation of employees through share schemes and equity awards is key. I bring creative solutions to the tax conundrums that more established businesses and groups inevitably face in their M&A, restructuring and venture capital deals. I crack the issues and deliver my solutions jargon free, without losing sight of the commercial context.”

Ted Shapiro

With over 25 years’ experience, Ted is recognised as a leading expert in international and European copyright law. His encyclopaedic knowledge of all things copyright and the content sectors as well as his commercial insights and deep understanding of the EU institutions, make him the go to adviser for industry organisations and companies navigating the complex legislative and regulatory environment at the international, EU and Member State levels. Ted, who is Head of the Brussels office, joined Wiggin in January 2013 from the Motion Picture Association in Brussels, where he was the General Counsel for Europe. He is known for assisting clients on issues related to policy, litigation, compliance and commercial transactions. “I help clients develop their strategies for engaging with the EU institutions across the audiovisual, video games, music, publishing and technology sectors. In addition to copyright, I work on matters related to content/media regulation, artificial intelligence, digital markets and services, competition, consumer protection, e-commerce and trade. Lately, I have been advising clients on a range of issues arising as a result of recent EU legislation including the AI Act, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, the Media Freedom Act as well as the DSM Copyright and SatCabII Directives. I cut through the political rhetoric and legal complexities, identifying the potential risks and opportunities for clients arising from EU legislative and policy initiatives. I advise on engagement with EU policy- and law-makers at an EU and Member State level to ensure the best possible outcome for the associations and businesses I represent in range of areas. I am passionate in defending the copyright principles underpinning our clients’ businesses – such as territoriality, exclusive rights and contractual freedom – in the EU. I can help you resolve complex copyright issues that arise in the context of commercial transactions, policy debates and litigation.” Ted is admitted to the bar of Massachusetts, the Brussels Bar and is a solicitor in England and Wales. Ted is also a member of The Law Society’s EU Committee.

Tom Gastrell

Tom is an experienced corporate lawyer with a particular focus on venture capital, technology investments and M&A. “I work with investors, corporate clients, founders and entrepreneurs on a broad range of domestic and cross-border transactions from early-stage investment through to exit. I have a great deal of experience in M&A (buy and sell side), private equity, shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, reorganisations and general corporate advice. Whether it’s an experienced corporate or fund or a founder team undergoing its first significant funding round, I help clients cut through the noise to focus on the issues that really matter to them. Having worked in-house, I understand the pressures teams face and the need for clear, commercial and pragmatic guidance. I am constantly impressed and inspired by the quality of the investors, businesses and management teams I encounter in these sectors and feel fortunate to share the journey with them.”

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