Harbottle & Lewis LLP is the first port of call for global publishers and IP owners, including Take-Two Interactive, Electronic Arts and SEGA, in addition to leading trade associations, indie studios and esports organisations. With combined expertise in commercial, corporate, IP and regulatory matters, Mark Phillips and Kostyantyn Lobov co-head the firm’s interactive entertainment group. Also recommended is Rupam Davé for his involvement in tech and commercial partnerships, which includes advising on emerging technologies, adtech and software licensing, among others.
Media: Video games in London
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Responsables de la pratique:
Kostyantyn Lobov; Mark Phillips
Autres avocats clés:
Rupam Dave; Charles Leveque
Les références
‘The team has a distinct boutique feel and as such is making a particular effort to understand the client’s particular situation, providing advice with this in mind.’
‘The individuals are very available and prompt in their responses – their knowledge of the law and the industry sector is profound and very helpful.’
‘We have enjoyed the collaboration with Kostyantyn Lobov and Charles Leveque – both are knowledgeable, responsive and pragmatic.’
Principaux clients
SEGA
Take-Two Interactive
Electronic Arts
The Pokémon Company International
Square Enix
Rebellion
Supersonic
Electric Noir
Kindred Concepts
UKIE
Principaux dossiers
- Advising SEGA on tech and data protection matters pertaining to development, customer contracting, cloud arrangements and outsourcing.
- Advice to Take-Two Interactive on commercial, tech, advertising and regulatory matters relating to iconic games franchises, such as GTA, which defined their respective genres.
- Advising Electronic Arts on their UK trademark portfolio.
Sheridans
Sheridans provides the full breadth of interactive entertainment advice, advising on corporate transactions, commercial contracts, finance, IP and tax matters. The team acts for leading national and international games companies, from independent developers to big name publishers, as well as esports teams, streamers, and influencers. The team is jointly headed by Alex Tutty, an expert in emerging areas such as the use of NFTs and blockchain technologies, and Jamie Smith, an established individual in the advertising sector. Computer game veteran Alex Chapman places a particular focus on the exploitation of IP rights.
Responsables de la pratique:
Alex Tutty; Jamie Smith
Autres avocats clés:
Alex Chapman; Rahul Gandhi; Christiana Loizides; Sian Squires; Bethan McGrath
Les références
‘A practice that is able to help with any area of our niche business.’
‘Advice is always pragmatic and commercial.’
‘Always impressed with the attentive level of service, no matter the individual.’
Wiggin LLP
Deeply ingrained in the video game sector, Wiggin LLP is a go-to for leading content creators, publishers, platforms, esports companies and trade associations. Specialising in tech and commercial transactions, Paul Gardner heads up the interactive entertainment team, which is a regular advisor on various contractual, IP and regulatory matters. Peter Lewin – promoted to partner in April 2023 – is further praised for his expertise in games publishing and licensing, IP rights and games-related regulation. Associate Isabel Davies also comes recommended for her insight the mobile and casual gaming markets.
Responsables de la pratique:
Paul Gardner
Autres avocats clés:
Peter Lewin; Isabel Davies
Les références
‘Prime insight into video games sector with a friendly and client-focused approach.’
‘Paul Gardner is our go-to person for game development legal issues – he is experienced, knowledgeable and professional.
‘Peter Lewin is very clever, creative and to-the-point.’
Principaux clients
Wargaming.net Limited
Starbreeze
Riot Games
The Yogscast
Improbable Worlds
Electronic Arts
Stillfront
Robot Teddy
Railsimulator.com (t/a Dovetail Games)
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Wargaming.net Limited on its withdrawal from the Russian Federation and Belarus.
- Advised Starbreeze on its acquisition of several video game IPs, the establishment of a new UK studio, and its expansion into third-party games publishing.
- Advised Riot Games on its copyright infringement lawsuit against internet conglomerate NetEase.
Baker McKenzie
With clients such as Google and Take-Two Interactive turning to Baker McKenzie, the team is noted for its expertise in the video game arena. Solicitor advocate Ben Allgrove, who anchors the regulatory and IP litigation offering, co-heads the practice with William Holder, whose transactional capabilities cover acquisitions and disposals, consortium arrangements, IPOs, venture capital investments, corporate structurings and reorganisations, among others. John Groom - promoted to partner in July 2022 - comes recommended for his focus on copyright, digital media, and new technologies.
Responsables de la pratique:
Ben Allgrove; William Holder
Autres avocats clés:
John Groom
Principaux clients
Accenture
BBC
Egmont Publishing
Hutch Games
IMG / Endeavor
Index Ventures
Inspired Entertainment
Netflix
ORFIUM
RedFoxLabs
Signal.AI
Sony
Sovereign Films
Spotify
Take Two Interactive
Principaux dossiers
- Advice to Embracer Group on its acquisition of development studios Crystal Dynamics, Eidos-Montréal, Square Enix Montréal and a catalogue of IPs including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, Legacy of Kain, among others.
Bird & Bird LLP
Bird & Bird LLP is a regular advisor on major corporate, data, IP, consumer and advertising mandates. Senior associate Will Deller heads up the practice, which continues to receive instructions in the burgeoning Web3 and Metaverse markets, as well as from traditional sports bodies seeking the team’s expanding esports expertise. Seasoned litigator Phil Sherrell is the first port of call for global gaming giants including Take Two Interactive and Epic Games.
Responsables de la pratique:
Will Deller
Autres avocats clés:
Phil Sherrell; Simon Fielder; Nick O’Donnell
Principaux clients
Epic Games
ICE
TuneIn
DAZN
Activision Blizzard
Palma Pictures
Warner Bros. Discovery
TikTok
Tencent
Radiant
Aser Media
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Mobile Premier League on the acquisition of Berlin-based GameDuell, including its international subsidiaries.
