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These promotions take effect on 1 April 2026.
Senior partner Catherine Bedford said:
“These promotions mark an exciting step in the firm’s ongoing growth, highlighting the strength of our client base and our commitment to excellence across our core practice areas. They reflect our market-leading expertise, from protecting the rights of creative individuals and businesses in film and TV, to advising on corporate transactions, and employment and property matters, to servicing the needs of private clients. Each of these individuals exemplifies the talent and dedication that drive our success, and we are proud to support them as they step into these senior roles.”
Catherine Flood advises clients on the development, financing, production and exploitation of feature films, television programmes and other content across both traditional and new media platforms. Her practice encompasses work with major US studios and streamers, as well as UK independent film and television producers and individual rightsholders.
Clare McGarry advises on a broad range of commercial and IP matters across the film, TV and theatre industries, including the development, production, financing and distribution of media projects and the acquisition, protection and exploitation of rights, IP and content. Clare’s clients range from individual producers, talent and startup independent production companies to major SVODs, high profile production companies, studios and content financiers. Clare also focuses on newer areas of the industry such as vodcasts, vertical content, branded content and the convergence between traditional TV and content creators.
Sarah Verrecchia advises both businesses and senior employees on the full spectrum of employment matters, acting on both sides of the negotiating table. She works with employers, from early-stage companies to household names, on the full lifecycle of the employment relationship and has particular experience in guiding businesses through sensitive investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes and defending high profile Employment Tribunal claims. For senior employees, Sarah negotiates employment contracts and benefit packages, advises on challenging issues arising during employment often relating to discrimination and harassment, as well as exits, settlement negotiations and Employment Tribunal claims.
The newly launched role of legal director has been introduced to reflect the status and value of the firm’s most senior lawyers outside of the partnership, ensuring it retains and develops its people and recognises the multiple paths to progressing a legal career.
Jonathan Hewitt advises developers, investors and occupiers, including private property companies, charities and individuals, on a wide range of transactional property matters, as well as property-related disputes which often require court or tribunal applications. He is also a notary and produces notarial acts for clients for use domestically and overseas, and advises on relevant cross-border requirements.
Emily Miles advises entrepreneurs, investors and international corporate groups on a broad range of corporate matters. She has particular expertise in private mergers and acquisitions, as well as investment and fundraising transactions. Her practice also encompasses pre-transaction restructurings, joint ventures, management incentive arrangements and wider stakeholder advisory work. Emily works with clients across the media, technology, retail and hospitality sectors, and is also trusted by UHNW individuals and their family offices on their investment and acquisition strategies in the UK.
Catherine’s primary practice is her work with major US studios and streamers, including extensive work with Apple and Amazon. Additionally, she serves a range of UK independent film and television producers, as well as individual rightsholders, with notable clients including Complete Fiction, Marv and DNA Films.
Catherine has a particular specialism in development and production work, where she advises on the full scope of legal and business affairs matters, taking a commercial and pragmatic approach. Catherine’s involvement in projects includes initial rights acquisition, copyright and chain of title issues through to all stages of production (from prep to post), dealing with the negotiation of cast, crew, location, production services and supplier agreements, as well as clearances. Catherine is very knowledgeable on union matters and regularly advises on the application of collective bargaining agreements to UK projects.
Catherine is ranked as a “Key Lawyer” in The Legal 500 UK guide for film and television.
Catherine graduated from the University of Cambridge with a BA in Law. Before joining Harbottle & Lewis, Catherine trained at DLA Piper where she spent time on secondment at Discovery.
Clare advises on a broad range of commercial and IP matters across the film, TV and theatre industries, including the development, production, financing and distribution of film, TV and theatre projects and the acquisition, protection and exploitation of rights/IP and content.
Clare works with clients of all sizes and types within the film, TV and theatre sectors, from individual producers, talent and small independent production companies, to major SVODs, high profile production companies, studios, and content financiers. Clare also specialises in advising rightsholders who wish to protect and exploit their IP and rights. Clare works across all genres of film and television, including scripted, unscripted and animation, as well as newer areas such as digital exploitation, branded content and the convergence between traditional TV and content creators.
