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Media: Film & TV

Lee & Thompson LLP

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Richard Lever heads up the television side of Lee & Thompson LLP’s practice, while fellow co-head Christos Michaels is more focused on the film sector. Lever’s broad expertise spans the creation of talent-based television production companies, the set-up and financing of high-end television projects, and related commercial arrangements. Michaels specialises in the financing and production of independent films in addition to implementing exploitation models of emerging and established media. Other recommended individuals include managing partner Reno Antoniades, internal film and television head Nicki Parfitt, head of media finance Sam Tatton-Brown and Antony Swiatek.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘They have expertise across the piste and often draw on specialists within the firm to handle unusual matters that occur. Our experience with the team has been exemplary and we believe they are the market leaders in our field.’

  • ‘Richard Lever is the top television lawyer in the UK. He is a strategist and is woven into many corporate transactions but when necessary he is also happy to roll up his sleeves and work on a gnarly production or financing deal.'

  • ‘The team are uniquely strong in the independent film business. Their knowledge of the challenges facing independent UK film producers is second-to-none.’

  • ‘Nicki Parfitt is hard-working, knowledgeable and gives great advice. The more I work with her, the more impressed I am.'

  • 'Luke Carey is exceptional as a film lawyer in that he used to work for a production company and so knows the business from our side.'

  • 'Lee Stone has made himself an indispensable human resource to us, as he was quickly able to understand our business on an intimate level. This, along with the broad pool of experience he draws from, has allowed him to let his legal work be governed by a sharp intuition which enables him to often find practical solutions which help to ameliorate technical or commercial impasses that will invariably arise in our industry.'

Key clients

  • Head Gear
  • Lorton Entertainment
  • Amy Jackson
  • National Bank of Canada
  • Lookout Point
  • Studio 99
  • Zephyr Films
  • Firebird Pictures
  • Cornerstone Pictures
  • Media Finance Capital

Work highlights

  • Acted for acclaimed producer, Amy Jackson, on her Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning film, Aftersun.
  • Advising Studio 99 on its production of a high-end episodic documentary series on the life of iconic footballer David Beckham.
  • Advised Lorton Entertainment on the finance, distribution and production elements of two Apple TV-based feature length documentaries, including "Boom! Boom: The World vs Boris Becker".

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Reno Antoniades
Hall of fameLee & Thompson LLP
Reno is managing partner of Lee & Thompson. He trained at the City firm Herbert Smith and spent the first two years of his career in their corporate department. It was at Olswang that he began his career in the film and television industries and in 1994 Reno joined Lee & Thompson where he has built up the film and television practice from a near standing start to where it is today. With 22 fee earners, the group is acknowledged as being the largest team of lawyers in the UK working in the creative audio-visual sector. Recognised for his extensive experience and ability to manage and close complex deals, Reno has, for many years, been acknowledged by the industry as one of the leading film and television content lawyers in the UK and represents an extensive list of independent film and television production companies.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Nicki Parfitt
Lee & Thompson LLP
Nicki trained at the city firm Denton Hall and, after qualifying in 1993, spent two years in their media department specialising in publishing and libel law and also acting for a number of film and television production and distribution companies. In 1996, Nicki joined Pearson Television and became Head of Legal and Business Affairs for Pearson Television Productions in continental Europe and Latin America. In 1998, she was appointed as the Head of Legal and Business Affairs and a Board Director of Portman Entertainment Group (now Digital Rights Group). During this time Portman established itself as a prominent packager, executive producer and sales agent of international feature films and television drama programming and Nicki developed an expertise in the financing, production and distribution of high profile UK and international productions and co-productions. Nicki joined Lee & Thompson as a partner in April 2001. In 2006 she left to pursue another role as a director in the film sales sector and returned to the firm as a partner in 2011. She represents a number of financiers, sales agents and production companies. Her sales agency work is unique in that it is unprecedented for a private practice lawyer to have worked so extensively within the film sales sector as well as running  a film sales agency.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Antony Swiatek
Lee & Thompson LLP
As a Partner in the firm’s Film, Television & Games Group, Antony advises leading independent producers and other talent-led production companies in connection with the development, financing, production and exploitation of a wide variety of film and television projects. Antony joined Lee & Thompson as an associate on qualification in September 2011, after an introduction to film financing transactions at Ingenious Media and 4 years as a film production liaison, then a trainee, at Olswang. Antony has extensive experience of UK independent feature film production as well as international co-productions involving countries across Europe, North America and Asia, and he also works closely with clients on high-end television projects and SVOD/streamer commissions. Over the last few years, Antony has developed a growing specialism in life rights adaptations and documentary projects, particularly those relating to the worlds of music and sport. Antony is a regular speaker at industry events and seminars, including training and mentoring for emerging producers via the James Walker Legacy Award, the National Film & Television School and Film London.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Richard Lever, Christos Michaels

Other key lawyers

Reno Antoniades, Nicki Parfitt, Sam Tatton-Brown, Anwen Griffiths, Stephen Spence, Antony Swiatek, Luke Carey, Lee Stone

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