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Alastair is an experienced litigation lawyer who acts on behalf of sophisticated clients in all forms of dispute resolution, with a particular focus on sports law and arbitration. He has acted on a broad range of commercial disputes, advising clients on complex issues – from contractual matters to questions of public law – across multiple jurisdictions. He is experienced in advisory work and has extensive knowledge of regulatory structures in football. Alastair also specialises in disciplinary and regulatory work, advising on non-contentious issues such as the drafting of regulations and procedures, as well as acting on contentious disciplinary cases. Alastair regularly appears as advocate in these matters, utilising his in-depth knowledge and skills as a communicator to deliver successful outcomes before disciplinary panels and tribunals. His style has been described by clients as “clear and persuasive” and “concise but hard hitting”.

Consultant

Partner

Partner

Consultant

Clare is a highly experienced corporate lawyer with a particular focus in the entertainment, hospitality, advertising and technology sectors. She advises on a wide range of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investment, management buy-in/outs, corporate restructuring and joint venture and shareholder arrangements. Clare advises private businesses and entrepreneurs on all aspects of the corporate journey from start-up and capital raising through to acquisitions and exit planning. She has acted as non-executive board director of several early stage businesses providing corporate governance advice and legal counsel.

Claudia Vincenzi

Consultant

Dan Harrington

Dan Harrington is a commercial lawyer with over 20 years’ experience advising on the acquisition and sale of domestic and international sports rights. His practice also covers contentious and non-contentious advice in intellectual property, sponsorship, advertising, data protection and issues relating to digital and social media. Dan’s clients include international federations, professional sports leagues, event owners, agencies, channel operators, tech companies, players and talent, and production companies. Independent testimonials include: “A superb commercial solicitor, Dan Harrington’s main area of expertise is broadcasting and media rights” … “Unbeatable on sports IP matters” - Legal 500 “A superb lawyer, steeped in sports law” - Chambers & Partners "Dan is an excellent lawyer who is knowledgeable, practical and very calm under pressure. He is always available and excellent at meeting tight timelines" - Chambers & Partners "He is immensely knowledgeable in relation to sports media rights" - Chambers & Partners

Daniel Lowen

Dan is an experienced sports lawyer, recognised as a leading adviser in the football industry and across other sports. He acts for clients on a wide range of issues, from player transfers and commercial opportunities (including sponsorship and image rights arrangements) to disputes, regulatory and disciplinary matters. Dan’s clients include numerous talent management agencies and he advises international athletes throughout the sports industry, from talented young stars of the future through to global icons. He also acts for English and overseas clubs, governing bodies, leagues, event organisers, sponsors and suppliers on a variety of commercial, contentious and regulatory issues. Dan regularly speaks at conferences and is the author of the chapters on the FA’s Regulations on Working with Intermediaries in the textbooks ‘Football and the Law’ and ‘The FIFA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries: Implementation at National Level’. Independent testimonials include: “Dan is ‘a true expert’ in the field of sports law. He is praised for his ‘impressive’ commercial and regulatory understanding” … “His talent-side work is first class” - Who's Who Legal, Sports and Entertainment “Dan is recognised for his standing in the football market. In addition to a thriving regulatory and disciplinary practice, he boasts exceptional knowledge of the rules surrounding the activities of intermediaries” - Chambers & Partner “Daniel Lowen has an exceptionally high degree of knowledge, experience and industry expertise, yet is always personable and very pleasant to deal with.” - Legal 500

