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

Wiggin LLP

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TThe music division at Wiggin LLP handles a range of litigation for leading UK collecting societies and trade bodies, and is further geared to provide enforcement and pre-litigation advice. Co-head Rachel Alexander is the key name on the contentious side, while oon the commercial side, the main contact is fellow co-head Alexander Ross, who advises clients in the licensee space, including film producers, studios, broadcasters, video games companies, video producers and online platforms. Elsewhere, the group have expertise in music catalogue acquisitions and disposals, working in close conjunction with the firm’s corporate team.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Rachel Alexander is organised and experienced with deep media knowledge.'

  • 'Georgina Hart is pragmatic, prepared, experienced and trusted by clients.’
  • ‘Wiggin have a thorough and deep understanding of the law and provide their clients with consistently high quality and commercial advice.’

  • ‘Rachel Alexander provides very clear advice and has a good eye for litigation. She has a strong understanding of the music sector and takes into account its nuances.'

  • 'Rachel is approachable, unflappable in a crisis, extremely hard-working, and will always make herself available to meet client requests.’

  • ‘Fantastically knowledgeable and engaged team.’

  • ‘Rachel Alexander is a standout partner.’

Key clients

  • Blokur
  • Disney
  • Downtown Music Publishing
  • International Federation of the Phonographic Industry
  • Lifescore
  • Musixmatch
  • On Air
  • One Media iP
  • Oxford University Press
  • Performing Right Society
  • Phonographic Performance Ltd
  • Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
  • Soundmouse
  • TCAT
  • Warner Music UK Limited

Work highlights

  • Representing Warner Music and Sony Music Entertainment in a substantial damages inquiry against TuneIn.
  • Advising Disney on all the music licensing for its Disney+ service across Europe, MENA and further afield.
  • Representing PRS in copyright infringement proceedings against Qatar Airways relating to the use of PRS' musical works in Qatar Airways' in-flight entertainment system.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners

Rachel Alexander

Rachel Alexander

Wiggin LLP

Rachel is a Partner in the Litigation group.  She advises media clients in a number of sectors on a wide range of contentious media and commercial matters. Having been seconded to the BPI (British Recorded Music Industry) for six months, she gained invaluable experience of rights protection in a music industry context. Rachel was heavily involved in the Newzbin litigation in 2010 which established key precedents in relation to online copyright infringement.  More recently Rachel has acted for the major Hollywood studios in cases that have developed precedents and procedures for obtaining injunctions requiring ISPs to impede access to online locations.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rachel Alexander, Alexander Ross

Other key lawyers

Peter Mason, Georgina Hart