Arts, Entertainment, and Fashion

Counterculture was set up with the cultural sector in mind. We have gained a reputation for providing timely, pragmatic legal 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. Our solicitors are friendly, approachable and able to help you with whatever you’re trying to create, achieve or resolve.

Arts

We advise individual artists, photographers and curators as well as galleries large and small. We also work with emerging businesses and start-ups. We can help you with legal issues including: commercial agreements and disputes, charity rules and regulations, copyright licences, design rights, trademarks and branding, employment rules and regulations, digital protocols and website policies and all other regulatory matters relevant to the sector.

We draft and negotiate contracts including commissioning agreements, management and agency agreements, terms of sale, and we also advise on copyright, design rights, moral rights, and artists’ resale rights. We can assist you with writing applications for charitable status, issues relating to structure and governance, and drafting policies and procedures that galleries and other arts organisations may need to have in place.

We always provide advice that is pragmatic, cost effective and appropriate.

Some examples of our recent work include:

• Drafting an application for charitable status for an established contemporary gallery
• Negotiating a commissioning agreement for an award-winning artist
• Assisting galleries with applications for Immunity from Seizure protection
• Advising on a dispute involving a well-known gallery
• Advising trustees involved in a dispute

Entertainment

We advise theatres, dance companies, production companies, venues, managers and agents. We can help you with legal issues relevant to the performing arts and production including: rights acquisition, commissioning agreements, production agreements, contracts relating to the production and dealing with creative teams. We can also assist with creative start-ups, collaborations venue hire, and structural changes to your organisation.

We draft and negotiate contracts including funding agreements, production agreements and licenses for the use and performance of work. We can assist you with writing applications for charitable status, issues relating to structure and governance, and drafting policies and procedures that theatres and other performing arts organisations need to have in place.

Our advice is always pragmatic, cost-effective and appropriate.

Some example of our recent work include:

• Conducting a board away day for a group of regional theatres
• Preparing global licensing agreements for an immersive theatre group
• Acquiring the underlying rights to perform songs in a new musical
• Settling a dispute between a production company and theatre
• Incorporating an emerging dance company and applying for charitable status

Fashion

We act for independent fashion designers and craftspeople, and we also advise small to medium sized houses and boutiques.  We can help with legal issues including: commercial and business, sponsorship, trademarks and branding, design rights and general rights management.

We draft and negotiate contracts including those for bespoke work and general terms and conditions of sale. We can help to register your designs and trademarks and can also help you when rights are infringed. We can deal with import and export contracts too.

We always provide advice that is pragmatic, cost effective and appropriate.

Some examples of our recent work include:

• Advising an independent designer whose work was infringed by a luxury brand
• Preparing contracts for the sale of bespoke clothing
• Advising a designer being sued for infringement
• Registering global IP rights for a well-known designer
• Registering designs for jewellery

Photo by Kerensa Pickett on Unsplash