As Head of Media, Entertainment and Intellectual Property at Battens, Brian advises on the law around the creation, exploitation and protection of brands and content, representing a wide range of clients from independent producers to global media companies. He divides his fee-earning time between Corporate and Business, Media & Entertainment and Intellectual Property Law.
During the past 20 years Brian has developed a wealth of experience as a specialist in media law and IP. Graduating with an MA (Hons) in law from Downing College, Cambridge, he qualified with the global law firm Hogan Lovells in London in 1993, before joining Battens in 2015 at the same time as moving to the South West.
Brian has been the Legal Expert on Audio-Visual Matters for the EU at all major film and TV markets, (including MIPTV, MIPCOM and EFM) giving him a unique insight into how the worldwide media industry works. He advises a wide range of clients, from the award-winning Bristol-based producer Mallinson Sadler Productions on the legal aspects of multi series prime time documentaries to the French photographer Michael Haddi in protecting and promoting his portfolio of images.
Brian has been involved in financing, production and advisory work on major TV series and films. He has dealt with many world-renowned brands in intellectual property matters and has advised numerous business owners on corporate activity ranging from acquisitions, disposals, financing and restructuring.
Brian also handles the full spectrum of company commercial work across all industry sectors including sales and acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder and director matters and all commercial agreements, including terms and conditions and privacy policies.
Brian specialises in:
- Option/development agreements and revenue-sharing and media finance agreements,
- Trademarks and designs - advice, registration and disputes, and
- Distribution and royalty deals and production contracts
Regularly featured in the Legal 500, Brian is described as having “extensive experience in distribution agreements” and as leading a department which has a “strong pedigree in media and entertainment”.