Praised for its ‘very responsive and dedicated practice’, Simkins LLP is notably well-versed in the media and entertainment space, often representing clients before the IPEC, High Court, and UK and EU IPOs. Paddy Gardiner helms the team with his arsenal of skills across the music, film and TV sectors, while Jim Dennis, who possesses more than 25 years of experience in the field, handles the full gamut of IP rights. Tom Iverson is another name to note in the practice, bolstering the group with his IP disputes expertise.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very responsive and dedicated practice, highly experienced trademark practice, always gets best results even in difficult cases.’

  • ‘Jim Dennis is outstanding, providing very helpful advice and he is highly efficient in achieving the goals of the clients.’

  • ‘Simkins is unquestionably one of the leading specialist teams in this sector. They have extensive experience and a detailed understanding of this field. There are very few firms which can match them.’

  • ‘I have worked in particular, on a number of matters over the years, with Paddy Gardiner and Tom Iverson. They are both outstanding practitioners in this area. They are highly experienced and knowledgeable, with excellent strategic and tactical judgement.’

  • ‘Their deep expertise in music, film and other entertainment law means they are in many of the largest cases.’

  • ‘Paddy Gardiner is one of the top copyright and music litigators in the UK. He is a dream lawyer for any client: clever, pleasant, even-tempered and consistent. Always a voice of calm and reason.'

  • 'Tom Iverson has a blue-chip entertainment and reputation practice. His charm and sense of humour bely an extremely keen intellect and commercial nous.’

  • ‘Top notch player in IP in the media and entertainment field. You won't go wrong with them.’

Key clients

  • Jimi Hendrix Estate dba Experience Hendrix, LLC
  • David Bowie Estate dba Jones
  • Tintoretto Entertainment Company
  • Florence Black
  • Becky Hill
  • KPMG LLP
  • Rude Health Foods Limited
  • Lonza Group
  • Boat Rocker Rights, Inc.
  • Pepper Group
  • The Blair Partnership
  • SunnyMarch Ltd SunnyMarch Holdings Limited
  • Amnesty International Limited

Work highlights

  • Acting for Sony Music UK in defending a High Court claim relating to ownership of copyrights, performers’ rights, and royalties by heirs of former members of The Jimi Hendrix Experience and assisting Experience Hendrix (the owner of copyrights and related rights derived from Jimi Hendrix’s estate) with concurrent proceedings also ongoing in New York.
  • Advised Experience Hendrix L.L.C, which is owned by the family of the late Jimi Hendrix, on managing the IP rights arising from his life and works.
  • Advised Becky Hill on protecting her name as a trademark.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Paddy Gardiner

Other key lawyers

Jim Dennis, Tom Iverson