Legal Advice

Counterculture is – as well as many other things – a regulated cultural sector law firm. Our qualified and experienced solicitors provide legal advice for individuals, businesses, and not for profit organisations. Our team of lawyers are passionate about supporting the arts, cultural and charity sectors, and provide the same accessible, cost effective approach as our other Counterculture colleagues.

We tailor our approach to match your requirements, and we will deliver our service in a way that suits you, in a professional, confidential manner. We can operate as part of your senior management team, arrange on site or off site visits, or make contact with you online. We operate using the latest secure cloud technology and comply with strict codes of practice. We can meet to discuss sensitive issues at our offices, and we can arrange to meet elsewhere when a face to face meeting is the best way to proceed.

We are one of only a handful of fully regulated law firms who also provide other services. This means that our legal services are backed up by indemnity insurance and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Counterculture was set up with the cultural sector in mind. We have gained a reputation for providing timely, pragmatic advice to individuals and organisations in the arts, entertainment and fashion industries. With many of us having previously worked as creative people, we understand the needs, challenges and realities of the sector. We’re friendly, approachable and able to help you with whatever you’re trying to create, achieve or resolve.

Arts, Entertainment and Fashion

We advise well established companies as well as emerging businesses and start-ups. We can help you with a range of commercial and corporate issues including: contracts, trademarks and branding, shareholder arrangements, investment agreements, joint ventures, employment, and digital. We can also assist with debt recovery and commercial disputes.

We draft and negotiate contracts including shareholder agreements and service agreements.

Business and Commercial

Our charity law solicitors provide advice and guidance on a range of legal, regulatory and governance issues. We can assist with contracts, mergers, incorporations, employment, fundraising, lease reviews, commercial and business, data protection and intellectual property. We can also assist with disputes.

Charity and Governance

Digital law is a fast developing legal area and we are confident we have the experience and skills to support you. We can provide a range of services in relation to web and IT law and associated areas such as intellectual property law, defamation and business law. We also work with many different organisations and individuals, providing advice regarding posts made online and on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube.

Digital, Web, IT and Social Media

Counterculture’s team includes qualified employment law and HR professionals as well as partners and consultants with direct experience of employing and managing staff in the creative and charitable sectors. We can assist with the preparation or review of contracts, help manage staff already in place and give guidance on legal requirements and HR good practice when organisations merge or close. And if relationships break down so far that proceedings in an employment tribunal become a possibility, we can advise or guide on that process too.

Employment and HR

Counterculture is dedicated to supporting musicians and artists who need guidance and advice from our team of specialist music lawyers.  We work with everyone from international talent to new and emerging artists across a spectrum of genres, including composers, musicians, orchestras, producers, managers, record labels, music publishers, venues, festival organisers, agents, and music tech companies.

We offer unparalleled contractual expertise, Intellectual Property (IP) advice or dispute resolution and can guide artists towards the best business structure and royalty models. Our music law team come from a background as touring musicians themselves, so can offer key industry insights as well as insightful and practical advice.

Music

Our specialist private client arm – Hall & Birtles – will be able to look after all your family and personal legal needs, from conveyancing services on your new home purchase to the preparation of Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, Court of Protection matters and the administration of estates. Based in Yorkshire, but operating nationwide, we provide services across all areas of family law, and are also an affiliated Yorkshire Building Society agency, helping local savers make their money go further.

Private Client
Hall & Birtles website

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Counterculture Partnership LLP is a cultural sector law firm regulated by SRA.

Keith Arrowsmith

Keith Arrowsmith

Senior Partner (Legal)

+44 (0)7740623636

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Lead contact for Legal Advice



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The Legal Advice team

William Chamberlain

William Chamberlain

Tom Wilcox

Tom Wilcox

Christopher MacCafferty

Christopher MacCafferty

Jerry Knight-Smith

Jerry Knight-Smith

Alastair Birtles

Alastair Birtles

Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall