Andy Millmore joins Harbottle & Lewis as IP Partner

Media and entertainment lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, have recruited Andy Millmore as a partner in the Intellectual Property Group with effect from 1 August 2007. Andy has worked with the firm since 2005 as a consultant and his decision to return to law full time and join the partnership will boost the firm's expertise and knowledge in IP, litigation and digital media.

Andy specialises in IP litigation and has considerable experience of contentious cases including copyright, trade mark, format disputes and patent disputes. He also advises on related commercial matters such as licensing, joint ventures and patent and brand portfolio creation and exploitation. Andy has represented a wide range of clients across all media disciplines including TV, music, publishing, manufacturing, and advertising, marketing and promotions, and including Hat Trick Productions, Universal Music and The Disctronics Manufacturing Group. Besides his focus on IP, Andy provides general counsel and dispute resolution advice and is an accredited mediator.

Previously, Andy ran his own IP strategy firm before which he spent 10 years as a partner at Macfarlanes where he was also head of their Contentious IP Group.

Lawrence Abramson, Managing Partner, said: "Andy has worked with us for some time as a consultant providing strategic, commercial and litigation advice to a range of clients. We are delighted that he has agreed to join us full time as a partner and we look forward to working with him in the years to come. The firm has a strong commitment to talent and Andy's appointment follows the hire of partners Tony Ballard in Film and TV, and Paul Jones in Music".

Andy Millmore commented: "I have enjoyed getting to know the firm from the inside, and am very excited about coming back to the law full time, with a firm whose interests and ambitions match my own".
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01/08/07

Note for Editors

Harbottle & Lewis LLP
Harbottle & Lewis provides specialist advice to the media and entertainment industries. It is consistently recognised as a leading firm in these areas by independent sources.

Firm overview: The firm's work encompasses all areas of media and entertainment, including film, television, broadcasting, sport, music, publishing, advertising, interactive entertainment, fashion and theatre and remains unique in having expertise right across these sectors.

We provide a complete range of commercial advice to our clients, including: buying and selling businesses and companies, joint ventures, finance, capital markets, commercial disputes, property, employment, immigration and tax. Other specialist legal areas include, sponsorship, intellectual property, legal issues relating to media, including defamation, advertising, brand protection, data protection, privacy, art and gaming and gambling as well as private client and matrimonial work. The firm's expertise in other areas such as aviation and charities is also widely recognised.

Much of our work involves the technology, new media and telecoms industries and we have done ground-breaking work in connection with the digital exploitation of content and e-commerce generally. Specialist knowledge and understanding of the entertainment industry and related IP issues enables the firm to identify and deal with the key issues at an early stage, and then negotiate and provide commercially sound legal advice from a position of strength.

Recent work:
In 2006/2007 we have advised on a number of significant deals including:

Sale of TV production companies Tiger Aspect to IMG Media and Ricochet to Shed Productions
DCD Media acquisition of Prospect Pictures, September Films and West Park Pictures
Virgin Active acquisition of Holmes Place
Financing and acquisitions of development houses by SCi/Eidos and Take 2
Acquisitions of Index Books by Penguin and Virgin Books by Random House

Other high-profile work includes:

Advising the Royal Household: HRH The Prince of Wales v. Mail on Sunday; all aspects of the staging and organisation of the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium; production, management and broadcast of the Queen's Children's Garden Party
Acting for Kate Moss on various matters including arrangements for her high-profile endorsement and merchandising arrangements with TopShop
Acting for a number of high profile individuals including Victoria Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Janet Street-Porter on various matters

Issued by: Caroline Renton, Marketing Communications Manager
E-mail: caroline.renton@harbottle.com
Telephone: 020 7667 5231