Broadcasting, media & entertainment solicitors
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.
Overview
Creation, exploitation and protection of rights
Our media and entertainment practice is extensive, and market leading. We deal with all types of matter on a day to day basis, including broadcasting, image rights exploitation, social media, content creation and protection, and traditional forms of media and rights exploitation.
We have particular experience in relation to music, our team including professionals that have worked on an in house level in the recording, management and music publishing industries. We support the Musicians Union and its members. We have similar experience in the publishing sector, and support Publishing Scotland and its members.
In broadcasting, film and television, we have assisted upon most of the major sports broadcasting deals in Scotland in the last 20 years. We have also advised upon many of Scotland’s major location filming arrangements, and continue to work with many sector funders in relation to both scheme and specific project support.
On a governmental level, we have assisted with the drafting and implementing of new media and entertainment related legislation, at both a Scottish and UK parliament level.
Our team is recognised for its expertise in the Legal 500 and Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession, and includes specialists accredited and certified by the Law Society of Scotland.
Key contacts
THE TEAM
We advise on a diverse range of issues affecting media and entertainment clients.
Services
Our services
We provide a full range of services in all areas including:
Early stage project support
Overview
Working with industry organisations, we have developed a multitude of sector specific documentation which we make available to organisation members, particularly those at an early stage. We also assist clients with the development of project specific documentation, to facilitate the progression of concepts into reality. We have substantial experience advising upon and assisting clients in relation to, funding matters in the media and entertainment sector.
Rights acquisition and exploitation
Overview
Our team is highly experienced in relation to rights acquisition and exploitation, on a UK and international level. Matters we have assisted upon often concern household names in the music, publishing, television, film and streaming sectors. Working with our network of trusted contacts, we are attuned to identify and deal with peculiarities in rights matters which may arise in foreign jurisdictions, whether licensing, transfer, optioning or investment.
New media
Overview
As we work at the forefront of media and entertainment law, our knowledge grows as technology, practice and society develops. Our team is therefore well suited to advise on new means of rights commercialisation, whether it be influencer or digital creator arrangements, to novel platform based content delivery means.
Disputes
Overview
We have one of the leading contentious practices in Scotland. We regularly assist clients both locally and internationally in relation to media and entertainment disputes. Recent work has included addressing contentious matters in jurisdictions diverse as the United States, Argentina, England and South Korea.
Work
Our work
Equitable remuneration
Overview
Assisting in relation to the development and progression of proposed UK legislation The UK Copyright (Rights and Remuneration of Musicians, Etc.) Bill.
Film City Futures
Overview
Advising in relation to the creation and operation of Scotland’s Film City Futures project.
Location release work
Overview
Assisting with location use arrangements concerning access for producers diverse as the BBC, Warner Brothers, and Marvel Studios.
Enduro Sports
Overview
Assisting Enduro Sports Organisation Ltd, the owner and operator of the UCI recognised Enduro World Series (EWS) and EWS-E – the leading mountain bike and electric mountain bike championships – with investment by Discovery, Inc.
“Harper Macleod has the strength in depth and breadth of expertise that comes with a larger firm but combined with a very approachable, responsive and service-oriented approach.”
“Harper Macleod has a pragmatic, commercial approach, driven by cost sensitivities and client relationship. They are extremely responsive and reliable.”
“A focus on the smaller parts of the creative industries and a generosity of time and spirit is what characterises Harper Macleod’s work for us.”
“Top notch knowledge and experience. Excellent client care.”
“Harper Macleod are superb. They offer complete and accomplished expertise for both businesses and individuals. Our firm has used them primarily for Intellectual Property and Information Law and Employment Law matters. Work has always been performed to a very high standard and the partners are very experienced, insightful and able to work to deadlines. Also, all work is itemised in their Practice Management and reported for billing offering both transparency and confidence.”
“We have always been very impressed with their commercial approach to dealing with quite complex areas of law. We often need them to filter their Scottish law advice into our wider UK advice and they do this seamlessly and in a way which is pitch perfect for our clients.”
“Jamie Watt is experienced in a wide range of areas and I can always pick up the phone to him if I have a question, no matter how big or small. He always delivers pitch-perfect advice with a deft commercial touch.”
“Jamie Watt is an excellent commercial lawyer offering sound, sensible and pragmatic advice that goes to the heart of the issue at hand. His communication style is efficient and to the point, which makes it clear and easy to understand.”
“Jamie is an excellent commercial lawyer, offering sensible and pragmatic advice. His communication style is very clear, straightforward and to the point, and therefore easy to understand and relay onwards.”
“Incisive feedback which raises lateral ways of approaching complex problems.”
“Jamie Watt is responsive, vastly experienced and delivers spot on advice through a commercial lens.”
Insights
Insights
Take two: The law behind artists re-recording their music
Insights
Copyright protection beyond the author’s lifetime
Insights
Dua Lipa’s Levitation Litigation
Insights
The use of artificial intelligence in the publishing industry
Insights
Ed Sheeran and the blurred lines around copyright infringement claims
CONTACT US
Call us for free on 0330 159 5555 or complete our online form below to submit your enquiry or arrange a call back.