Creative Industry Solicitors
Key facts: Creative business legal advice
- We provide expert legal advice and representation in relation to all creative endeavours, including clients in advertising and marketing, television, theatre, music, art, publishing, architecture, technology, and all spheres of design.
- Our services to creative businesses cover intellectual property, contracts, dispute resolution, creative rights management, marketing, advertising, branding, employment, commercial property, immigration and much more.
- As Harper James is a full-service commercial law firm, our creative industries solicitors can tap into the combined knowledge of our other legal specialists for a seamless and holistic legal service.
- We understand the importance of protecting the reputation and interests of those we represent. Everything we do and recommend will be done so with confidentiality and your reputation in mind.
- Our creative industries lawyers can offer a range of strategies to resolve any disputes. When it comes to contentious matters, we are strong advocates for alternative dispute resolution methods in the first instance, as these can lead to amicable resolutions which are realised faster, with less cost, and without long term damage to relationships
- Our offices are in Sheffield, Birmingham, Cambridge, Manchester and London if you need a meeting, but we typically work remotely to keep our overheads low which enables us to offer our innovative pricing packages.
What our creative sector lawyers do
At Harper James, we are proud to advise the UK’s creative industries. Our creative sector solicitors keep abreast of the latest cases, legislative changes, and industry developments, to ensure our clients receive smart, pragmatic, insightful, and tailored legal services.
Our creative industries solicitors work closely with a range of sector stakeholders in the areas of design and fashion, broadcasting, and the arts (including music, literature, film, theatre and television), on all of their legal matters. We advise and represent designers, musicians, directors, writers, performance artists, content creators, television and radio presenters, software and IT, architects, publishers and cultural institutions such as libraries, museums, galleries, theatres and exhibition venues.
Our creative industry solicitors possess specific knowledge of the matters which underpin the following areas of law:
- Advertising, influencers and marketing
- Art
- Brand merchandising
- Intellectual property protection and infringement, including intellectual property disputes and intellectual property strategy
- Creative rights management
- FMCG
- Fashion and beauty
- Product design and development
- Media, entertainment and publishing
- Finance and investment
- Commercial contracts
- Data protection & privacy
- IT & commercial technology
- Immigration law (for example, Tier 1 Exceptional Talent)
Legal advice for creative industries
Assisting creative business growth
Regardless of your legal requirements, or creative specialism, we are here to assist you. Our media and creative solicitors appreciate how much skill, time, and determination it takes to produce quality creative work. As such, we will work to protect your creative assets, mitigating the exploitation of your rights, assets, and intellectual property.
Furthermore, thanks to our experience in this sector and focus on start-ups, entrepreneurs and SMEs, we can help develop creative businesses and will support your business during its key stages of inception, funding (and funding agreements), growth, partnerships, acquisition, and sale.
And because Harper James is a full-service law firm, we can advise and represent you on all aspects of commercial law beyond the creative aspects. We can assist in relation to property, employment, disputes, reputational management, and commercial law. This is what sets Harper James apart; the advice and legal strategies we recommend are considered from all possible perspectives.
Creative industries agreements and contracts
As a creative industries law firm, our solicitors can advise and represent you in drafting and reviewing a wide range of creative law agreements, contracts, and legal documents, including:
- Management, agent & distribution agreements
- Copyright assignments and notices
- Provision of services
- Creative commissioning contracts
- Digital marketing agreements
- Finance and funding agreements
- Commission and royalty agreements
- IP assignments
- Licenses
- Publishing contracts
- Terms and conditions of business
- Trademark, patent, and design right applications (UK and international)
- Transfer of creative rights (including syndication)
Our team of specialist creative industries lawyers will work with you to determine your specific requirements and objectives and those of your business, making recommendations and add value wherever possible.
Creative industry solicitors with sector expertise
Our solicitors have all been recruited from top 100 law firms or international businesses, and come with a wealth of experience and expertise in all areas of the creative sector. Our team spans several legal practice areas, so whatever legal advice you need, we have a business solicitor with experience advising creative businesses and able to deal with your needs quickly and cost-effectively.
Some of their previous work within the creative/arts sector includes:
- Renegotiating a well-known children’s book illustrator’s relationship with his publishing company leading to greatly increased revenues from merchandising, theatrical and TV productions
- Consumer product personalisation and brand merchandise deals for major children’s TV characters
- Acting for a number of fashion designers throughout London Fashion Week
- Acting for high end shoe designers on cases of intellectual property infringements
Our three transparent pricing packages are designed to give you the widest possible access to high-quality legal advice, whatever the size and nature of your business:
City
Straightforward access to senior solicitors from £200 per hour.
An affordable solution for businesses needing one-off legal support. Receive 'City' partner-level expertise at a fraction of 'City' prices.
Enterprise
Have legal peace of mind for £189 per month with additional support from £99 per hour.
A monthly subscription legal support package specifically designed for start-ups and smaller businesses.
On-Demand
For businesses requiring 60+ hours of support a year, with prices equivalent to £99 per hour.
Fully account managed quarterly subscription service for businesses with more complex legal needs.
