Harbottle & Lewis advise contestants of 'The Restaurant'

Media and entertainment law firm, Harbottle & Lewis, has advised the contestants of the second series of The Restaurant, including the winners Russell Clement and Michele English.

The hit BBC Two show featured nine couples whose dream was to open a restaurant which would be financially backed and personally supported by celebrity chef Raymond Blanc. Throughout the twelve-part series, the couples were set a number of challenges designed to test every aspect of running a restaurant with one couple being eliminated by the judging panel each week. The winners were announced on Wednesday 29 October and it is anticipated that their new restaurant will open by May 2009.

Colin Howes (Head of the firm's Company and Commercial Group) and Tony Littner (Senior Associate in the firm's Growth Capital Group) advised the contestants and winners on various arrangements in relation to the programme with support from David Scott (Senior Associate in the firm's Tax Group) and Emily Pritty (Solicitor in the firm's Employment Group). The work draws on the firm's broad commercial experience; particularly it's expertise in advising early stage businesses, as well as its media and entertainment experience.

Richard Curwen, Head of Legal, Business Affairs & Brand Management, Entertainment, Events & Comedy, BBC Vision Production commented: "Having supplied high quality advice to the first series of The Restaurant, the BBC was delighted to instruct Harbottle & Lewis to act once again in the interests of the contestants in this life changing programme. Colin and Tony's expertise is invaluable to the BBC when constructing such a complex prize with Raymond Blanc and their ability to explain these complexities to the contestants in an accessible manner ensures that the participants concentrate on winning the competition rather than worrying about the prize".

Earlier this year, the firm advised the winner and the contestants of the BBC's I'd Do Anything talent contest. It has also acted for Lee Mead star of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the finalists of Any Dream Will Do and Connie Fisher and the runners-up in How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

For further information, please contact Colin Howes or Tony Littner on 020 7667 5000.