Harbottle & Lewis LLP's film and TV practice is led by Sarah Lazarides, who is praised as ‘one of the very best media lawyers’; Lazarides boasts experience advising Hollywood, UK independent players, and SVODs on a range of complex film and TV mandates, and she has advised both producers and rights holders on production deals and assisted with commercial issues and other complex matters. The team also supports clients with negotiations with sales agents, distributors, and licensees, and has assisted high-profile talent, such as actors and directors, with negotiating deals for film and TV projects. The group is sought after by clients for help discussing negotiations with industry unions. Abigail Payne is key in handling media financing issues and advises on international subsidies and tax credits. Lazarides and Payne are ably supported by Clare McGarry, who frequently advises independent production companies and streamers on development and exploitation of rights, and Catherine Flood, who assists major US studios and streams with rights acquisitions, copyright, and production issues.

Lee & Thompson LLP fields a sizeable team working across a range of film and TV production issues. The film team is led by Christos Michaels, an expert in film financing, production, and distribution, and he often assists clients with multi-party, structured arrangements and streamer deals. Richard Lever heads up the TV team and is well-known for his expertise in creating talent-based TV production companies, financing TV projects, and commercial arrangements. Nicki Parfitt spearheads the international film and TV practice, representing a range of film financiers, production companies, film sales agents, and distributors in financing, production, and distribution mandates. Reno Antoniades boasts a wealth of experience in representing film and TV production companies, while Antony Swiatek is sought after by independent producers for assistance with financing, production, development, and exploitation of audio-visual projects. Luke Carey is also noted for his work in the film and TV sector.

Sheridans is a leading firm for film and TV matters, assisting major studios, production companies, broadcasters, platforms, and financiers with a range of production and financing issues. The team also assists film and TV talent, as well distributors and sales agents, with a range of deals. Spearheading the practice, Jeremy Roberts is well-known for his work in the TV sector, advising on TV deals and equity investments as well as representing prominent actors in media-related issues. Nick Mahara is a key member of the team, acting for producers, financiers, and talent, and he predominately focuses on film-related mandates. He is well-equipped to assist international producers and studios across the US and UK with high-level talent deals. Robin Hilton works across the film, TV, and publishing arenas to assist with production, development, financing, and distribution of audiovisual content. James Kay is a film and TV expert focused on financing, production, and exploitation of content. International and domestic finance clients often turn to Kay for his expertise in media finance. Jacqueline Hurt is noted for her work on film and TV productions, and Jessica Hudson is experienced in advising on commercial and IP issues related to film and TV.

Wiggin LLP is a premier film and TV firm, advising on the full gamut of film and TV matters, including development, production, financing, content distribution, and transmission. The team draws on its multi-faceted expertise to advise clients on data privacy, tax, employment, IP, and emerging technologies. Its client base is wide-ranging and includes major production studios, streamers, financiers, broadcasters, distributors, and independent producers. The group is led by Neil Gillard, who has been key to a number of notable productions of film and TV shows, assisting with development, financing, production, and exploitation. Chris Hammond boasts great knowledge of US and UK film and TV sectors, enabling him to advise US studios on development and production in the UK. Chris Hanson is a go-to for media finance, Alexander Lea advises on tax incentives, production matters, and investments, and Gráinne McKenna acts as production counsel to US studios and indie TV production companies. David Quli is renowned for his work on film and TV financing. Sean James retired in 2025.

Clintons's film and TV practice is led by Luke Gornell and regularly assists production companies, notable individuals, including musicians and sports personalities, with their film and TV pursuits. The team often advises on complex rights transactions for both sell and buy side, media financings, and sports and music documentaries. Copyright exploitation and content finance deals are also key pillars of the practice. Gornell centres his expertise on development, production, finance, and exploitation deals for clients active in the film and TV sector. Steve Joelson is a litigation specialist who has acted for a number of studios and music companies in film and TV-related mandates. Abhinav Kumar assists the team with his notable knowledge of IP and commercial issues.

