MH Media

Tony Morris, Partner

Experience:

Broad range of general commercial and intellectual property matters (contentious and non contentious) including advice on creation, exploitation and protection of copyright in music, sound recordings, films, TV programmes, computer games, software, photographs and books. Trade marks and passing off. Design rights and a wide range of general commercial contracts.

Recent work

Feature Films Advising on a number of independent feature film productions including "Rise of the Foot Soldier" (Carnaby); "The Killing Of John Lennon" (Picture Players).

Music Advising major international bank on $16m debt finance package in relation to a portfolio of music publishing catalogues; negotiating possibly one of the last ever old-style major multi-album UK record deals with Warner Bros for punk band Gallows; advising AIM listed Zest Group Plc on catalogue matters; advising Plus listed One Media Publishing on its catalogue acquisitions.

Television Advising DRG on the acquisition of Channel Four distribution business; advising on numerous documentary, music and other television programming (Eagle Rock, Delta Music Group and others).

Computer Games Advising on a broad range of intellectual property, commercial and e-commerce matters for multi-player online computer games provider NcSoft Europe Limited including co-ordination of international anti-piracy actions; advising Foundation 9 on its acquisition of Sumo.

Mediation Successfully mediated a number of disputes – many with a media flavour and involving contracts and/or intellectual property disputes within the television, music and information technology sectors as well as disputes arising out of commercial contracts.

Summary of Specialisms:
Film, Music, Television, Computer Games, IP, IT, Mediation, Commercial

Employment:

Charles Boundy & Co (1977 - 1982), Anthony Morris & Co (1982 - 1984), Brafman Morris (1984 - 1988), Cameron Markby Hewitt (1989 - 1995), Marriott Harrison (1995 - present)

Trained at:

Michael Sears & Co

Qualifications:
LLB, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, ADR Accredited Mediator, Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Studied at:
Manchester University

Languages:
French, German

Memberships:
International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, Institute of Chartered Arbitrators, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the General Assembly of the University of Manchester, Member of the Law Firm Advisory Board of the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel (Los Angeles, California)

Interests:

Music, films, theatre, reading and writing fiction, yoga, tennis, travel, restaurants, football (season ticket at Portsmouth). Tony’s novel “The Musician and Maria Salcoiati”, has been published by Lindfield Press