RUSSELLS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of Department
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Partner
Alex joined Russells in 2018 and has established three main areas of focus:
Alex Cole is giving a talk at an upcoming webinar presented by AIM in collaboration with the IMPALA Metaverse Group...
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Member of Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Alice qualified as a solicitor in 2017, and joined Russells in 2018 from international law firm Ashurst LLP. Prior to training as a solicitor, Alice interned at the Media Legal Defence Initiative assisting with cross-jurisdictional cases on privacy and media freedom.
Alice acts for a variety of clients across the creative industries and is equally at home acting for an individual as she is for a large company. She advises on a wide variety of matters reflecting the diversity of her clients' businesses, needs and interests. Her practice includes intellectual property, contractual disputes, company and partnership disputes, and reputation management/privacy. Cases she has worked on since joining Russells include:
A contractual dispute between a songwriter and her manager in relation to whether royalties generated by a number one song written pre-term were commissionable.
A claim by the estate of an internationally-renowned artist and several record and music publishing companies against the attempted enforcement of an Italian copyright injunction in the UK.
A copyright infringement claim against a well-known heavy metal band alleged to have copied lyrics written by a former lead singer.
A digital royalty dispute between an independent record label and its artist in relation to the applicable royalty under a pre-digital contract.
A claim by an art collector against an NFT trading platform in relation to the terms governing an auction for works by the digital artist Beeple.
Alice is a member of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee and volunteers as a supervisor at the Law for the Arts pro bono clinic at Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Partner
- Head of Legal and Business Affairs for a Prestigious UK
- Partner / Commercial
Ally qualified as a solicitor in 2008 having previously gained her degree from Cambridge University. After qualification, she spent three years as an associate solicitor advising clients on a wide variety of high value corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, investments and company listings.
In 2011, Ally became the Head of Legal and Business Affairs for a prestigious UK based entertainment business - SPZ Properties Ltd including Sarm Studios, Music Bank, Stiff Records and ZTT Records. She combined this position with that of Managing Director of a subsidiary business - a London based independent music publishing company, Perfect Songs Ltd. During this time Ally was responsible for managing a roster of 14 active song writers, putting together co-writing sessions, and dealing with licensing requests. In addition, she gained extensive experience across all aspects of the entertainment industry including drafting leases, licensing agreements, producer agreements and various commercial contracts.
Ally joined Russells in October 2016 and works with both the corporate and commercial teams. She now acts for some of the most established names in the world of media, both in the UK and internationally. Her work encompasses a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions.
In addition to her substantial legal and business experience, Ally has built up an extensive network of contacts and connections within the field of media, music and entertainment.
Job Titles:
- Head of Department
- Head of Department / Real Estate
- Head of Our Property Department
Angela, Head of our Property Department, qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and joined Russells in July 2017 having spent the previous 4 years at a large City firm.
Angela handles all forms of property transactions and specialises in the disposal and acquisition of freehold and leasehold properties in new developments as well as the second hand market for high net worth clients based both in the UK and overseas.
Angela is also experienced in acting for banks and financial institutions providing property advice and handling financing offered to corporate bodies incorporated in domestic and foreign jurisdictions as well as to private individuals buying in the UK.
Angela provides a wide range of property advice and services to her clients which includes handling off plan purchases and off plan assignment agreements, new and old leases, licences and complex title issues.
Angela speaks fluent Cantonese.
Carol is a Partner in the Family department and advises on the full range of family matters including divorce, dissolution of civil partnership, cohabitation, pre and post nuptial agreements and issues concerning children including Removal from the Jurisdiction, maintenance and contact.
She specialises in high net worth cases for individuals in business, the media and banking and her cases frequently have an international element.
Carol is also a trained Collaborative lawyer and wherever possible she helps parties broker an agreement but if litigation is inevitable she is decisive and tenacious.She gives her clients clear, practical advice and focuses on finding the right solution for their particular circumstances.
Carol is individually ranked in Chambers where she is described as a ‘'highly professional, dedicated and astute'' Family lawyer.
As quoted in Legal 500: Russells combines ‘deep scale professionalism with superb customer service' under the leadership of Carol Ellinas who is described...
Russells would like to congratulate Carol Ellinas and Lucy Hoare on their recent recognition by Chambers and Partners, a company...
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Commercial / Music
Chloe joined Russells as a Partner in the Commercial Department in April 2019.
Chloe has over 15 years' experience advising a broad range of clients across the music and wider entertainment industry. She advises businesses such as labels and publishers, as well as talented individuals such as writers, producers and performers on a wide range of deals, including recording, publishing, management, live performance and endorsement agreements. She provides clear, strategic, commercial as well as legal advice and has experience working with both established and emerging talent.
