Music
For over forty years Lee & Thompson has been recognised as one of the UK's leading music practices. Its influential, top tier team has a deep understanding of the music industry which it imparts with tailored precision for each of its clients. Our music lawyers understand that their clients' work typically extends beyond the confines of music and provide advise holistically, drawing on the advice of other teams and their own extensive experience.
Lee & Thompson has a long-standing and deep-rooted reputation for its representation of some of the UK’s most successful musical talent, businesses and creators. Our clients inhabit the breadth of the music industry, including artists, producers, executives, labels, publishers, management companies, agencies, societies and associations. We also represent talent and companies that exist both within and beyond the world of music, from brand agencies and live production companies to acclaimed directors that first cut their teeth on music videos. In providing such representation, we welcome the advice of colleagues across the firm, from the employment team to reputation management lawyers, to corporate colleagues and film and TV lawyers.
Our team is led by Lawrence Engel, supported by four partners who each bring their own expertise: from new artist deals to world tours, and from catalogue deals to the day-to-day commercial needs of a global star. The team is recognised for its collaborative ethos, foundational client relationships and discerning decision-making which has led to the ongoing success of its clients, and the practice itself. It is built on providing value to the client and providing intuitive dealmaking, commercial and strategic legal advice.
Our overriding objective is to support our clients’ vision and purpose. We provide an impactful and organising hand in implementing our clients’ goals, leveraging our experience and relationships across all sectors of the industry.
We remain selective in our choice of work and continue to support a dynamic and diverse class of clients crossing musical genres and spanning generations.
Our areas of work include:
- Recording and distribution agreements
- Music publishing agreements
- Management agreements
- Merchandise agreements
- Sponsorship and endorsement agreements
- Equity arrangements in brand deals
- General IP assignments and licences
- Band agreements and structures
- Live performance and touring arrangements
- Catalogue acquisitions and sales (share sales and asset sales)
- Brand protection and portfolio management
- Reputation management and defamation
- Contentious music matters, from copyright infringement to management disputes
- Data protection advice
SPECIALIST AREAS
Band agreements and structures
Brand deal equity arrangements
General IP assignments and licences
Live performance and touring arrangements
Management agreements
Merchandise agreements
Music publishing agreements
Recording and distribution agreements
Sponsorship and endorsement agreements
Related Services
