Business Details
43 Years
experience
Expert Legal Services for Creative Industries
Lee & Thompson combines an open-minded and personal approach with a drive to succeed for clients, delivering excellence as standard. Specialising in the creative industries, we provide a full spectrum of legal services tailored to sectors such as fashion, film, music, and television. Our team of exemplary lawyers offers first-class legal and business affairs advice, underpinned by deep sector knowledge and real-life experience. With a focus on building trusted relationships, we adapt our approach to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness.Recognised by Legal 500 as a calm presence in challenging situations, our firm has maintained a reputation for reliability and expertise since 1983. We pride ourselves on understanding the evolving demands of the creative industries, providing solutions that align with both legal rigor and commercial pragmatism. Our commitment to client satisfaction is reflected in our track record of long-standing relationships and industry-specific insights.
Services
Corporate Law
Intellectual Property
Employment Law
Dispute Resolution
Media & Entertainment Law
Details
- Year established: 1983
Highlights and features
- We offer over 40 years of specialist experience in creative industries legal services
- Our lawyers are recognised by Legal 500 for excellence and reliability
- We provide tailored advice combining legal expertise with commercial understanding
- Our team adapts its approach to meet the specific needs of creative sector clients
- We maintain long-standing relationships through consistent, high-quality service delivery
What people say
Exceptional knowledge
Trusted advisors
Calm in the storm
Sector-specific insights
Responsive service
Services
Corporate Law
We advise creative industry businesses on corporate matters including mergers, acquisitions, and commercial contracts. Our expertise covers company formation, governance, and cross-border transactions. Clients benefit from our deep understanding of the sector's unique challenges and opportunities.
Intellectual Property
Our IP specialists protect creative assets through trademarks, copyrights, and brand management strategies. We handle IP disputes and licensing agreements tailored to the entertainment and media sectors. Our proactive approach safeguards clients' creative works and commercial interests.
Employment Law
We provide employment law guidance for creative sector employers and employees. Services include contract drafting, dispute resolution, and compliance with workplace regulations. Our practical advice helps maintain positive working relationships in this dynamic industry.
Dispute Resolution
Specialist lawyers handle entertainment-related disputes including contract breaches and intellectual property conflicts. We prioritise negotiated solutions while maintaining readiness for litigation. Our experience covers high-profile cases in film, music, and media sectors.
Media & Entertainment Law
Comprehensive legal support for media production, distribution, and financing. We advise on content creation, rights management, and regulatory compliance. Our team understands the commercial realities of film, television, and digital media projects.
People
Reno Antoniades
Managing Partner
Reno leads Lee & Thompson's Film & Television Group with over 20 years' experience. He advises major production companies and talent, combining legal expertise with industry insight to deliver practical solutions for complex entertainment projects.
Christos Michaels
Head of Film
Christos specialises in film production and financing, representing major studios and independent producers. With 25+ years in entertainment law, he provides strategic guidance on development, distribution, and rights management across global markets.
Julian Ward
Head of Video Games
Julian leads the Digital & Technology Group with 17 years' experience in interactive entertainment law. He advises game developers and publishers on IP protection, licensing, and regulatory compliance, combining technical understanding with commercial legal expertise.
Amanda McDowall
Partner, Dispute Resolution
Amanda handles IP disputes and brand protection cases, leveraging her dual qualifications as solicitor and trade mark attorney. She represents creative sector clients in complex litigation, focusing on practical outcomes that protect business interests.
Lizzie Payne-James
Partner, Music
Lizzie represents music industry clients including artists and rights holders. With 15+ years' experience, she specialises in recording contracts, publishing deals, and dispute resolution, offering commercially focused legal advice tailored to the sector's evolving landscape.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise in legal services for the creative industries, including corporate law, intellectual property, employment law, dispute resolution, and media & entertainment law.
Do you work with international clients?
Yes, our experience spans both UK and international creative sector clients, with expertise in cross-border transactions and global entertainment industry practices.
How do you handle entertainment industry disputes?
Our dedicated dispute resolution team focuses on negotiated settlements while preparing for litigation, with specialist knowledge of entertainment-related conflicts involving contracts and intellectual property.
Can you assist with music industry contracts?
Yes, our music law specialists advise on recording contracts, publishing agreements, and rights management for artists, producers, and rights holders across the industry.
What film and TV production legal services do you offer?
We provide comprehensive support for film and television projects including financing, rights clearance, talent agreements, and distribution arrangements tailored to production needs.
