Film & media

From a premises perspective, we have decades of experience in helping media occupiers secure the space they need to operate their businesses and create programmes and films, we are therefore, profoundly aware of the specific requirements of the media occupier. From securing spaces to operate your own business, to long and short term studio space and prop storage. We act for international media companies, to independent production companies. We have been privileged to be involved in work relating to sites required for the creation of block buster movies, to TV favourites and cultural icons such as Master Chef, Big Brother and Peaky Blinders.

We understand that whilst securing the right premises is extremely important, we are also aware that premises are rarely a core part of your business and that what you need is appropriate space, on commercial terms, within set timescales – with a clear explanation of any risks or costs to you. We also fully recognise that there may be external factors, such as commissioning companies requiring shooting to be in a certain geographical area, and very strict timescales for shooting to ensure programmes are ready to air / be released as scheduled. We know that even more than for clients in other sectors, costs / budgets, timing, minimising disruption and privacy are of key importance to media sector clients. We feel that our role is to make the real estate aspects of your business as streamlined and painless as possible, so that you can concentrate on the detail of your own work.

Whilst we largely work with media occupiers, we also work for landlords and owners. Our insight into what matters to occupiers means that we can also advise our landlord clients about what media occupiers might need or expect and what unique considerations or pressures they might be subject to. This means that we can produce balanced documents and navigate negotiations smoothly and quickly.

We combine a rigorous understanding of media industry contracts with a genuine passion for the sector, ensuring your projects are protected by expertise and fuelled by creativity. We are proud to play a role in this thriving, colorful industry. It is a privilege to see our clients’ names in the credits and know that many of today’s leading productions were filmed on sites we helped secure.

Relevant experience

• We act for Banijay UK on the high profile relocation of its MasterChef premises to Digbeth Loc, Birmingham as part of a large development project involving Stanhope, Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight and Homes England.
• We advised FremantleMedia, Europe’s largest independent television production company, on their head offices at 1 & 2 Stephen Street, London.
• We acted for Raw TV Limited on the letting of four floors of office space at Curtain Road, Shoreditch.
• We advised Rabbit Track Pictures on a lease for their offices in central London. Rabbit Track launched in the Autumn of 2019, as a London-based film and TV production company. Headed up by actor James Norton and former LA-based Black Bear head of TV, Kitty Kaletsky.
• We advise Cineworld and Picturehouse Cinemas in respect of their property portfolio throughout England and Wales.  Most recently we have advised Cineworld in relation to Covid rent arrears claims (including the leading Court of Appeal decision on this issue) as well as on issues arising out of and in connection with the implementation of its UK restructuring plan.
• We acted on behalf of Dragonfly Film and Television Productions Limited on the lease of the Ground Floor Zetland House, London.
• We are acting for Global Media, Europe’s largest radio company, home to the UK’s best-loved radio stations including Heart, Capital, LBC, Classic FM, Smooth, Radio X and Gold. We acted for Global Media on a lease for a new broadcasting suite in Bristol.
• We advised Uncovered Group Limited, a video advertising agency, in relation to a lease of their new premises in Greenwich.
• We have acted for Endemol / Shine TV (now Banijay UK) client for two decades, during which time we have been instructed on practically all lease events; including relocations, complex pre-lets, leases, renewal leases, lease surrenders, lease assignments, underleases and licences for alterations, in London and nationwide. We have also advised on litigation matters including break clauses, dilapidations and trespassers.
• We acted for Kudos Knight on a licence to occupy studio space, to film an extremely popular TV show, with need for great secrecy until news of new series is released to the press.