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

Level Law

More informationMore information

Level Law‘s presence in the music sector has recently been boosted with the  additions of experienced litigator John Reid and digital and social media expert Mark Ashelford, both of whom joined from Russells Solicitors. Raffaella De Santis specialises in digital music in the growing spheres of artificial intelligence (AI) and the metaverse; she handles recording, publishing, management, live performance and touring agreements, as well as digital licensing, podcasts and live streaming matters. The commercially focused Halina Wielogorska advises leading artists and entrepreneurs on all aspects of their prospective careers.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Raffaella de Santis is conscientious, pragmatic, and is able to turn agreements around to tight deadlines. It makes a big difference knowing that she understands the commercial realities of certain situations and can give focused and practical advice.’

  • ‘The team is exceptionally able, willing and personable when it comes to all aspects of their practice. They operate well as a team and are always available to offer valuable insight and perspectives when it comes to new areas of law.'

  • 'As a team I cannot rate them highly enough.’

  • 'I cannot praise Halina Wielogorska highly enough for her professionalism and willingness to tackle the new legal challenges created by emerging technologies. She oprates in an enthusiastic, proactive and innovative manner, drawing on years of experience working in more the more traditional music and entertainment space.'

Key clients

  • Morrissey
  • Dylan Mills (Dizzee Rascal)
  • YourWorld Holdings
  • Wolverhampton Wanderers
  • Arcadia
  • SiFi Productions
  • Warner Music Entertainment
  • Never Never Productions

Work highlights

  • Advised Morrissey on a new studio record and catalogue exploitation contract with Capitol Records in the US.
  • Advised Warner Music Entertainment on the production and distribution agreements for the 'Liam Gallagher: Knebworth 22' documentary.
  • Represented Dizzee Rascal on a number of commercial transactions and the renegotiation of his existing exclusive song writing agreement with Notting Hill Music.

Lawyers

Leading Individuals

John Reid

John Reid

Level Law

John is a very experienced litigator who handles a wide range of media and entertainment disputes, including reputation management and privacy, as well as more general litigation. John is best known for handling employment work on behalf of senior executives in the music and entertainment industries. He also works on a range of reputation management and sports industry matters. John is a Band 1 ranked lawyer in the 2023 edition of Chambers & Partners UK edition, who have referred to John as “a consummate media lawyer, best known for his representation of artists, estates and celebrities in all manner of commercial and privacy disputes”.

Next Generation Partners

Halina Wielogorska

Halina Wielogorska

Level Law

Halina is a highly-regarded music and entertainment lawyer who has built up a sterling reputation during 10 years of in-house and private practice. She studied law at Oxford and trained at a top tier international law firm before diversifying into music in 2010. Halina is renowned for her highly commercial style; a skill she learned while operating at the epicentre of the business, label, publishing, sponsorship, events and legal divisions of some of the music industry’s most successful music start-ups (Boiler Room, AEI Group). She returned to private practice in 2014 to build her own practice at a leading entertainment firm, before joining Level to launch their music division in 2020. Consistently inspired and motivated by the talent spotting element of her role Halina takes great pride in utilising her extensive network of industry connections to assist artists and entrepreneurs in every aspect of their prospective careers. This means delivering a personal service every step of the way, working closely with her client to assemble a fantastic team to support and nurture them, while successfully negotiating the kind of deals that will give them the best possible chance of success, whatever that means to them. Her diverse and dynamic client base continues to grow, and includes an array of gifted individuals and businesses that are entering the industry at every level, reflecting Halina’s own unwavering passion for new music.

Other key lawyers

Halina Wielogorska, Raffaella De Santis, Irving David, Rochelle Winn, Mark Ashelford, John Reid