Clintons > London, England > Firm Profile

Clintons
2 St Giles Square
COVENT GARDEN
LONDON
WC2H 8AP
England

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Music Tier 1

The multidisciplinary music practice at Clintons is split into three subgroups: non-contentious work is overseen by Berkeley Edwards, who specialises in dealmaking; the contentious arm is led by Karim Bouzidi, an expert in music litigation; and the media and entertainment rights acquisition group, chaired by corporate specialist Charles Gerada. On the non-contentious front, the practice is regularly instructed by notable artists from across the UK and globally, as well as independent record labels and publishers, and has been highly active in advising on emerging issues, such as generative AI. CEO Andrew Myers is a leading artist lawyer who advises on all aspects of music artists’ careers, including the structuring and negotiation of high-profile deals. Peter Button and Nicky Stein are other names to note for music artists. On the contentious side, the group handles a broad range of disputes, including proceedings arising from contractual breaches, copyright infringement, performers’ rights infringement and partnerships. Nicky Stein shines in complex music litigation at the national and international level, while Blake Wilner utilises his experience as a professional musician to advise on the technical aspects of music making and recording within litigation. Lastly, the rights acquisition group handles a large volume of transactions relating to music catalogue acquisitions, acting for both aggregators and artists. Chris Coates has assisted with a number of music-related transactions, including rights sales.

Practice head(s):

Berkeley Edwards; Karim Bouzidi; Charles Gerada

Other key lawyers:

Andrew Myers; Peter Button; Nicky Stein; Victoria Wood; Alastair Kenwood; Sam Sparrow; Blake Wilner; Andrew Sharland; Chris Coates; Tim Turner; James Jones

Testimonials

‘Clintons has provided me with a top-rate service across entertainment, litigation and estate planning.’

‘Nicky Stein is not only a great lawyer but has also become a great friend. He has been instrumental in helping me build both my management and label businesses. I value his tenacity, quick mind, pragmatism and most importantly his selfless commitment to always giving me balanced and considered advice. He has been a great ally to me.’

‘The Clintons team has a wealth of knowledge about music and IP. They are a trusted partner when we work on music financing transactions.’

‘Charles Gerada, Andrew Sharland and James Jones are great to collaborate with on music financing transactions. We have worked on a number of challenging transactions together with tight timelines and I have found their team extremely knowledgeable about music and IP rights. They are also pragmatic and commercial in their advice and respond quickly to requests.’

‘Clintons has a good range of lawyers across every aspect of the music business. They are an intelligent, progressive team.’

‘Andrew Myers is, in my opinion, the brightest lawyer in the UK music business.’

‘Good knowledge of the law and practice in the industry.’

Key clients

Fred again..

Lewis Capaldi

Hipgnosis

Muse

Daft Punk

The 1975

Max Richter

Anne Marie

Maisie Peters

Declan Colgan Music Limited

Andy Summers

Ministry of Sound

Chrissie Hynde

James Bay

Bastille / Dan Smith

Lewis Capaldi

Hipgnosis Songs Fund

Mel Maxwell, Christiaan Munro and Jonathan

Newill

Simon Dunmore

BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited

Work highlights

  • Acting for Declan Colgan Music Limited in relation to a dispute with Def Jam Recordings, arising out of a licence to use a sample of a well-known recording by King Crimson in the 2010 release by Kanye West, “Power”.
  • Acting for Andy Summers in relation to a dispute regarding the contractual arrangements between him and Firstars Limited, the service company of former manager of The Police, Miles Copeland.
  • Acted for Hipgnosis Songs Fund in the sale of a catalogue of approximately 20,000 songs for a gross consideration of $23.1m.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Theatre, publishing and other media Tier 1

A go-to firm for writers, producers, creatives and other theatre-related entities, Clintons‘ theatre practice excels in the structuring of deals and productions, and related issues such as rights acquisitions, financings and licensing matters. Practice head James Jones provides assistance to both well-established production companies, and smaller producers. A longstanding reference in the theatre sector, John Cohen handles major theatre productions, and often advises creative team members - such as set, lighting and costume designers as well as choreographers - on potential issues. Stephen Pidcock, who has previously worked as a publicist in the performing arts industry, provides key commercial insight in sector-related mandates.

Practice head(s):

James Jones

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The service Clintons has provided us with has been impeccable – they have consistently represented our interests in negotiations and have provided us with a wealth of industry knowledge in order to strengthen our position, financially and reputationally.’

‘Stephen Pidcock has consistently represented our needs with care, passion and the utmost attention and always taken the time to explain the reasons for his advice. Time and again he has had difficult conversations with various parties in order to protect our interests and has done so respectfully and with delicacy which has been essential in preserving our relationships with those parties. His personal investment in us as a company is clear and incredibly valued.’

