Stephen Joelson

Steve advises domestic and international corporations and individuals on complex commercial disputes, acting as lead strategist in high-value, cross-border litigation across multiple jurisdictions.

• Acted in a patent infringement claim (satellite spin axis orientation – GPS) in Court of Federal Claims – Hughes Aircraft Company v USA).
• Acted in a patent infringement claim (HVAC CAD/CAM system) in Federal Court for the Southern District of New York – Construction Technology v Lockformer Co.
• Acted for Universal Music in the TCC in a £20 million claim against project managers and computer consultants arising out of the defective design of its national distribution Centre – Universal Music v EC Harris.
• Acted for a UK cinema group in a construction defect dispute.
• Obtained an ICC arbitration award under New York and English law and judgment for approximately £15m in relation to the failed London Resort theme park – Paramount Licensing, Inc v London Resort Holdings Limited.
• Successfully challenged a CVA in a £100m plus landmark High Court insolvency case dealing with irremediable breaches of a CVA by the developer and the duties of the CVA supervisor – Paramount Licensing Inc. v Batty and Anr.
• Acting for international clients to enforce multi-million-pound foreign judgments in the UK and Europe.
• Acted for the UK’s largest silver refinery to defeat an HMRC VAT claim of more than £1m.
• Acted for a US steel and aluminium importer and distributor in matters arising from the establishment of a UK operation.
• Acted for the seller of a silver refining company in a dispute with a buyer over value of stock.
• Acted for the seller of a company in a tax warranty dispute.
• Acted in numerous domestic and international arbitrations, including ICC and IFTA.
• Acted in numerous shareholder, partnership, and IP disputes.
• Acted for brake manufacturers in defending complex asbestos litigation in the US.
• Handled numerous hearings and depositions in the UK and California in commercial litigation, insolvency, and restructuring including numerous Chapter 11 cases.
• Regularly handles service of foreign proceedings and enforcement of foreign judgments in the UK.

Steve is a leading litigator in entertainment and media disputes including film, television theatre, and music. He advises film studios, financiers, producers, completion guarantors, music and media companies, and artists on a wide range of entertainment and media disputes, including in film, television, music, and theatre.

• Obtained a High Court judgment in favour of film completion guarantors on a feature film (STARBRIGHT), successfully avoiding potential liability of more than EUR18m – European Film Bonds A/S & others v Lotus Holdings LLC & others (High Court and Court of Appeal).
• Acted for completion guarantors in a California IFTA arbitration and Superior Court litigation (STARBRIGHT).
• Obtained a High Court judgment in favour of completion guarantors on an animated feature film (ELLIOT: THE LITTLEST REINDEER), avoiding potential liability of more than US$3m – Active Media Services Inc v Burmester, Duncker & Joly GmbH & Co KG and others (Commercial Court).
• Acted for film completion guarantors in a California IFTA arbitration and Federal Court and Court of Appeals litigation in California (THE WANTING).
• Acted for Universal in a copyright infringement claim (NOTTING HILL).
• Acted for Universal in claims relating to BRUCE ALMIGHTY.
• Acted for Universal Music in a High Court film royalties and audit dispute.
• Acted for Universal Music in a dispute with Virgin Records.
• Acted for a music producer and record label in a royalties dispute with Apple and Amazon.
• Acted for numerous film limited partnerships in UK tax appeals.

Steve advises studios, producers, artists, and media companies in entertainment disputes, including film, television, theatre, and music

• Acted for the Third Floor, the world’s leading visualisation studio.
• Acted for investors in tax-driven film finance arrangements.
• Acted for composers in a dispute with the US purchasers of a TV series.
• Acting for a US-based film financier in a film production dispute.
• Acting for a financier/producer of a football documentary.
• Acting for the producer of a football feature film.
• Acted for the UK’s leading karaoke producers and licensors in US copyright disputes.
• Acting for a national music festival organiser in a dispute with PPL PRS.

Steve advises sporting governing bodies, agents and athletes on regulatory, contractual, and disciplinary disputes, including arbitrations and appeals before international sporting tribunals and governing bodies.

• Acted for an accountant in High Court proceedings in a dispute with a Bermuda trust company in relation to world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis.
• Acted for the National League in defeating the appeals to the FA of numerous clubs including Altrincham, Scarborough, Boston United, Halifax Town, Rushden & Diamonds, and Crawley Town.
• Acted in relation to the termination of the National League season 2019/20 due to COVID and its consequences including play-offs and successfully defeating numerous appeals to the FA by discontented clubs.
• Acted as legal advisor to the National League on numerous regulatory matters and disputes.

Steve advises luxury brands, art collectors, and art advisers on art-related disputes, authenticity issues, and commercial claims, and acts in disputes with an international focus across high-value markets worldwide.

• Acted for a public art event company in a dispute with a US company.
• Acted for art advisers in a dispute with an online auction house.
• Acted for an art collector in a dispute about a pre-Raphaelite painting.
• Acting for an alcohol beverage company on all matters including brand protection and development, IP rights, importation, warehousing, and restructuring.
• Acting for an ultra-premium vodka brand (Snow Queen).
• Acting for a sports leisurewear brand on all matters including brand protection.

Admitted to the California State Bar, the Federal Court for the Central and Northern Districts of California and the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals

Member of Gray’s Inn