Creative Industries

Key Contact

Partner
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Overview
Work
Accolades & Testimonials
Meet The Team

Our Creative Industries team provides legal and business advice to a wide variety of creative enterprises.

We work collaboratively with our clients, designing business-focused solutions for entities across all corners of the creative industries, providing as much or as little support as they need. Our offering includes template documents through to bespoke drafting to create final documentation that meets specific needs.

We work for TV and film producers of all genres (including scripted and unscripted) throughout all stages of production, as well as financiers, app creators, fashion designers, brand owners, digital content creators (including audio and podcast), digital and advertising agencies and PR companies.

We understand the unique needs of each creative sector, assisting clients in their corporate and commercial arrangements, as well as in connection with employment, property and dispute resolution matters. We are adept at corporate structure requirements, standard commercial and rights contracts, IP and brand licensing/protection, employment law sensitivities in a freelance world, and property matters, from leases to premises acquisitions.

We are a trusted and practical source of advice on the full range of matters affecting the creative industries, including:

  • Funding and investor relationships
  • Industry Standard Contracts including Rights Agreements
  • Defending and bringing legal action
  • Creating and protecting intellectual property in the UK and elsewhere
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Employment and option scheme arrangements
  • Issues arising from tenders for PSB contracts, including TUPE
  • Distribution and exploitation of rights
  • Social media
  • Advising Gung Ho Communications Limited in establishing a new service operating as a stand-alone division of the group, providing a full range of services including creative strategy, visual identity, campaigns, creative content and full end-to-end production
  • Advising start-up Bright Branch Media Limited on third-party financier funding deal and corporate structure, negotiating all relevant paperwork with funders
  • Acting for the management team in connection with the management buyout of Propeller Group, a long-established specialist in B2B PR, content, and business development services for the media, marketing, e-commerce and related-tech sectors
  • Advising on the disposal of Schwa Consulting Limited, a team of writers, trainers and psychologists who use tone of voice and behavioural science to help organisations engage better with customers and colleagues, to Definition Agency Limited
  • Advising on the sale of Joluxan Holdings Limited and its subsidiary Influence Sports & Media Limited to The Mission Group Inc
  • Advising Cadastra Digital Marketing, a global marketing, technology, business strategy, data and analytics solutions company, on the acquisition of Digital Ethos
  • Advising Joio Cyf in providing all legal and business affairs support for the development and production of a film depicting the story of the establishment of S4C, the Welsh language channel. This included all agreements necessary for the production of the film
  • Acting for Carlam Ltd in connection with Contributor contracts for influencers taking part in shortform content for a broadcaster
  • Representing Merton Books Limited regarding the sale of a company owning the book rights to a high-profile BBC1 returning series, including advising on the rights ownership position and terms of sale of such company to the returning series’ production company
  • Advising Trongl Cyf in connection with all commissioning and distribution agreements, the co-production agreements and providing all cast, crew, third party material, location, composer and music clearance agreements, for a co-production of The Light in the Hall/ Y Golau, financed by Channel 4 and S4C
  • Reviewing and negotiating variations to standard commissioning and international distribution agreements on behalf of Joio Limited for Bang 2 – a £2.5 million six-part drama series for S4C, including Welsh Government funding
  • Advising a broadcaster on blanket music licensing arrangements with PRS for Music
  • Providing standard forms and negotiating variations to production pack documents for drama series, including worldwide rights packages
  • Advising ie ie Productions Limited in clearing 30+ music and footage licences for a music documentary feature film for theatrical and international release
  • Advising high-profile Bristol-based producer on the terms of a co-production agreement with an international studio
  • Drafting and negotiating a variety of development, option and underlying rights agreements for a variety of production companies

DEVELOPMENT

  • Option agreements
  • Development agreements

PRODUCTION

  • SPV set up and shareholders agreements
  • Financier loan agreements and security agreements
  • Interparty/multiparty financing agreements
  • Co-production and co-financing agreements
  • Commissioning agreements
  • Writer agreements
  • Chain of title
  • Production pack
  • Cast and crew agreements
  • HoD agreements
  • Location agreement
  • Photographer agreement
  • Contributor agreements
  • Release forms
  • Composer agreements
  • Stills licence
  • Compliance checks
  • Ofcom
  • Completion bond agreements
  • Collection account management agreements

EXPLOITATION

  • Sales agency agreements
  • Distribution agreements
  • Acquisition agreements
  • Merchandising agreements

Accolades

  • The Media & Entertainment Team is ranked Tier 2 in the Legal 500
  • The Media & Entertainment Team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners

Testimonials

“I always feel that Acuity is able to offer in the media field a large-firm level of knowledge and service, but at a lower cost.”

“The team at Acuity have a highly commercial approach. They always have the client’s interests at heart.”

“A fantastic team of professionals never afraid to go over and above for our business.”

“We have always found Acuity to be an excellent firm which provides clear, quick and reliable advice that we can count on. The team we work with is always responsive and provides a clear direction on complex matters in which we require an expert opinion.”

“The team is rigorous in ensuring that technical matters are properly addressed in their legal advice.”

“The team is great at all levels, and they have excellent knowledge and experience.”

Angharad Evans, Partner at Acuity Law

Angharad Evans

Consultant
Cordelia Payne, Intellectual Property Partner at Acuity Law

Cordelia Payne

Consultant Partner
Steve Berry, Acuity Law Chairman

Steve Berry

Partner
Tessa Laws, Partner at Acuity Law

Tessa Laws

Consultant Partner
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