‘We have found them to be consistently helpful, responsive, flexible and efficient, offering us support on a wide range of legal matters in a way that has always left us feeling confident in their capability and ethos. Our relationship has grown over time and as our operations have become more complex and ambitious, they have supported us perfectly at every stage. ’

‘We have longstanding relationships with key members of the Clintons team. They are always personable, friendly and approachable and help us navigate the complexities of legal language and structures. They are non-judgmental and are responsive to all of our enquiries offering trustworthy and valuable advice. ’

Key clients

Showstopper Productions Limited

Side of Stage Limited

Tegan Summer Theatricals

Diamonds and Dust London Limited

Police Cops theatre company

Tom Deering

Fiery Angel

Smith and Brant Theatricals

ECN Talent Limited

AK Theatricals Limited

Ambassador Theatre Group

Bill Kenwright Limited

Breda Cashe

Crossroads Live (formerly David Ian Productions Limited)

Don Black

Dramatic Events Limited

George Stiles and Anthony Drewe

Green Room Entertainment Limited

Immersive Everywhere Limited

Jamie Wilson Productions Limited

Les Enfants Terribles

Michael Grandage Company

Michael Harrison Entertainment Limited

Mischief Worldwide Limited

New Adventures Limited

Only Connect Partners

Path Entertainment Group

Screensleeves Limited

Second Half Productions Limited

SGA Productions

Sherman Theatrical Entertainment Limited

Spitlip Ltd

Stardanced Productions Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss on the development and launch of their follow up show to the musical SIX, and on their careers in general.
  • Advised the producers of a new burlesque show with a world-famous star on all aspects of the production including the development and hire of a new West End venue.
  • Advised Wessex Grove on general matters including the presentation of several very high-profile West End productions with actors including Jenna Coleman, Ralph Fiennes, James Norton and more.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Film & TV Tier 2

Clintons handles the gamut of film and TV matters, including rights transactions and multi-party media financing deals. Documentaries, sports and music-related content are particular strengths for the practice, which is also well positioned to advise music and sports talent on their film and TV projects. Matters concerning copyright exploitation related to adaptations and remakes also feature on the team's workload. Luke Gornell, who was promoted to partner January 2023, focuses on development, production, finance and exploitation deals in the film and TV industries. Litigator Steve Joelson acts for studios, production and distribution companies on contentious issues. Previous practice head Kami Naghdi left the firm in September 2023.

Practice head(s):

Luke Gornell

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘A fantastic team – all round excellent in all aspects.’

‘Luke Gornell is a fantastic asset to Clintons, understands the needs of the project and also the delicate nature of many commercial deals whilst delivering prompt and well executed advice and guidance.’

Work highlights

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Reputation management Tier 3

Clintons is home to ‘an expert privacy and defamation team offering top-class services' to HNWIs and high-profile clients, covering the full spectrum of reputation management issues, such as defamation, malicious falsehood, misuse of private information and protection from harassment. The department is led by Roddy Chisholm Batten, who has significant expertise in privacy law and is actively involved in litigation related to the phone hacking scandal. Karim Bouzidi is noted for his work with prominent clients in the sports sector.

Practice head(s):

Roddy Chisholm Batten

Other key lawyers:

Karim Bouzidi; Caroline Hrabi; Michael Stakem; Patrick Lawrence

Testimonials

‘They were the best for me. Roddy Chisholm Batten, at Clinton’s, looked after me and got what I needed. I would recommend them to anybody.’

‘They made me feel safe, and they are very transparent in all their conversations with me.’

‘An expert privacy and defamation team offering top-class services to high-end individuals, particularly in the film and music industry.’

‘Roddy Chisholm-Batten is a leading partner in our field with an extremely strong reputation.’

‘Caroline Hrabi is an impressive and extremely reliable associate with many years of experience and an expert client handler.’

‘Michael Stakem is also an extremely hardworking and knowledgeable lawyer.’

Key clients

HRH The Duke of Sussex

Mary Nightingale

Sir Norman Lamb

Sir Vince Cable

Guy Ritchie

Kieren Fallon

Vince Cable

Louis Walsh

Viscountess Flora Hood

Hannah Weller

Work highlights

  • Represented HRH, The Duke of Sussex, in the high-profile phone hacking trial against MGN Limited in the High Court in London, in which he was awarded substantial damages for misuse of private information arising out of the ongoing phone hacking scandal.
  • Issued claim for misuse of private information in the MNHL against MGN Limited in relation to the unlawful interception of mobile telephone voicemails and the blagging of confidential information by the Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People.
  • Represented HRH The Duke of Sussex, Lisa Riley, Sir Norman Lamb, Sir Vince Cable, Guy Ritchie, Jacqui Ritchie, Kieren Fallon, Viscountess Flora Hood, Louis Walsh, Hannah Weller and others in eighteen separate claims for misuse of private information in the MTVIL against News Group Newspapers Limited in relation to the unlawful interception of mobile telephone voicemails and the blagging of confidential information by the NOTW and The Sun.