Prior to joining Russells, having studied law at Oxford, Chloe trained and qualified at media and entertainment firm Harbottle and Lewis, where she became a partner and head of the music practice in 2011.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Partner
Chris joined Russells in 1999 as a trainee and qualified as a solicitor in 2001. Chris now heads Russells' Corporate Department as well as specialising in all commercial transaction work in music and television. His ability to combine experience of high value corporate transactions with a detailed knowledge of the intricacies of the music business is a rare commodity and highly valued by clients.
He has acquired a reputation for clear and concise analysis as well as calm and thorough advice, preparation and negotiation in the highly pressurised world of corporate transactions. In addition to his work in advising on investments, joint venture, shareholder and partnership arrangements, and the selling and acquisition of companies, he also enjoys advising on anything related to the entertainment industry and regularly advises major and independent record companies, publishers and executives, as well as entities and individuals active in the worlds of merchandising, touring, investment, digital and online rights, restaurant/pubs, theatre, film and television.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultant
- Senior Consultant / Commercial / Music
Chris has been with Russells since being taken on as an articled clerk in 1980 and, after a decade co-managing/managing the firm (between 2000 and 2015) culminating in him being the firm's Senior Partner, is now our Senior Consultant.
From his beginnings as a commercial solicitor focusing almost exclusively on the music industry, his role and areas of expertise have expanded significantly, although he draws almost all of his clientele from the entertainment and media industries.
His clients number some of the greatest talents of their generation to include artists, writers, composers, sportsmen and executives as well as clients drawn from the business world of highly successful companies (independent and major) and other organisations within the world of entertainment from music, film, theatre and book publishing through to sport, the restaurant business and many other fields.
Having represented George Michael throughout his career, Chris maintains the active role of co-executor of the George Michael estate.
Dan is a Partner and solicitor advocate in the firm's litigation department. He is an experienced commercial litigator, who has acted for Presidents and asylum seekers, bankrupts and billionaires over the course of his career. Dan principally advises artists, managers, record labels and media companies.
Prior to joining Russells, Dan trained and practised for several years at one of the world's pre-eminent disputes firms. There, he acted on some of the largest and most high profile cases around.
Dan has represented clients at all levels of the Court system, from tribunals through to the Supreme Court. He also has extensive experience of international arbitration and between 2011 and 2012 acted as Special Advisor to the Attorney General of Sierra Leone.
In recent years, Dan's practice has increasingly focused on reputation and privacy issues and he leads the firm's team in the long-running phone hacking litigation.
Dan's excellent reputation is founded on his ability to quickly evaluate complex cases and the strength of the personal relationships he builds with his clients.
David qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and his career has focused exclusively on family law. He has a depth of experience in all areas, including pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, co-habitation and children.
He specialises in dealing with the financial aspects of family law, particularly in divorce and separation cases. Many of his cases involve substantial wealth, businesses, trusts and international elements.
David is an advanced member of the Law Society Family Panel, a member and accredited specialist of Resolution, a trained mediator and a collaborative lawyer.
He provides clients with realistic, practical, and strategic advice. He will consider all available options to resolve any family law issue to best suit a client's needs and provide them with the best possible outcome.
"David Hodgson is extremely bright and able and delivers excellent results for his clients. He will settle cases where appropriate but is not afraid to litigate if required. He will always protect his clients' interests and has his eye always on the bigger picture which serves his clients well'. Legal 500
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Partner
Ed is a Partner in the firm's Corporate department. He has extensive M&A and Private Equity experience, and also advises on financings, restructurings, anti-bribery and corruption and governance issues. Ed represents a broad range of clients in the entertainment and telecoms industries.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Member of the Litigation Team
Eliot is a member of the Litigation team at Russells and is qualified as a Solicitor Advocate with Higher Rights of Audience (Civil).
Since qualifying in March 2017, Eliot has worked on a wide range of complex commercial disputes across a variety of different industries and sector areas (acting for both large corporates and individuals). Eliot's practice is now focused on clients in the media and entertainment sector such as artists, filmmakers, record labels, managers and media companies. Eliot advises on a broad range of contentious and potentially contentious matters, including contractual disputes, intellectual property disputes, partnership disputes and reputation management/defamation issues.
Before joining Russells, Eliot completed his training contract and practised for several years at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, one of the world's leading disputes firms. During his time there, Eliot acted on some of the highest profile contentious matters in the City, many of which involved High Court proceedings. Eliot also completed a client secondment at Sky, the UK's largest subscription television broadcaster, where he worked on a range of media disputes and anti-piracy matters.
Eliot's experience on the client side means that he is always focused on delivering his advice in a way which is easily accessible and understandable to the end-user.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Member of the Litigation Department
Elizabeth is a member of the litigation department at Russells, where she assists clients in navigating their way through a broad range of disputes in the music, art and entertainment industries.