CMS‘s media team boasts strong transactional and corporate capabilities, assisting major film and TV studios, broadcasters, and talent. Besides its specialist media finance team, the firm also advises on development and production work for producers, carriage negotiations for broadcasting clients, content acquisition, and broadcasting rights deals. The team is additionally well-versed in regulatory issues, TV advertising, sales agency arrangements, M&A, and sensitive investigations. The team is jointly led by Victoria Gaskell and Paul Guite; Gaskell is a commercial media expert, while Guite is a corporate media specialist. Rebekah Hayes is noted for her specialism in media finance, often assisting with co-production funding, production, distribution, and exploitation of audio-visual content. Selina Potter excels at advising on content acquisition and distribution.

Fieldfisher has a multi-disciplinary film and TV practice that is well-equipped to assist clients with corporate, IP, tax, and commercial-related matters. The team draws on its international expertise and network to advise clients on global and cross-border transactions. It is a go-to firm for media M&A, having assisted numerous film and TV production companies with deal structuring to retain their talent and management teams. Clients also benefit from the firm’s tax specialism, fielding equity incentive specialists to advise on incentivising and retaining key players. Stephen Saltzman co-leads the team; his previous LA-based practice enables him to advise US major studios and international clients on cross-border media deals. Co-head Carlton Durrant leads the corporate media team and is key to assisting film and TV clients with corporate transactions, including M&A, joint ventures, and fundraising.

Lewis Silkin's film and TV group advises on a wide array of issues, from representing clients in contractual and commercial disputes to protecting and enforcing IP and data privacy issues. In particular, the team is well-versed in advising on online infringement of audio-visual content via piracy sites and other illegal streams. Clientele of the firm consists of studios, producers, production companies, broadcasters, and talent agencies. The media practice also draws on the firm’s employment expertise, advising broadcasters on employment issues, as well as assisting clients with investigations and immigration matters. Phil Rymer aids on film financing, production, and distribution matters, while Neil Parkes is a litigation specialist who is well-equipped to advise broadcasters, production companies, and Hollywood studios.

Simkins LLP is a specialist media and entertainment firm with strong film and TV capabilities. The team advises domestic and multinational financiers and producers on unscripted projects, documentaries, productions, and financing issues. Jonathan Blair spearheads the practice and is key to assisting clients with structuring international co-productions and financing deals. Juliane Althoff, who has recently been promoted to partner, assists with development, production, and exploitation matters, as well as the financing of film and TV works. She is also a go-to for matters related to animation productions. Giao Pacey is noted for her work on corporate film and TV mandates. The firm also represents clients in copyright infringement claims, distribution disputes, and contractual litigation.

Simons Muirhead Burton handles a mix of contentious and non-contentious work for the film and TV sector. Film financiers, independent production companies, streaming services, and broadcasters all turn to the team for assistance with domestic and cross-border productions. The practice has a wealth of experience assisting clients with documentaries that are made in the UK. Its dedicated film and TV litigation team, led by Jeffrey Smele, represents film and TV clients in disputes surrounding issues such as rights. Practice head Razwana Akram centres her practice on SVODs, film and TV production, and financing. She often advises documentary filmmakers on upcoming productions. Nick Miller co-leads the team and has assisted clients with independent feature films, animations, dramas, documentaries, and other genres of film and TV. Other than production, finance and distribution, Miller also advises on merchandising and licensing issues. Simon Goldberg is also noted for his work with production companies and talent agencies, while Blaise Gaymer helps clients with multi-party structured agreements and streamer deals.

Bristows LLP advises a number of notable production companies and streamers on advertising and marketing-related matters, as well as IP issues related to their film and TV productions. It is well-versed in assisting media clients with issues such as content acquisitions, publishing rights, licensing, digital rights management, and media buying. On the advertising side, it advises on sponsorships, promotions, and digital marketing. Paul Jordan leads the team alongside Richard Dickinson; the former focuses on advising production companies on trade mark issues, IP protection, digital marketing campaigns, and ASA investigations, while the latter is at the forefront of commercial transactions involving development, exploitation, and protection of IP rights.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP's media and digital practice team is led by Hayley Brady, who leverages her previous experience at Sky and as in-house counsel at a media company to advise on content licensing, joint ventures, regulation, and marketing. The firm assists film and TV clients with incentives, location, production, and co-production arrangements, as well as channel carriage and distribution agreements. It has also advised on wholesale content distribution, content creation and development, and talent arrangements.