Employment > Immigration Tier 4

The immigration group at Clintons is part of a full-service firm that can provide in-house US and UK corporate immigration advice. The group has a ‘good breadth of knowledge and strategic ability‘ especially in the media, tech, advertisement and marketing sectors, and also has distinctive expertise handling transatlantic transfers in the entertainment industry. The practice is co-led by Diana Okoeva, dual-qualified and described as the ‘go to person in the UK for US immigration law‘, and business immigration expert Natasha Hotson who ‘stands out as a real technical expert in the field of immigration law‘.

Practice head(s):

Diana Okoeva; Natasha Hotson

Testimonials

‘Clintons has a strong general immigration practice with a good breadth of knowledge and strategic ability.’

‘Natasha Hotson is excellent technically and tenacious. ’

‘Natasha Hotson is a great lawyer who has built a strong and reputable team.’

‘Natasha Hotson and she stands out as a real technical expert in the field of immigration law.

‘Diana Okoeva is the go to person in the UK for US immigration law.’

‘Natasha Hotson, leading the UK immigration team, is extraordinarily knowledgeable and helpful and goes the extra mile for clients. She never ceases to provide trenchant, astute advice that makes the grey starkly black and white allowing clients to move forward with confidence. A brilliant lawyer with a can do attitude.’

 

Private client > Family Tier 4

The ‘dynamic‘ family team at Clintons is ‘streamlined and efficient’, often supporting clients in the sport and entertainment industries. Daniel Chalmers is a ‘future leader of the profession‘, specialising in matrimonial finance matters including multi-jurisdictional and Schedule 1 Children Act matters. As ‘one of the best of the best‘, Liz Vernon regularly advises on nuptial agreements and represents clients involved in mediation, arbitration, and non-court dispute resolution more widely.

Practice head(s):

Daniel Chalmers

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Liz Vernon is really outstanding. She is talented, diligent, kind and funny. Clients love her and she gets fantastic results.’

‘Clintons has a dynamic team. It is streamlined and efficient. It has always had a fresher approach than the other biggest names in the field.’

‘Liz Vernon is one of the best of the best. She has fantastic strategic oversight, while maintaining real pragmatism. I think clients (rightly) are assured, confident, and at ease with Liz.’

‘Clintons are a team with fantastic pedigree and a bright future, with a new generation of fantastic family lawyers coming to the fore. Tough, commercial, talented and client focused, they are a team to be reckoned with.’

‘Daniel Chalmers is a match for the best in the profession, successfully running serious and heavy cases. Liked and respected by his peers for good reason, he is one of the future leaders of the profession.’

‘Clintons are a well resourced firm in terms of client care, and in terms of the breadth of wider private client expertise and media expertise within the firm. They are able to offer a holistic and sophisticated service in private and international children matters. There has always been a high level of intra-team co-working which provides clients with depth of service.’

‘Daniel Chalmers is very personable and knowledgeable. He is able to establish client’s confidence in his professional advice and put them at ease, which is a powerful combination.’

‘Clintons has a small but dynamic team, led by up-and-coming partner Daniel Chalmers. The team is particularly strong in cases representing celebrities, HNWs, and others in the public-eye.’

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport Tier 6

Routinely acting for FIFA-licensed and FA-registered football agents, the Clintons team displays considerable strength in handling sports apparel endorsement agreements and misconduct charges. The ‘knowledgeable, unflappable’ Karim Bouzidi heads the group, specialising in reputational matters, while Andrew Squires May regularly represents athletes and high-profile individuals in complex disputes.

Practice head(s):

Karim Bouzidi

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Karim is one of the best sports solicitors in the sector.’

‘Karim Bouzidi – knowledgeable, unflappable and a real team player.’

Key clients

National League

Andy Mangan

Ayden Heaven

Denny Draper

Gary Lineker

National League

Oporto Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo

Sportsquake

Swimathon

Work highlights

  • Acted for Cristiano Ronaldo in respect of a misconduct charge arising out of a Premier League match between Everton and Manchester United, including at an FA Regulatory Commission.
  • Advised Gary Lineker in respect of a high-profile, worldwide news-making dispute between him and the BBC, relating to social media posts.
  • Acted for Ayden Heaven in respect of a football boot and wider sports apparel endorsement agreement with well-known sports brand PUMA.

