Christopher is a commercial lawyer specialising in the creative sectors including music, television and film, branding, licensing, photography, public speaking, publishing, influencer deals, and reputation management. With 15 years of experience recording and touring globally with two-time Grammy-winning classical crossover group The King’s Singers, he brings with him practical expertise and acts as in-house legal counsel from the artist’s perspective, negotiating recording, performing and sponsorship contracts with major labels, international promoters and global brands.
Christopher acts for creative artists including musicians, screen performers, screen executives, screenwriters, authors, management agencies, film studios and record labels on all aspects of contractual relationships including rights protection and diversifying commercialisation. He is also at the forefront of legal advice in navigating the emerging complexities of NFTs in music, film, television and gaming.
His recent work involves ensuring that content creators receive appropriate protection and recognition for their work, and can control its wider usage online as many businesses increasingly rely on virtual delivery platforms. In the past 12 months, Christopher has also assisted with licensing, franchising and protecting global entertainment and hospitality brands, and has experience in the growth area of manchising.
Expertise
- Music performance
- Touring and recording
- Photography
- Film and television
- Publishing
- Intellectual property
- Copyright
- Public speaking
- Reputation management
- Licensing
- Branding
- Franchising / manchising
- Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements
- Technology
- AI
Experience
- Acted for several high-profile songwriters and performing artists in negotiations with records labels such as Universal, Decca, EMI Records, publishing houses including Absolute Label Services, Peer Music, Eagle-i and Kobalt, and management contracts with Modest Management, Nick Stewart & Associates amongst others.
- General advice to FlyNet Media including image rights, merchandising and management deal with television personality Ant Middleton, and Exclusivity Contract with Channel 4.
- General counsel for international photography agency LGA Management, advising on all aspects of commercial relationships with photographers, makeup artists, agencies and advertising houses including in relation to image rights, endorsements, shoot engagements and general T&C.
- Advised emerging artists in negotiations with Britain’s Got Talent and other reality television opportunities, and assisted classical/crossover artists with performance, recording and management agreements
- Legal adviser for Tracks 4 Change, a youth enfranchisement project run by Rob da Bank, Maisie Williams and Lizzie Ball including image rights, recording agreement, T&C and performance agreement with Bestival.
- Negotiating a brand licensing deal for a renowned international music and entertainment retailer.
- Advising a reality television star in relation to a Netflix documentary and reputation management.
- Multiple podcast and documentary contracts for various clients including changemaking influencers Munroe Bergdorf, Florence Given, Sophia Thakur and Megan Crabbe.
- Musicological and commercial legal advice as part of Keystone team bringing copyright infringement claims in the High Court in separate claims against two major international recording artists.
- Lead adviser to Emporia Brands Ltd, distiller and global distributor of high-end spirits to the drinks trade.
- Advising independent authors and artists in relation to publishing contracts, television option agreements and podcast deals.
- Commercial and corporate structuring documentation for various media start-up companies in the publishing and entertainment sectors.
- Advising corporate entities in the emerging field of Artificial Intelligence and its implications to rights-holders and content creators, including musicians and technology companies.
- IP-related advice including corporate valuation services, investment fundraising, and preparation for sale for companies in music tech, data services, and app/web development sectors
- Concluded successful sale of premier travel website Theculturetrip.com to US News & World Report in a multi-million pound deal, with key involvement in the IP implications and documentation drafting and support.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Member of The Law Society
Career
Christopher qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at the following firms:
- Clintons
- Stephenson Harwood