DLA Piper
Known for his work in the convergent worlds of content, tech and e-commerce, Duncan Calow heads up DLA Piper's gaming, social media and interactive content practice, which focuses on guiding gaming giants through high-value corporate transactions. Nick Fitzpatrick is a regular advisor to global rights holders on IP and regulatory matters in the esports space, as well as exclusive management arrangements with esports competitors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Duncan Calow
Autres avocats clés:
Nick Fitzpatrick
Lee & Thompson LLP
Lee & Thompson LLP has an extensive client roster comprising of UK and international game developers, publishers, platforms and creative individuals. With digital, IP and tech expert Julian Ward at the helm, the team is well-placed to advise on music licensing arrangements in the Metaverse, video game development and publishing transactions, M&A deals and IP rights. The group often draws on the firm’s broader media finance expertise, as well as from members within its corporate, commercial, employment, data protection, IP and dispute resolution teams.
Responsables de la pratique:
Julian Ward
Autres avocats clés:
Andy Florence
Les références
‘Julian Ward is always accessible and understands our business – nothing is too much trouble with him.’
‘Andy Florence is technically a very good lawyer – when engaging with our stakeholders, he can cut through issues and speak in a language our internal clients understand.’
Principaux clients
Lockwood Publishing
Jagex
Team 17
FunPlus
Bonsai Games
Pixel Toys
GameBake
Reality Gaming
Nitro Circus
Hutch Games
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Lockwood Publishing Limited on the licensing requirements for featuring music within a Metaverse games world.
- Advised Jagex on a multi-million-dollar videogame development and publishing transaction concerning the critically acclaimed game SpacePunks.
- Advised Bonsai Games on a major investment and publishing deal with Superfund Inc.
Lewis Silkin
Commercial and transactional IP expert Nick Allan heads up the interactive entertainment practice at Lewis Silkin, which receives regular instructions from large multinational publishers, independent game developers, VR/AR game studios, metaverse and esports developers, and adtech companies. The team has experience advising on commercial contracts, publishing and licensing agreements, IP rights, brand management and content distribution, as well as various corporate, consumer and data protection matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nick Allan
Autres avocats clés:
JJ Shaw
Les références
‘Nick Allan is technically very sharp and always willing to help.’
‘Nick Allan’s knowledge of the gaming market sets him apart from other lawyers – he is technically excellent, responsive and knows our business inside out.’
‘The team has excellent background and insights on the sector – it is skilled and offers practical advice to international clients.’
Principaux clients
Keywords Studios PLC
Silver Rain Games
ustwo Games
Jagex
Piggyback Interactive
Dubit
XR Games
Dovetail Games
Panivox
Blink Games
Principaux dossiers
- Advising Keywords Studios on their UK outsourced commercial contracts and employment work.
- Advising Silver Rain Games on commercial contracts, IP, brand management, employment and corporate matters.
- Advising X R Games Limited on a funding round co-led by existing investors Praetura Ventures and Maven Capital Partners.
Reed Smith LLP
Under the leadership of Gregor Pryor and Sophie Goossens (who splits her time between Paris and London), Reed Smith LLP has a notable roster of major players in the video game sector and is sought after for its expertise in matters involving games regulation, creative content licensing, streaming, esports, crypto and NFTs. Music expert Nick Breen is also praised for his involvement in regulatory, commercial and copyright matters pertaining to video games.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gregor Pryor; Sophie Goossens
Autres avocats clés:
Nick Breen
Taylor Wessing LLP
Taylor Wessing LLP's comprehensive client roster includes start-ups, investment funds and investors, big tech platforms, gaming developers and publishers. Commercial, data and IT specialist Graham Hann co-chairs the gaming and esports practice with Robert Fenner, a transactional expert with experience advising Chinese and Asian companies looking to expand on a global scale. Other recommended individuals include skilled IP advisor Mark Owen, and Adam Rendle, who guides companies through the entire lifecycle of their media assets.
Responsables de la pratique:
Graham Hann; Robert Fenner
Autres avocats clés:
Mark Owen; Adam Rendle
Principaux clients
JAGEX
THNDR Games
Sega Europe
Miniclip
1up ventures
Advanced publications
Bitkraft Ventures
Behaviour Interactive
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Behaviour Interactive, a large Canadian video game studio, on its acquisition of SockMonkey Studios, an award-winning developer based in the UK.
- Advising SEGA’s European operations on various corporate, advisory and contentious matters.
- Advising Bitkraft Ventures, a global investment platform for gaming, Web3, and immersive tech, on a number of transactions, including its investment into Magicave Holdings Ltd.
Weightmans
Under the Liverpool-based Sean Crotty's leadership, Weightmans LLP's media and entertainment practice has had recent success advising on commercial contracts for mobile app game developments, in addition to voice talent and motion capture agreements with high profile actors. IT, IP and data protection expert Nicola Gonnella – who splits her time between Glasgow and London – is also recommended for her expertise in the video game sphere.
Responsables de la pratique:
Sean Crotty
Autres avocats clés:
Nicola Gonnella
Principaux clients
Apadmi Limited
Swissport GB Limited
West of England Combined Authority
The Open University
PTW International Holdings Limited
Side (UK) Limited
Motor Insurers’ Bureau
DSW Ventures
Nomad Games Limited
NHS Blood & Transplant
Westlab Limited
Mercarto Limited
Cybertill Limited
Palringo Limited
Novarama Technology SRL
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Side (UK) Limited on a number of voice talent and motion capture agreements with high profile actors in relation to major video game titles.
- Advised Apadmi Limited on various commercial agreements, ranging from app development and maintenance agreements, licensing and professional services agreements, to corporate acquisitions and framework agreements.