Clintons is an award winning boutique law firm, based in Covent Garden in Central London. It specialises in representing clients in the entertainment, media, creative, digital, marketing and sports industries. It provides a full and personal service to businesses, entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals working in these and wider commercial fields.

Types of work undertaken
Music: music is a fundamental part of Clintons’ practice and has been since the firm’s foundation over 50 years ago. Clintons has helped shape today’s music industry through its clients and the transactions and cases with which it has been involved.

Theatre: the firm’s lawyers are involved in leading productions in the UK and around the world on a regular basis, representing theatrical producers in relation to UK and overseas productions, and preparing contracts with all creative elements, theatres, investors and exploiters of subsidiary rights. Clintons also represents a large number of composers, lyricists and playwrights and, in many cases, works with their agents, designers (set, costume, lighting, sound) and choreographers. Clintons also represents investors in theatre, both institutional and private. In the case of certain highly successful composers, lyricists, playwrights and designers the firm acts in effect as agent as well as lawyers, taking care of all aspects of their business.

Family: Clintons has one of the leading family law practices in the UK. Its family law practitioners are recognised as experts in their field and have been involved in many of the leading family law cases over the last decade (including the groundbreaking case of Parlour v Parlour and the widely reported Court of Appeal decision in Hvorostovsky v Hvorostovsky). The firm is well known for representing high-profile and high-net-worth individuals; at the same time it represents a broad range of people from all walks of life in connection with divorce; pre- and post-nuptial agreements and all other family law matters.

Brand management, advertising and marketing: Clintons advises on all aspects of protection and exploitation of brands – contentious and non-contentious – for brand owners, image rights holders and those involved in the provision of marketing services. The firm also has a thriving trade mark practice and is a registered representative at both the UK IPO and at the European Trade Mark registry in Alicante. Clients include brand owners, publishers, creative individuals, digital media specialists, advertising and PR agencies, sports marketing and sponsorship consultants, direct marketing agencies, individual designers, design companies, production houses, market research companies, merchandising companies and high-profile image rights holders (including sportspeople and other celebrated individuals).

Digital media and interactive content: Clintons’ long-standing media, entertainment, copyright and technology expertise has resulted in significant practice growth in representing clients active in the digital economy, particularly in the structuring and delivery of entertainment and interactive content in music, film, computer games and social media. The firm’s clients are at the forefront of the digital delivery of audio and audio visual material, including music, film, TV content and games apps and other software. For Clintons’ creative talent client base, the firm’s detailed knowledge of the digital environment is a fundamental part of the service that the firm provides. The firm’s lawyers are uniquely qualified to guide clients through corporate structures, licensing, commercial requirements and other aspects of the protection and exploitation of creative material online.

Litigation and dispute resolution: Clintons has a formidable reputation in the area of litigation and dispute resolution. Its partners are eminent in this field and handle a full range of contentious issues, including the most complex and high-profile litigation. Although the firm deals with a wide diversity of litigation matters, it will come as no surprise that it has particular expertise in entertainment, media, creative and related industries. Indeed, many of the cases in which the firm has acted have contributed to the law governing these areas. In-house lawyers and other solicitors frequently turn to Clintons for advice on substantial and complex matters.

Reputation management and protection: Clintons has a wealth of experience in advising on reputation management, including defamation. The firm’s clients include well-known recording artists, television personalities, actors and sportsmen. Clintons also represents corporate entities including talent agencies, broadcasting and software companies. The firm’s lawyers provide sound, pragmatic advice on the full range of reputational issues including defamation (both libel and slander); infringement of privacy (including claims involving alleged phone hacking); malicious falsehood/trade libel; endorsement and image rights agreements; data protection and misuse of information; protection from harassment; and dealing with the press generally.

Department Name Email Telephone
Brand management, advertising and marketing Philip Stinson
Digital media and interactive content Tom Frederikse
Film, TV and radio Luke Gornell
Music Berkeley Edwards (commercial)
Music Karim Bouzidi (litigation)
Reputation management and protection Roddy Chisholm Batten
Sport Karim Bouzidi
Theatre John Cohen
Theatre James Jones
Commercial James Jones
Corporate Chris Coates
Employment Layla Bunni (commercial)
Employment Layla Bunni (litigation)
Family Jacqueline Major
Immigration Diana Okoeva
Intellectual property Andrew Sharland (litigation)
Intellectual property Tom Frederikse (commercial)
Entertainment litigation Andrew Sharland
Entertainment litigation David Griffiths
Litigation Stephen Joelson
Property James Nethercot
Private client Andrew Kidd