England - London • TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Simkins LLP

More informationMore information

Simkins LLP has a particular focus on catalogue sales and acquisitions pertaining to music publishing rights and sound recordings. Managing partner Euan Lawson – known for his music expertise in both a commercial and corporate context – heads up the division, which also has a thriving talent practice including established and up-and-coming acts, in addition to acting for the estates of well-known musicians. Disputes head Paddy Gardiner is noted for his involvement in complex IP issues – an area in which Ed Baden-Powell is further instructed alongside his commercial contract work. Also within the team is the experienced litigator Tom Iverson and Ed Weidman, an expert in non-contentious matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Simkins are one of the leading specialist firms in music. They have an excellent team, with deep industry knowledge and a thorough understanding both of their clients' needs and the specialist areas of law involved.’

  • ‘Paddy Gardiner is an outstanding practitioner in this field - knowledgeable and experienced, with a command of the most complex cases.'

  • 'Paddy Gardiner has very sound strategic and tactical judgment.'

  • 'Tom Iverson is exceptionally thorough and bright. He works through all the complex issues and comes up with good solutions to any issues or problems.’
  • ‘Simkins is undoubtedly one of the leading music law firms in London. They are regularly in the largest cases for the highest profile clients.’

  • ‘Paddy Gardiner has many years of experience in the largest and highest-stakes cases. In my experience, clients rightly value his judgment enormously.'

  • 'Tom Iverson is a superbly bright partner who is cutting out a significant practice in music, film and reputational work. I would recommend him highly.’
  • ‘Very strong team with great experience and attention to detail.'

Key clients

  • Becky Hill
  • Bella Figura Music
  • Blantyre Capital
  • BMG Rights
  • Cutting Edge
  • Def Leppard
  • Experience Hendrix
  • Iron Maiden
  • One House
  • P!NK
  • Phonographic Performance Limited
  • PRS for Music
  • PRS Members Fund
  • The Extreme Music Library
  • The Spice Girls
  • Universal Music Group
  • Wilkinson

Work highlights

  • Advised the artist P!NK on her European Tour for 2023.
  • Advised Experience Hendrix and Sony Music in the defence of a claim for ownership of copyrights and royalties made by Jimi’s former bandmates in The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
  • Advised BMG Rights on the acquisition of the key music interests of the Scottish rock band, Simple Minds, and the acquisition of Jean-Michel Jarre’s publishing catalogue.

Lawyers

Leading Individuals

Ed Baden-Powell

Ed Baden-Powell

Simkins LLP

Ed is a partner in the commercial group and advises on all aspects of commercial contracts and intellectual property. His focus is on providing the firm’s corporate and entrepreneur clients with advice on their key business and operational contracts and, in particular, high-value services agreements, outsourcing arrangements, and brand protection and rights-exploitation arrangements. Ed has particular experience in acting for clients in the entertainment and media sector, including a number of leading global rights-owners, sports bodies and entertainers, and advising on a broad range of contracts within the media and sports industries, including live events. He also works closely with the firm’s corporate team on acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial franchising across a range of sectors. Before qualifying as a solicitor in the City, Ed worked in the music industry and founded his own production company, winning a MOBO award for best producer and producing several platinum records, including with Seal and Shola Ama. Ed is the co-author of the ‘Intellectual Property and Media Law Companion’ published by Bloomsbury Professional and is on the editorial board of ‘Entertainment Law Review’.

Paddy Gardiner

Paddy Gardiner

Simkins LLP

Paddy is head of the firm’s disputes group. He handles disputes across a range of sectors, particularly in the media and entertainment industries, including: breach of contract, professional negligence and shareholder claims; complex copyright and trade mark infringement claims; injunction proceedings; and proceedings in the Copyright, Tax and Competition Appeals Tribunals. Paddy has litigated many disputes through to trial, although where possible he seeks to settle them through ADR. He always seeks to deploy a sensible, pragmatic and cost-effective approach for clients. He has represented both corporates and HNW individuals, including PRS for Music, Sir Elton John, U2, PPL and the Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley estates.

Next Generation Partners

Tom Iverson

Tom Iverson

Simkins LLP

Tom specialises in dispute resolution in the media and entertainment industries. His practice is split between two main areas: entertainment-related disputes; and reputation protection and media law. Tom also frequently applies his skills to general commercial litigation. On the entertainment side, Tom has spent over 11 years advising on copyright, performers’ rights, false endorsement, passing off, royalty, management, shareholder and other contractual and tortious claims for both claimants and defendants. His experience covers music, film, television, theatre, computer games, publishing, art, design and sport. Tom has advised many world-famous entertainers and rights-holders, and acted in some of the most significant and high-profile cases of the last two decades. Tom’s media-related practice focuses on reputation protection for high-profile individuals and companies. His experience includes acting for claimants and defendants in defamation proceedings, obtaining privacy injunctions and injunctions for breach of confidence, advising on harassment issues, and defending Advertising Standards Authority complaints.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Euan Lawson

Other key lawyers

Paddy Gardiner, Ed Baden-Powell, Tom Iverson, Nick Eziefula, Ed Weidman