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This is the site for the specialist business affairs and legal consultancy, Creative Law & Business CL&B. We take care of the commercial and legal side of the entertainment and media industry.
We represent a diverse group of creative talent and creative businesses working across all media. We are devoted to providing them with the specialist support that they need to protect their intellectual property and make money from it.
The government firmly believes that it will be the creative industries that will bring us out of the recession and is committed to ensuring their continued growth.
We feel likewise. There is an abundance of creative talent and talented entrepreneurs in the UK particularly in Brighton where we are based. However, until now, it has been very difficult for them to obtain effective professional advice from experienced, commercially minded lawyers, dedicated to supporting creativity.
That’s why we formed CL&B - to serve creative businesses and only creative businesses.
Our goal is to provide advice that will help our clients make sense of the complex legal, business and cultural developments that are occurring as a result of digital technology and the change in consumers’ attitudes to the way in which creative output is consumed and paid for.
CL&B was set up by highly regarded lawyer Dean Marsh who, for 12 years, practised as Dean Marsh & Co. Solicitors. Our consultants are pleased to continue to provide expert advice and services to the clients of Dean Marsh & Co, and welcome new ones.
We firmly believe that in order to provide the best service, we assess, not just the legal position, but also, as a matter of course, advise on the commercial terms, their implications and alternative deal options on any matters that we are instructed upon. The legal services are ancillary to that because everything we do is considered initially from a business and commercial perspective.
We are trained solicitors, with a combined 25 years in specialist private practice, so it is a given that we are able to provide informed advice on the law ancillary and incidental to the commercial advice. In particular, we are experts in contract law, intellectual property (copyright, performers’ rights, Trade Marks, passing off, confidentiality etc), company/commercial, joint ventures and partnership.
Mainly, we represent our clients in their contractual dealings. Therefore, we are able to carry out the following services:
Advising on the most appropriate deal structure and commercial terms
Negotiating the commercial terms
Drafting or reviewing documentation
We are experienced in advising business start ups, consulting on the most appropriate vehicle for the business and dealing with any contracts between the founders (such as shareholders agreements or partnership agreements) and also advice on and drafting of terms and conditions of trade. We work closely with specialist accountants and can help you prepare a professional business plan in order to raise funds.
We can advise on funding, whether by way of investment funds, venture capital, DIY funding, grant funding or licensing.
We can advise on the creation and protection of intellectual property and Data Protection Act, privacy & regulatory compliance.
We can advise on acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures, sponsorship and rights licensing, and branding.
Dispute resolution is a key area. We do not carry out litigation, but Dean has had extensive experience of dealing with entertainment industry disputes over many years. His early involvement has, in many disputes, meant achievement of a pragmatic and commercial pre-action settlement, avoiding the expense and stress of litigation.
Fees are generally agreed in advance. For our Terms & Conditions of business please click here.
For start-ups and existing creative businesses, we can carry out the following services:
1. Preparation of Terms and Conditions of Business
2. Preparation of website Terms & Conditions/Privacy policy
3. IP audit
4. Provision of a set of contract templates
5. Employment contracts
6. Employment handbook
7. Consultancy agreements
8. Data Protection Act audit
9. Preparation of framework agreements
10. Preparation of Business Plans
11. Preparation of investment proposals and investment agreements
12. Shareholder agreements/Partnership agreements
13. Review of existing business models
14. Software licence audit
15. Company secretarial services
16. Trademarking/Patents/Design right applications
17. Funding review
18. Distance selling regulations and audit
19. Wills
20. Company incorporation
21. Safekeeping of ideas and confidential information
22. Digital strategy audit
Our aim is to provide a full range of services to our clients. However, we do not deal with matters outside of our specialist areas. Instead, we are affiliated with very experienced and capable law firms and service providers in this country and overseas that can provide us with expert support in the areas of:
Property work
Employment
Trade Marking and Patents
Immigration
Competition law
Litigation
Reputation Protection
Debt Collection
Crime
IT