FILM & TV FINANCE & PRODUCTION - Band 2

DAVENPORT LYONS

The Firm: Having steeped itself in the media and entertainment world over the course of its 60-year history, Davenport Lyons possesses “a day-to-day understanding of the media business and an historical perspective on what clients want to achieve.” Its ability to appreciate the nuances of the creative industry is one of the firm’s particular hallmarks, mentioned time and again by impressed clients. As a medium-sized firm itself, this "friendly outfit with no point-scoring" is suitably sized to service clients of a similar scale: “We’re not a Hollywood studio and the firm understands this. You feel like you’re getting a dedicated service, which can be rare with a big firm.” Despite its size, the media group is still able to be “just about everywhere,” led by the excellent Leon Morgan. During the past year, the firm handled film and television financing, production and other related transactions totalling over £349 million. Such work included advising Alliance & Leicester on the negotiation of a complex letter of credit for the sale and leaseback of ‘Casino Royale’, and advising the UK co-producer of ‘Zwartboek’ (‘Black Book’), the most expensive Dutch film ever produced. RBS has been a client for over 20 years and formally appointed Davenport Lyons to its panel of legal advisers in 2006; the firm is also on Barclays Bank’s panel. “Straightforward and competent,” Sam Tatton-Brown is a leading figure in film financing, advising RBS on several projects; he also worked extensively on the ‘Casino Royale’ transaction. Sources believe him to be “fair, practical, bright, cheerful and a delight to deal with.” “Client-getter” Richard Moxon acts for a number of producers and studios, and has particular expertise in animation and children’s programming. He recently advised on the animated film ‘Snow White, The Sequel’. Fraser Bloom is a new addition to the tables this year, making his debut in light of positive feedback from clients: “You can ask him a complicated question and you’ll get a simple answer - he cuts through all the issues.” Clients include UK producers such as Aardman Animations, Strike Entertainment and Archer Street, and one particular highlight of the past year was advising Amnesty International on the production and distribution of the 2006 version of ‘The Secret Policeman’s Ball’. Clients believe him to have “a fundamental understanding of the way we do business.” Senior partner and “impressive practitioner” Leon Morgan is well liked for “always finding a way round a deal and getting it done.” He is highly experienced in film and television financing, production and distribution, along with associated intellectual property matters. His clients include Capco Group, Mobius International, StudioCanal and literary agency Ed Victor, seguing into the publishing work for which the firm is well known.

Best of the UK Lawyers
Leon Morgan
Sam Tatton-Brown
Richard Moxon
Fraser Bloom