Elizabeth Johnson

Elizabeth is an employment and dispute resolution law specialist. Previously the Head of Employment at Axiom DWFM Beckman, she is an experienced senior litigator in the High Court, County Court and Employment Tribunals. Her Dispute Resolution practice encompasses a wide range of general and commercial matters. She provides a fast and efficient service and is readily available to give on the spot advice and practical guidance. She is recommended by her clients for providing a first class level of service and for her fast, insightful and pragmatic advice. Client testimonials Elizabeth is a UK Legal 500 2020 and 2021 ‘Recommended Lawyer’ within ‘Employment: Employers and Senior Executives’. She is described as being ‘extremely responsive’ and ‘a pleasure to work with’ with her advice being ‘razor sharp’ and ‘always high impact’. Published client testimonials include: ‘Elizabeth Johnson is stand out, her depth of experience and knowledge is invaluable, and is delivered in an informed but approachable manner. Her breadth of industry understanding and experience in employment law is exceptional.’ ‘ Amazing. From the first call I had with her I instantly felt reassured. …… I feel she went above and beyond her role when dealing with my case, even after the dispute was resolved.’ Elizabeth has been praised in previous editions of the Legal 500 for heading a team that displays ‘high levels of professionalism and depth of expertise’ which ‘sets it apart due to its focus on its clients and their needs’ and for personally providing ‘extremely pragmatic advice’ and for being ‘a charming and diplomatic’ head of department and having ‘an astute mind’.

Fraser Reid

Fraser is a commercial lawyer who specialises in advising athletes and talent, their agents, representatives and management companies. His client list includes a host of household names from numerous sports, six of whom appeared in ESPN’s top 100 World Fame Athlete Rankings List for 2017. Fraser primarily advises on contractual matters and athletes’ commercial activities and has advised on some of the most significant sports endorsement deals and player transfers of recent times. He works with sports agents in over 20 countries. He also advises DJs, models, presenters and writers, together with investors and entrepreneurs in the sports and entertainment industries. Fraser has substantial experience in other areas of sports and entertainment marketing, particularly sponsorship, commercial rights management and event management, advising brands, agencies and rights holders in this regard. He is recommended as a leader in his field in various legal directories.

Halina Wielogorska

Halina is a highly-regarded music and entertainment lawyer who has built up a sterling reputation during 10 years of in-house and private practice. She studied law at Oxford and trained at a top tier international law firm before diversifying into music in 2010. Halina is renowned for her highly commercial style; a skill she learned while operating at the epicentre of the business, label, publishing, sponsorship, events and legal divisions of some of the music industry’s most successful music start-ups (Boiler Room, AEI Group). She returned to private practice in 2014 to build her own practice at a leading entertainment firm, before joining Level to launch their music division in 2020. Consistently inspired and motivated by the talent spotting element of her role Halina takes great pride in utilising her extensive network of industry connections to assist artists and entrepreneurs in every aspect of their prospective careers. This means delivering a personal service every step of the way, working closely with her client to assemble a fantastic team to support and nurture them, while successfully negotiating the kind of deals that will give them the best possible chance of success, whatever that means to them. Her diverse and dynamic client base continues to grow, and includes an array of gifted individuals and businesses that are entering the industry at every level, reflecting Halina’s own unwavering passion for new music.

