Wiggin LLP‘s music team is routinely engaged in complex contentious and non-contentious matters, where it acts for a predominantly corporate client base made up of record labels, digital rights companies, streaming services and online platforms. The team boasts strong knowledge of corporate, commercial and regulatory issues, and often assists with catalogue acquisitions and disposals, and mandates concerning generative AI issues and IP law. Rachel Alexander, who excels in copyright and trade mark disputes as well as AI-related issues, leads on contentious work. Georgina Hart offers key support in music-related IP litigation. Alexander Ross oversees non-contentious matters, providing assistance to record labels, publishers, digital platforms and collecting societies in relation to collective rights licensing and music catalogue deals. Peter Mason works alongside Ross in music licensing matters, and also advises on copyright and AI-related issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Worked with Wiggin in the context of mediation. Pragmatic approach to problem-solving, talented team of lawyers who seems to work well together collaboratively.’

  • ‘Rachel Alexander has a very structured and pragmatic approach. She is very experienced, talented and has deep knowledge/expertise in EU competition law and media law. Georgina Hart is trusted by clients; she is a very smart, well-prepared, talented and experienced lawyer.’

  • ‘Wiggin has lawyers that are not only experts in their legal field, but also have great experience in advising in relation to all aspects of the music industry. Wiggin can give reliable and solid legal advice in advancing and untested technological fields.’

  • ‘Rachel Alexander leads the team with incomparable skill. Georgina Hart is brilliant.’

  • ‘The team at Wiggin is exceptional. It has acted in some of the most high-profile music litigation cases of recent years. It has strong links with industry bodies and exceptional knowledge of the music sector and the intellectual property issues arising in this space.’

  • ‘Rachel Alexander is just brilliant. She is an excellent strategic thinker, extremely engaged, very responsive, and gets real results for her clients. She is fantastic to work with.'

  • ‘Best-in-class knowledge of copyright and enforcement. Legal advice and strategic input is second to none.’

  • ‘Rachel Alexander - our go-to expert for the most challenging copyright issues and complex disputes. Rachel's knowledge and strategic counsel is key to pushing our business to the next level. Georgina Hart - a brilliantly detailed and knowledgeable lawyer. We always feel in safe hands when Georgina is on the case! Freya Hadrill - a confident and engaging lawyer. Definitely one-to-watch for the future!’

Key clients

  • Disney
  • Downtown Music Publishing
  • International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)
  • Performing Right Society (PRS)
  • Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL)
  • On Air B.V.
  • One Media iP
  • Oxford University Press
  • Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited
  • Soundmouse
  • TCAT
  • Warner Music UK Limited

Work highlights

  • Acting for Warner Music, and Sony Music Entertainment in a High Court damages inquiry against TuneIn Inc., having established liability for copyright infringement.
  • Advising Disney on all the music licensing for its Disney+ service across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rachel Alexander, Alexander Ross

Other key lawyers

Peter Mason, Georgina Hart, Freya Hadrill