United Kingdom

[GB] New Legal Service for New and Independent Production Vompanies with a Modest Turnover

IRIS 1995-3:1/18

Ad van Loon

European Audiovisual Observatory

The London based organisation PACT's Legal Service, operated in association with Marriott Harrison, has recently been designed to allow new and independent production companies with a modest turnover access to first class professional advice.

The scheme is designed to make expert advice available at times when producers are struggling for finance. The rates offered are not made available to broadcasters or other financiers, and once an allowance for legal advice is made in development budgets, or a television/feature film is commissioned or funded, the fee level is a matter of agreement between Marriott Harrison and the client. The arrangements for invoicing for such fees would then also be a matter for Marriott Harrison and the client to agree directly.

The legal services offered within the scheme are expected to include the following: (i) business start up (including company foramtion, partnership formation, personal service contracts, basic tax advice); (ii) project development (including option acquisition, contracting writers, basic copyright advice, vetting development agreements); (iii) finance (basic advice as to feasibility of raising and utilising certain forms of finance); (iv) business affairs advice relative to the foregoing; (v) litigation (initial advice only).