Michelle graduated from Cambridge in 1992 with a degree in History. She joined Davenport Lyons in 1999 from City firm Taylor Joynson Garrett (now Taylor Wessing) and became a Partner in January 2007.

Michelle advises clients across the media and entertainment industry. She has considerable experience of the music sector, acting for a wide range of clients including songwriters and composers, music publishers, producers, record companies and managers. She has also represented clients in the areas of film and television, book publishing, modern art, photography and dance.

Clients have included Amnesty International, Bertelsmann AG, BMG Music Publishing Ltd, Contender Entertainment Group, Decca Music Group, iTunes S.a.r.l, Music Choice, Music Sales, VP Music Group Inc and White Cube.

Her experience includes:

• Drafting and negotiating agreements across the music, entertainment and art industries, including contracts relating to music and book publishing, recording artists, music production, artist management, video distribution, film soundtracks, live performance, licensing of IP rights and the loan, exhibition and sale of artworks;
• Conducting due diligence and advising on intellectual property rights in relation to the acquisition and disposal of music publishing and sound recording catalogues;
• Advising on complex copyright issues in relation to music, sound-recordings, literary works, films, photographs, works of art and choreography;
• The collective administration of rights, with particular experience of advising potential licensees on their dealings with the collecting societies and on Copyright Tribunal references.

Michelle’s articles have appeared in a number of music industry and legal publications, including the Music Week, Music & Copyright and the Entertainment Law Review. She has also contributed to the UK edition of Donald Passman’s “All You Need to Know About the Music Business”.