Irving David

As a music and entertainment lawyer, Irving has built up an impressive roster of clients in the music, entertainment and media industries over the years and offers extensive knowledge of Commercial Law and Intellectual Property Rights including Copyright, Trademarks and Product Licensing. Irving also has a passion for Ballet and is considered to be the “go to” lawyer for all legal matters pertaining to both Classical and Contemporary Dance. His client roster ranges from a broad selection of independent record labels and music publishers to countless singer songwriters, managers and agents. His corporate clients include Birmingham Royal Ballet, the British Ballet Organization, the Frederick Ashton Foundation, Viviana Durante Company, One Dance UK, The Harvey Goldsmith Group of Companies, and the International Artist Managers’ Association. Irving is consistently recognised by the UK Legal 500 as a Recommended Media and Entertainment Lawyer. Clients have described him as having “strong communication skills”; being “a good technical draftsman”; as “always going that extra mile to explain complex issues”; and “admired for his no-nonsense approach, his, seemingly, vast knowledge and his good humour”. In the 2021 edition, Irving is described as being “a lawyer of the highest standard: efficient, speedy and keen to help you to understand the process/issues/agreement/contract”; "he walks you through the process from start to finish with impeccable professionalism”. He has “an impressive breadth of experience in advising on commercial and IP matters, particularly in the music space” where he “knows the industry inside out". “His work, knowledge and advice is second to none; he is engaging, understanding and sincere"; is “very approachable” and “provides incredible support.” Legal 500 (2021) “Irving David...not only has huge knowledge and experience but most importantly is unfailingly polite but determined to represent our interests at all times. I know I can rely on his judgement and advice to get the best outcome. Irving is brilliant at what he does and always with absolute professionalism.” Legal 500 (2023) Irving originally trained with the leading London entertainment law firm, Wright & Webb. He subsequently joined Warner Brothers in London and became their UK Director of Legal and Business Affairs. Returning to private practice, he formed David Wineman with a colleague which later merged to become DWFM Beckman. He joined Level in 2021. He is a director of SBT Trading Ltd (the trading arm of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust), a corporate member of IAMA providing its membership with a legal helpline; the Music Publishers Association; is a full voting member of BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts; gives frequent Master Classes for the Music Managers Forum and the MPA; and contributes regularly to trade publications on legal, commercial and IP issues relevant to the entertainment industry.

Jennifer Parker

Jenny is a specialist Film and TV lawyer, recognised as a “Rising Star” by The Legal 500 (2020). She works with clients in connection with the creation, financing and exploitation of audiovisual content across all platforms. In addition to a broad range of development and production work (for both scripted and unscripted content, including documentaries), Jenny advises on high value, multi-jurisdictional film and TV financing transactions. Her work often includes international elements and/or complex rights issues, including arising from music and sport. Jenny is commended for delivering technical legal advice with a commercial and pragmatic approach. As well as speaking regularly at industry events, she has been appointed to advise on expert legal panels and in 2018 was shortlisted for a female leadership pipeline award. Recent credits include “Liam Gallagher: As It Was” and “SAS: Red Notice”. “Jenny Parker is a brilliant lawyer. Smart, collaborative, accessible, nice and also pragmatic.” Legal 500

Jody Macdonald

Jody MacDonald is a leading commercial and IP lawyer in the sports sector, with over 15 years experience in the industry. His clients include governing bodies, leagues, event owners, athletes, sponsors and sports technology businesses. He advises on a wide range of commercial matters, including: media rights, sports data, sponsorship, major events, technology and digital services and other large/complex commercial contracts. Jody is known as a leading advisor to clients operating at the intersection of sport, media and technology looking for new ways to engage fans and generate revenue. His clients range from innovative start-ups to blue chip brands and international sports federations. Named as a Leading Individual for TMT (Sport) in The Legal 500 (Legalease) UK 2023 Guide, Jody is also a Director of the British Association for Sport & Law and lectures on “Sports Data Commercialisation” on De Montford University’s Sports Law Post Grad course.

John Reid

John is a very experienced litigator who handles a wide range of media and entertainment disputes, including reputation management and privacy, as well as more general litigation. John is best known for handling employment work on behalf of senior executives in the music and entertainment industries. He also works on a range of reputation management and sports industry matters. John is a Band 1 ranked lawyer in the 2023 edition of Chambers & Partners UK edition, who have referred to John as “a consummate media lawyer, best known for his representation of artists, estates and celebrities in all manner of commercial and privacy disputes”.