Latham & Watkins's film and TV practice assists clients in the industry with content financing, development, production, acquisition, and licensing deals. It draws on its corporate strength to also advise on joint ventures, investments, dispositions, and mergers for film and TV-related companies. Rachael Astin was recently promoted to partner and leads the team alongside Patrick Mitchell. Astin largely advises US studios, international TV channel groups, and streamers on a mix of transactional and regulatory work; she also assists on live sports broadcast deals. Mitchell is a sports expert, advising sports-related clients on M&A and other commercial transactions.

Level boasts a wide team of senior lawyers focused on the media and entertainment sector, including film and TV specialists. Jennifer Parker is sought after by film and TV clients for her expertise in structuring and financing deals for documentaries and other film and TV projects. Tony Morris assists his clients with production issues and has written The Filmmakers Legal Guide to assist students in film school with legal matters. Rochelle Winn advises on the production, distribution, and creation of documentaries and live concert films for music-focused clients.

Onside Law LLP is a sports specialist firm focused on the media industry, and the team is therefore a go-to for sports-related talent on broadcast appearances, broadcast licensing arrangements, and production and distribution of content involving sports media. Practice head James Tobias leads on these types of mandates, as well as advising on licensing and exploitation of sports media broadcast rights and other audio-visual content on media platforms. Co-head Jamie Singer has wide ranging expertise across IP, commercial, and regulatory matters. The team is active in assisting with the launch of new sports-related programmes and docuseries.

Reed Smith LLP's film and TV practice is led by finance expert Michael Maxtone-Smith. He advises a wide scope of film and TV-based clients, such as banks, producers, distributors, broadcasters, and private investors, in media financings, tax credit lending, multi-party financings, and other complex transactions. The team often assists clients with cross-border financing deals, renegotiating media rights, and restructuring arrangements. It has also advised clients on industry tax incentives and implemented tax credits as part of financing structures.

Russells Solicitors is a music specialist firm that regularly assists talented individuals, such as artists and actors, in addition to film and TV production companies, with film and TV mandates. The firm handles both contentious and non-contentious issues for independent production companies and advises on the full lifecycle of film and TV productions, assisting clients from development and financing, to production and distribution. Key disputes the firm has expertise in handling include film-to-stage adaption disagreements involving complex licensing arrangements. Music expert Gavin Maude leads the team, which is home to Simon Esplen, who handles commercial transactions for biopics and documentaries for artists and bands, and Henry Priestly, who is the disputes go-to, acting for film production companies and talent.

Hansel Henson Limited focuses on the digital media side of film and TV-related mandates, assisting post-production services in handling VFX, as well as producers, co-producers, and talent. The team often negotiates and drafts talent contracts, actor agreements, and co-production agreements. Co-founding partners David Hansel and Tom Henson jointly lead the team, both advising on a mix of film financing, TV production, talent contracts, and co-production matters. The firm is also noted for its work assisting suppliers to the film and TV industry.

Howard Kennedy LLP assists film makers, production companies, and broadcasters with complex disputes cases related to defamation, IP, employment, and corporate issues. Team lead Mark Stephens is well-known for his work on international comparative media law, handling high-profile disputes for film and TV sector clients. He has handled cases related to collective licensing, IP, defamation, and privacy. Robert Lands is experienced in representing broadcasting clients in IP and data protection-related contentious issues.

Keystone Law is sought out for its specialism in litigation, often assisting individuals in the film and TV industry with IP or defamation disputes. Jacqueline Brown leads on copyright infringement disputes, while Lawrence Abramson handles media and commercial disputes, often representing individuals and corporate organisations. The team also assists film and TV clients with transactions related to funding and investments. It often advises musical artists and creatives on film and TV projects and issues.

RPC is well-known for its work in media defence, assisting film and TV clients with both contentious and non-contentious issues. The firm works with streamers and broadcasters on commercial contracts, media rights agreements, and defamation cases. IP is also a key feature of the practice, as well as film financing. Alex Wilson represents media insurers who insure film and TV industry risks, defending insured clients facing claims, as well as litigating defamation and privacy cases for the sector. Josh Charalambous advises platforms and broadcasters on sports media rights deals, production service agreements, and film and TV licensing disputes.