Broadcasting, Media & Entertainment Solicitors
Creation, exploitation and protection of rights
Media and entertainment businesses are of huge importance to the economy. Management of the assets and rights upon which these business base their activities is of fundamental importance, whether these assets come in the form of audio-visual content, traditional written works, talent arrangements, or otherwise, and whether rights come in the form of broadcasting arrangements, recording and publishing agreements, sponsorship, endorsement and association rights, or otherwise.
Our experience in the sports sector is unrivalled in Scotland and we have dealt with the majority of the main sports broadcasting agreements relating to the jurisdiction. We also dealt with all of the main sponsor arrangements for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. In addition, we provide online monitoring and takedown services for many clients to assist in their brand management activities.
We are one of the few practices in Scotland that has in depth experience in the music sector, with members of our team having worked in house for major record labels, in artist management, and for music broadcasters such as MTV. We advise on a multitude of matters, including artist management agreements, recording and publishing contracts, and merchandising and endorsement arrangements.
Our team also has experience in the publishing sectors, in relation to the fiction, factual and academic publishing. We have a strong relationship with Publishing Scotland, and often assist their members.
Our team's experience spans the worlds of music, sport, publishing and more, with in depth knowledge of issues from broadcasting to sponsorship and the protection of all manner of rights.
Key contacts - get in touch
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Partner
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Partner
Key services
- Broadcasting
- Brand management
- Defamation and libel
- Film and TV production arrangements
- Image rights
- Merchandising
- Recording and publishing arrangements
- Sponsorship
Work examples
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
We were the legal advisors to the XX Commonwealth Games. Around 1.5 billion people tuned in to watch the Games. We advised the organising committee on all of its key arrangements, including the host broadcaster agreement, regional rights holder agreements and its key sponsorship agreements. We also provided the external brand management function for the Games, addressing a multitude of online and offline infringements in the run up to, and during, the Games, both in the UK and further afield.
Music festivals and events
We advise some of the UK’s main service providers to music festivals, such as Glastonbury, T in the Park and Bestival, and have advised on large scale music events and the opening and closing ceremonies of the XX Commonwealth Games.
Professional football
We assist professional football clubs in counteracting brand misuse and counterfeiting by monitoring, via a team of football-savvy trained lawyers, multiple online platforms, then seeking takedown of infringing pages, sites and products. Operating on a fixed fee basis, our services help the club avoid the diversion of significant consumer trade.
Publishing Scotland
We work with Publishing Scotland, to support them in their activities in Scottish publishing industry
Film & TV production
Advising on various co-financing, programme purchase, production and release documentation, including production and consent matters relating to Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
Integral to the practice is Tom Thomas; he is considered a go-to name for sponsorship and broadcasting agreements in addition to commercial and IP property rights.
Legal 500 2021
Tom Thomas advises corporate and public sector customers and also BPO service providers and tech companies on all manner of IT outsourcing and procurement transactions. He has additional expertise with regard to sports and broadcast media.
Chambers UK 2021
"Tom is excellent - personable, fast-working and thorough."
Tom Thomas is brilliant, he has got to know our business and helped us in a new area of development that had considerable risk’ says a client.
Legal 500 2021
Contact us
Call us for free on 0330 159 5555 or complete our online form below for legal advice or to arrange a call back.
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