Lawyer

Managing Associate

Partner

Partner

Partner

Managing Associate

Liz is a highly experienced sports lawyer, who offers clients an indepth understanding of the world of professional football. Liz had almost 20 years experience working for 4 professional football clubs and for The FA prior to qualification as a lawyer. Since that time she has worked exclusively in sports law, representing a large number of clubs in relation to player contracts and transfers, compliance and regulatory issues and disputes. She has undertaken secondments at both Premier League and Championship clubs, assisted clubs with the Club Secretary role when vacant and spent time with a number of clubs undertaking a contract health check and helping them to develop their own precedent documents. Her experience within club football gives her an unrivalled understanding of how clubs operate and their unique needs. She has also worked with intermediaries in relation to their representation of both players and managers/coaching staff. Liz is the co-author of the chapters on ‘Contracts – Players’ and ‘Player Transfers’ in the textbook ‘Football and the Law’. Independent testimonials include: “She’s someone we can trust. She has worked in football clubs and has a massive amount of football experience. She is really able to cut through everything and translate that. She has helped us do a few matters where we have been really up against deadlines. She does what needs to be done to make it happen, rather than doing too much.” “She’s very good. She has great experience from being in-house and is a pleasure to deal with.” “She is very knowledgeable on compliance. She’s ex-FA, so she understands it in terms of who we’re complying with. She’s practical and pragmatic in her approach.”

Mark Ashelford

Mark is a specialist digital and social media lawyer, with over 20 years' experience working with and advising clients in the digital, social media and creative industries including influencers, tech start-ups, music companies, celebrities, agencies, artists, authors, brands and content owners. Mark’s work at the digital frontiers began nearly 20 years ago at the start of the music industry’s own journey from a physical product business to a fully-fledged digital industry, at a time when experience was in short supply and models had to be intuited rather than learned. His practice has similarly developed to encompass a broad spectrum of clients in the technology sectors: digital platforms, social media services, content creators, start-ups, data owners, developers, crypto startups and other tech entrepreneurs. Mark is well versed in the intricacies of content distribution through these platforms, including the complex music licensing landscape, the regulatory aspects of e-commerce and social media (including use of personal and commercial data) and the commercial realities that any start-up or entrepreneurs might encounter. As a lover of technology he is interested in his subject and believes that legal advice in this area should solve complexities, not add to them. Mark also represents the talent in this space, the YouTubers and social media influencers, and the agencies and brands that work with them. As such his practice also has a particular specialism in the types of commercial agreements and legal issues encountered by influencers and their commercial partners, including brand endorsement deals, founder ambassador arrangements, agency and management deals, book deals, product lines, app deals, affiliate agreements and issues such as fair use, blacklisting and unlawful product mentions.

Morris Bentata

Morris is an accomplished sports lawyer and is widely recognised as a leading name in the sector. His practice focuses principally on the creation, acquisition, exploitation and protection of sports media, data and marketing rights. Clients include high-profile governing bodies, agencies, broadcasters, sponsors and individuals. Morris teaches sports media on the British Association for Sport and Law and De Montfort University Sports Law programme and is a regular speaker at conferences on sports media and sponsorship issues. He is the author of the Broadcasting chapter of the leading textbook ‘Sport: Law and Practice’ and is a Director of the British Association for Sport and Law. Independent testimonials include: “Technically excellent; fantastic experience but also very approachable and pragmatic.” “A relatively rare breed in that he has both high-level commercial expertise and high-level legal expertise” (Chambers & Partners) “One of the best lawyers in the sports field.” (Legal 500) “A hugely talented, hardworking lawyer with real business understanding” (Legal 500) “Morris Bentata is exceptional. He is responsive, pragmatic and brilliant at working to a tight timeframe.” (Legal 500) Legal 500 2023: Sport sector: Hall of Fame Lawyer Media & Entertainment (including Media Finance): Noted Lawyer

Neil McNab

Partner

Rachael Somerset

Partner

Raffaella De Santis

Raffaella De Santis joined Level's media and entertainment team in 2022. She works with a broad range of clients across the Technology, Media & Entertainment industries, advising on intellectual property, commercial and corporate issues, as well as digital rights and licensing. Raffaella specialises in the music and technology industries, and has extensive experience working within digital media for a wide range of blue-chip organisations, including the London Stock Exchange, 7digital and as sole counsel for the international agent to Andrea Bocelli. Raffaella acts for a variety of clients including digital music services, artists and producers, labels and publishers, as well as tech start-ups and media and entertainment companies.

