Insights & News

Will you pass the red face test? - Naming and shaming of late payers has now arrived

09 May 2017

From 6 April this year, all large UK companies (and limited liability partnerships) are now subject to a new regime which requires them to publish, on a Government website, detailed reports on their supplier payment policies and practices. The Regulations are designed to create public transparency of large businesses’ payment policies and practices, primarily for the benefit of small and medium-sized suppliers.

Lewis Silkin acts for Sans Frontieres Associates on their investments from Dods Group Plc and Lord Timothy Bell

Deal

02 May 2017

Lewis Silkin has advised Sans Frontieres Associates, the international, strategic communications consulting company, on its set up and on the investments received from Dods Group Plc and Lord Timothy Bell. Sans Frontieres Associates is a London based company which began trading in January 2017, founded by Jonathan Lehrle, former partner of Bell Pottinger.

How to deal with Twitter spats: Katie Hopkins' expensive mistake

Press

04 April 2017

Joint Managing Partner, Giles Crown, and Senior Associate, Oliver Fairhurst have written an article for The Lawyer Monthly which comments on Katie Hopkins' recent twitter spat turned libel battle with food blogger Jack Monroe.

James Gill comments for Real Business: What you should know about naming and shaming of late payers

Press

04 April 2017

Head of Lewis Silkin's Commercial and Technology group, James Gill has written an article for Real Business on the latest payment reporting regulations that came into force this month.

What game creators need to know about protecting their brands

30 March 2017

We have written an article for GamesIndustry.biz, one of the leading websites for news and information about the global video games industry. The article comments on a recent kart racing suit filed by Nintendo and offers advice for game companies.

Lewis Silkin announces launch of LS Live seminars for live events industry

Press Release

23 March 2017

Top 100 UK law firm Lewis Silkin LLP has launched LS Live, a new seminar series which deals with legal issues in the live entertainment industry: from live music to theatre, experiential to sport, product launches to festivals, and exhibitions to one-off global events.

Nigel Dewar Gibb comments for Music & Copyright: Copyright issues in audio streaming stem from complicated digital royalty structures

Press

03 March 2017

Nigel Dewar Gibb has written an article for Music & Copyright, a fortnightly research service covering global copyright and legal issues affecting the music industry.

“(Section 55) Shades of Gray” - using the Data Protection Act to prevent employees misusing or taking data

27 February 2017

A recent case has highlighted a potentially helpful mechanism in the Data Protection Act 1998 (“DPA”) for employers to use if they are concerned about employees taking data when they leave.

Supreme Court upholds spouse minimum income requirement

22 February 2017

The Immigration Rules regulate immigration of non-Europeans into the UK. Under the Rules, a non-EEA spouse must earn £18,600 each year before being allowed to join their partner in the UK. The lawfulness of this “minimum income requirement” has been scrutinised and ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court, although with some criticism.

Changes to EU law around the regulation of On Demand Video

07 December 2016

25 May 2016: The European Commission has proposed wording for the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD)

Lewis Silkin advises Haymarket Media Group on the sale of its motorsport division to Motorsport Network

Deal

25 November 2016

Lewis Silkin has advised long-standing client Haymarket Media Group, the privately held media company, on the sale of its motorsport division to Motorsport Network, a specialist online motor racing content and events company.

Protect against Defamation and Privacy actions

Inbrief

15 November 2016

The law of defamation and also the law of privacy is at a watershed. Since the beginning of 2010 the media have stepped up their campaign for a change in our laws, for more flexibility and a greater ability for freedom of expression to be paramount. This has been much more evident since the Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention of Human Rights. This inbrief is intended to show how best to try and avoid a letter before action and a claim, when legal advice is appropriate and what to do when you get a complaint.

Video commerce the next frontier for retailers

08 November 2016

Retailers are increasingly becoming broadcasters and looking to sell their goods via shoppable videos and other platforms.

Lewis Silkin works with ISBA to create suggested vlogger contract for brands and influencers

Press

13 September 2016

Lewis Silkin is proud to have worked alongside trade body ISBA (The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers) to draft a new legal template for brands dealing with the emerging world of YouTube vloggers and other creators.

Naughty pics and controversial clicks - new guidance on hyperlinks to third party content

09 September 2016

The Court of Justice of the European Union yesterday released its judgment in GS Media v Sanoma, which is the latest in a series of judgments on the legality of posting links to third party content on the internet.

Blurred lines: sampling, inspiration, pilferage and plagiarism

08 June 2016

We reported late last year on a dispute between rapper Rick Ross and dance-pop duo LMFAO over the use of a hook “everyday I’m hustlin’” / “everyday I’m shufflin’” (see here). Well, the arguments over what constitutes legitimate ‘borrowing’ from musical works continue.

Defamation & Malicious Falsehood

Inbrief

19 April 2016

Reputation protection which embodies our law of defamation has become increasingly important. Together with the law of privacy, including confidentiality, reputation protection is a vital right for individuals and corporations, especially the advertising industry where image and celebrity rights attract so much attention.

Lewis Silkin advises StoryFirst on joint venture with Pinewood Group plc

Deal

26 January 2016

Lewis Silkin has advised StoryFirst PST Limited, the independent media investment company on its joint venture with leading provider of studio and related services to the global film and television industry, Pinewood Group plc.

BBC's strictly formats future

Press

15 January 2016

We have written an article for C21Media discussing the increasing financial pressure on the BBC to reduce its dependence on the licence fee.

Broadcast: Fremantle raises questions over Bring the Noise

Press

28 October 2015

Originally published in Broadcast: Fremantle Media UK has written to Sky and the indie behind Bring the Noise seeking assurances that the music panel show is unrelated to a format it previously pitched to the broadcaster.