Elizabeth trained at a well-known international law firm specialising in litigation and has particular expertise in commercial and corporate disputes. Since qualifying as a solicitor in 2015, Elizabeth has advised clients on a wide variety of legal matters, including those involving breaches of contractual obligations, termination of contracts, shareholder disputes, breaches of directors' duties, management and publishing disputes, copyright and trademark infringement, and contentious probate. She has litigated in the High Court, the County Court and the Court of Appeal and is experienced in handling complex, high-value cases involving significant volumes of documentary disclosure, whilst being equally dedicated to the more discrete but no less important smaller matters which she manages.
Elizabeth combines creativity with pragmatism to identify the right course of action in each case, keeping in mind what is realistic, achievable and in the best interests of her client. She is experienced in Alternative Dispute Resolution, including mediation, and is an advocate of its use in appropriate cases but she does not shy away from adopting a robust approach where needed.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder With Mike Greek of the UK
- the Strat
Russells would like to congratulate Emma Banks, co-founder with Mike Greek of the UK office of creative agency CAA, for...
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Commercial / Music / Employment
Gavin heads up the Music Department.
Gavin came to work for Russells in 1991 and trained with them qualifying in 1993 into the Commercial Department. His remit thereafter was specifically to attract new and emerging talent to the firm, something they had hitherto not specifically focused on. From a relative standing start Gavin now heads up this department which over the last 30 years has grown with the clients he brought to the firm, some of whom have become multimillion selling stadium artists and household names.
Whilst predominately an artist lawyer, Gavin also represents music industry executives as well as other industry employees in relation to all manner of employment issues as well as producers and mixers, managers and management companies, independent music publishers and record labels as well as a number of film production companies, booking, comedy and modelling agencies and digital start-up companies. More recently Gavin has been heavily involved with the firm's corporate department in the sale of client catalogues to investment companies and publishers.
Gavin enjoys leading a team of like-minded lawyers in his department with a love of music and a passion for protecting their clients' interests.
Harriet is a solicitor in the Litigation team in Russells. Prior to joining Russells, she trained at international law firm Osborne Clarke LLP where she qualified with a specialism in litigation in 2021.
Harriet has acted for a variety of clients (both individuals and companies) and has experience in complex, high-value disputes as well as in providing strategic advice to avoid the escalation of contentious matters.
Her practice is focused in the media and entertainment sector and she represents a range of clients within the industry.
Henry is a partner in our disputes team.
He has over 15 years of litigation and dispute management experience and was formerly a partner in one of the City's top litigation firms.
Henry has acted, and acts for, record labels and music publishers, FTSE 100 listed companies, high net worth individuals and family offices, film production companies, media agencies, brand owners and talent (amongst others). He has also been seconded to a listed retailer and brand licensing business.
He has experience of advising on disputes relating to breach of contract, unfair prejudice, breach of confidence, intellectual property infringement, reputation management and sports regulation (amongst others).
Henry has been recognised as a Next Generation Partner by The Legal 500 UK (2021) and as a Rising Star for Intellectual Property by Managing Intellectual Property: IPSTARS (2019/20).
Jai graduated with a Law degree from the University of Birmingham in 2015. Prior to joining Russells, he gained experience of the music industry by working at a record label and a music events company.
Following his training at Russells, Jai qualified into the firm's Commercial Department in September 2020. He now works predominately with both emerging and established artists, producers and songwriters, advising on a wide range of legal and commercial issues.
Jai is a music enthusiast and is passionate about the culture that surrounds the art. This has led him to develop a wide network of contacts in the industry through which he is able to assist the careers of his clients and discover new talent.
James has spent his entire professional career working for clients in the music business. This includes a range of artists and writers starting with complete newcomers doing their first recording or publishing deal and extending to established "superstars". James has also represented numerous record companies and music publishing companies.
After graduating in Law from Trinity College Cambridge, James became articled to Harbottle & Lewis. James qualified as a solicitor in April 1976 and at that time worked as an assistant for a partner specialising in the entertainment industry. James continued to work for a variety of clients in the entertainment industry and became a partner in around 1981.
In 1988 James became the full time co-manager of the very successful group "Eurythmics" who had been very long-standing clients of his. At that time he also became a director of another established client of his, the Beggars Banquet Group.
James continues to act as a business adviser to various Artists and companies and is still a director of Beggars Banquet Records and other companies within the Beggars Banquet Group.
In March 2001 Russells were delighted that James agreed to join them in the consultant position that he maintains to this day and hopefully for many years to come.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate
- Solicitor
Job Titles:
- Head of Department
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Solicitor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Solicitor
Job Titles:
- Head of Department
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Partner
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Senior Associate
Job Titles:
- Member of the Corporate Team
- Senior Associate
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Member of the Corporate Team
Job Titles:
- Head of Department
- Partner