Rochelle Winn

Rochelle is a commercial lawyer with many years of specialist experience within the media and entertainment industry, with a specific focus on audio-visual content. With roles in corporations varying from Universal Music, Match.com and Bank of America, Rochelle is widely experienced in all matters regarding legal and business affairs, disputes and negotiations. More recently Rochelle has been providing specifically tailored legal consultancy within the music audio-visual space to corporations and industry leading directors and producers. Rochelle is proficient in dealing with fast-paced commercial and legal affairs, having held numerous positions as the Head of Legal in-house in global firms. She is passionate about the media industry and well-versed in all matters pertaining to the same. Rochelle’s wide-ranging commercial experience allows for her to provide a unique and measured approach.

Rowena Samarasinhe

Rowena is a commercial lawyer with over ten years of dedicated experience in the international sports industry having worked within a variety of sports, primarily Olympic sports and football. She specialises in the negotiation and implementation of international sponsorship and broadcast agreements and has worked with some of the largest global sports properties, concluding ground-breaking deals for sports bodies in addition to major endorsement deals with some of the most prolific athletes in the world. While practising as an in-house lawyer, Rowena gained a significant experience in rights protection, event operations, rights acquisitions and sales, and tender processes and bid evaluation. She has also worked closely with a number of international federations in the development of event documentation and governing regulations. Rowena also recently completed an MBA in International Sports Management and serves as a non-executive director for CIMSPA, the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. Shortly before joining Level, Rowena was included in The 2018 Legal 500 “General Counsel Powerlist” recognising the most influential and innovative in-house lawyers around the world.

Rupert Sprawson

Partner

Sofia Dionissiou-Moussaoui

Sofia is adept at advising high-level celebrity clients in the music, entertainment, sport and technology sectors. Many cases are both complex and high value, frequently involving the resolution of sensitive issues relating to children and financial matters involving trusts and companies both in the UK and abroad.

Suzi Sendama

Suzi advises clients on both contentious and non-contentious matters, spanning a number of practice areas including intellectual property, commercial contracts, commercial disputes and contentious trusts. Her approach is client-focussed, objective-driven and proactive. Specialising in work for the creative, entertainment and luxury industries, but with experience acting for technology, fashion and sports clients amongst others, Suzi has developed a broad practice and a formidable reputation due to her work ethic and diverse commercial and legal skill set. She has a proven ability to manage large, complex and multijurisdictional cases with multiple legal teams, applying common sense, commercial and strategic thinking and a keen eye for detail, to deliver tangible results. Suzi acts for a variety of clients including entrepreneurs and growing businesses. The breadth of her experience allows her to act as a consigliera to her clients, providing sensible, coherent advice to add value and identify and resolve issues. Suzi has been described in the Legal 500 as having “a sharp mind” and the ability “to corral a team to meet tight deadlines and heavy workloads. The one you want on complex cases.” Her clients describe her as being “a pleasure to work with”, “proactive” and “responsive” with the “knowledge and ability to step outside a situation and offer alternative perspectives to helping solve problems”. Winner of Litigation Rising Star at the British Legal Awards and Editor's Choice at the Powerwomen Awards, Suzi is also regularly included in lists of the country's foremost private client lawyers. Suzi places a strong focus on social impact and pro bono work, working with a number of charities and causes close to her heart.

Tim Lowles

Tim is a seasoned litigator with a broad range of experience handling contentious issues before numerous different judicial and non-judicial bodies. He advises upon all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration with a particular emphasis on sport, contentious media and reputation management issues for companies, institutions and high profile individuals. Tim has advised a large number of household names from the sporting world on various issues ranging from contractual disputes in the High Court to disciplinary proceedings before world governing bodies. He also has considerable experience advising on contentious data issues and the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights. The most recent editions of the legal directories call Tim “hugely impressive”.