About

I am a Partner in our Dispute Resolution and IP groups. I help clients from a diverse range of sectors with commercial and IP litigation, arbitration and alternative dispute resolution.

In addition to representing clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings, I use my 20+ years of private practice and in-house experience of a broad range of legal issues to guide and assist clients to seek avoid potential disputes arising or escalating, taking a commercial and pragmatic approach. In appropriate cases, I work proactively with business stakeholders to retain or repair valuable commercial relationships through strategic and creative thinking. I am an accomplished negotiator with experience leading complex and sensitive settlement discussions and mediations.

Having initially trained as a music and entertainment lawyer, I worked at a leading media & entertainment boutique and in-house at a major broadcasting client, I remain passionate about working with clients where creativity is at the heart of their business. I am recognised as a leader in the field of media & entertainment and online content protection and enforcement.

Experience

Dispute resolution

  • Handling a wide variety of complex and high-value litigation and disputes, including contractual, shareholder / company and technology-related issues
  • Representing clients in ground-breaking and high-profile litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal, often with an international cross-border element, including the enforcement of foreign judgments
  • Leading internal and external teams, working closely with, engaging and managing international outside counsel
  • Advising on urgent interim remedies such a freezing injunctions and disclosure applications
  • Conducting arbitration proceedings and expert determinations
  • Providing strategic general counselling to identify potential legal risks and provide strategic advice on risk mitigation

Media & Entertainment

  • Advising on media & entertainment specific disputes and issues with a deep understanding of creative businesses, the content and rights they create, the deals done and the markets they operate in
  • Representing significant clients from Film, TV, music, computer games and other creative industries, including trade associations and representative bodies
  • Handling 'ideas' claims and disputes regarding scripts and formats and copying of entertainment content

Intellectual property

  • Handling intellectual property disputes and online rights protection and enforcement
  • Advising on copyright protection and enforcement for media rights owners, such as film, TV, music, live sports and interactive entertainment
  • Advising on brand and content protection and enforcement strategies, ranging from large scale notice and takedown, third party disclosure orders, injunctions, website blocking orders and complex or precedent setting strategic litigation

Testimonials

"Neil Parkes is incredibly knowledgeable and hard-working."
Legal 500

Services

Sectors