Clare is described in listed as a ‘Key Lawyer’ and described as ‘a key contact for independent producers and rights holders’ and ‘a pleasure to work with. Fantastic attention to detail and very responsive to client requests. Runs matters efficiently and inspires confidence in her clients’. Clare has also been ranked as a ‘Rising Star’.
Clare presents at numerous industry events, including BAFTA Elevate and Indielab and regularly runs legal sessions for Pact members.
Sarah has extensive experience acting on both sides of the negotiating table and understands the impact that dealing with stressful employment situations can have on everyone involved.
For employers, Sarah advises on the full lifecycle of the employment relationship and has particular experience in guiding businesses through sensitive investigations, disciplinary and grievance processes, often involving allegations of sexual harassment. Sarah is an experienced litigator, regularly advising on the defence of complex Employment Tribunal claims. These clients range from household names to early-stage companies.
For senior employees, Sarah negotiates employment contracts and benefit packages, advises on challenging issues arising during employment which often relate to discrimination and harassment and supports senior employees with their exits, settlement negotiations and Employment Tribunal claims.
Sarah also has particular expertise advising high net worth and high profile individuals on household and private office employment matters. For these clients she provides an employment lawyer led bespoke HR service, dealing with redundancy, disciplinary, grievance and settlement processes, making matters as simple and as stress-free for the client as possible and works closely with the media and information group to manage any reputational risks. She previously spent time on secondment working in house for the multi-family private office arm of an independent investment group in London.
Since 2022, Sarah has been recognised as a ‘Key Lawyer’ in both the Employment: Senior Executive and Employment: Employer categories of The Legal 500. She has featured on BBC Radio and has been quoted in multiple publications, including The Sunday Times. Sarah is a member of the Employment Lawyers' Association.
In addition, Jonathan works with our dispute resolution lawyers to advise clients in relation to contentious property matters and non-contentious matters which require court or tribunal applications.
Jonathan is also a notary, producing notarial acts for clients for use domestically and overseas and advising on relevant cross-border requirements.
Jonathan’s clients include developers, investors and occupiers, including private property companies, charities and individuals.
Jonathan is a council member of the Notaries Society of England and Wales.
Emily has particular expertise in private mergers and acquisitions, as well as investment and fundraising transactions. Her practice also encompasses pre-transaction restructurings, joint ventures, management incentive arrangements and wider stakeholder advisory work.
Emily works with clients in a broad range of sectors, with a particular focus on the media, technology, retail and hospitality sectors. Additionally, Emily advises ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients and their family offices on their investment and acquisition activities in the UK.
Emily’s experience includes an in-house secondment at the head office of a global entertainment, hospitality and leisure brand.
Emily’s expertise has been recognised by The Legal 500, where she is listed as a “Key Lawyer” for M&A (£10-100m). Emily graduated from the University of Oxford with an MA in history before converting to law. Before joining Harbottle & Lewis in 2017, Emily trained at DLA Piper where she spent time on secondment in the Sydney office.
Catherine has established her reputation at the pinnacle of family law. Her practice encompasses the full spectrum of family law in instances of relationship breakdown, and she advises on the highest profile, highest value and most complex cases in the family courts.
Her clients typically face significant public and media scrutiny; Catherine resolves their most personal issues with empathy, sensitivity, determination and discretion. She’s described as having an “incredibly impressive strategic approach” and “unparalleled” client care skills. In April 2024 she was elected as the firm’s first female senior partner.
Depending on each client’s needs, Catherine’s approach is tailor made; whether that be successful negotiating outside of the court process or tough litigating within it. Her work frequently involves high net worth individuals, ranging from successful CEOs and investment bankers, to sports stars and entertainers. Catherine specialises in complex financial matters, frequently advising her clients with regard to assets and trust structures, including locating hidden assets.
Catherine is also highly experienced in all private law children matters including residence and contact, leave to remove children from the jurisdiction (both achieving and preventing), specific issue applications and prohibited steps orders.
Catherine is particularly concerned with mental health issues for children and adolescents; she has for some time been involved with the Anna Freud Centre and is a trustee. She is also a trustee of the National Gallery Foundation Trust.
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