Nick AllanPartner

A substantial part of my practice is commercial transactions across the games industry, including games publishing, development, outsourcing and licensing deals, as well as consumer documentation like EULAs and privacy policies. The team represents businesses of all sizes in the games industry, from multinationals to independent developers. We also advise companies engaging with the games industry or at the intersection of converged digital entertainment, such as advertising agencies, digital content providers, social casino operators, music publishers, toy manufacturers, crypto token issuers and AI companies.

 

By background I am an intellectual property lawyer and continue to have a practice focussed on commercial and transactional IP rights, including in respect of advising games companies on clearance matters, brand protection and IP commercialisation. I also advise games companies on the various regulatory issues that increasingly affect the games sector, including the Online Safety Act and Digital Services Act, artificial intelligence, open-source software, data privacy matters and the Age-appropriate Design Code, consumer protections, web3 and blockchain financial services issues, age ratings, advertising law restrictions and loot boxes.

I am a member of the Video Game Bar Association and involved with the Ukie and TIGA trade bodies and other industry bodies, as well as the industry charity, GamesAid.

The Lewis Silkin Interactive Entertainment team was awarded TIGA Legal Services Suppler of the Year 2023 and I was “recommended” in 2023 by the Legal 500 in the “Video games” sector (for which Lewis Silkin is ranked Tier 2). Clients say: “Nick Allan is technically very sharp and always willing to help”, “his knowledge of the gaming market sets him apart from other lawyers – he is technically excellent, responsive and knows our business inside out” and “Nick Allan is an outstanding lawyer – always cooperative in his approach and up to date with the latest developments specific to the video games sector”.

I have worked in technology and IP transactions for many years, including spending a year on secondment working at an AI start-up earlier in my career. I enjoy helping technology and creative businesses commercialise their innovations and learning more about how their business works.

 

I frequently advise clients on the following types of agreements (among others):