Harbottle & Lewis advise BBC One 'DanceX' finalists

Leading media and entertainment lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, have advised the finalists of BBC One's primetime Saturday night show DanceX. The firm has worked on a variety of arrangements including preparing the documentation between the finalists and negotiating on their behalf an Exclusive Recording Agreement for the winning group, Team Bruno, with Gut Records.

DanceX has seen top choreographers, Arlene Philips and Bruno Tonioli, go head to head in their search for a sensational new dancing and singing group. Following auditions held around the country in which thousands of hopefuls performed in front of the judges, 16 finalists were chosen. They were whittled down to 14 in the first live TV show and then divided into two groups who competed against each other in live weekly TV shows over the summer. Each week DanceX viewers voted for their favourite group and the judge from the least popular group faced the dilemma of having to eliminate one of their own performers from their group and the competition.

Paul Jones, partner and head of the Music Group, assisted by Chloe Wright, advised all 16 finalists on initial arrangements including the Exclusive Recording Agreement for the winning group. Additionally, they are currently negotiating an agreement for the winning group to be the support act for Rihanna's forthcoming UK and Ireland Arena Tour taking place in December 2007.

The work draws on the expertise and strengths of the firm across music and TV as well as its work with representing high profile individuals in the media and entertainment industry. Previously, Harbottle & Lewis have acted in relation to the BBC entertainment shows Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

Paul Jones commented: "We are delighted to have represented the DanceX finalists and to be working with the winning group on turning their success on the series into long-standing careers in the entertainment industries. Our legal expertise combined with our experience of working on similar talent search shows meant that we were well placed to give the best possible advice to the finalists. We enjoyed guiding them through the negotiation of complex contractual arrangements and we congratulate all of them on making DanceX such a successful show."

Richard Curwen, Head of Legal and Business Affairs, BBC, said: "The BBC chose Harbottle & Lewis to act on behalf of the contestants in DanceX in view of their experience in working with artists arising from television talent search formats and their ability to advise our young contestants, most of whom had no previous experience of dealing with recording and touring contracts, in an accessible and understandable way."

For further information, please contact Paul Jones or Chloe Wright on 020 7667 5000.

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28/08/07

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 high-profile work including:

• Advising Omnifone on the launch of MusicStation
• 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
• 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