The firm
'True media expert' Harbottle & Lewis provides high-quality advice to companies and individuals, particularly in the media and entertainment industries. Many lawyers here are actively involved with initiatives to support the growth and development of the creative arts in the UK. Media deals in the sub-£50m bracket remain a theme for the corporate practice which succeeded in breaking firm deal records in 2008.
The star performers
Asset finance and leasing; Intellectual property; Brand management; Media and entertainment; Commercial property; M&A: smaller deals up to £50m; Defamation and privacy; Sport; Family; Venture capital. IT and telecoms;
The deals
Advised MAMA Group Plc on its joint venture with HMV; advised defendant in The Whiter Shade of Pale dispute in House of Lords and acted for claimants Lucasfilm in the Star Wars case; advised producers of 'Spring Awakening' on transferring the musical from Broadway to the West End; advised Cadbury on its sponsorship of the 2012 Olympics.
The clients
Comic Relief; England Cricket Team; London Seed Capital; Powerboat P1 Management; Rockstar Games; RBS; Scion Film; The Kevin Spacey Foundation; Universal Music Group; Virgin Atlantic.
The money
The Lex 100 verdict
If you want to do media law, you'll already know about Harbottle & Lewis, one of the best firms in the field. Be prepared to join the long line of applicants, however, as the firm continues to be incredibly popular and only recruits a small intake. Aside from its stellar media reputation, current trainees were attracted by the 'quality of clients, laid back people and the fact that they said at interview that you'd have a lot of responsibility'. Others liked the 'interesting mix of quality work' in an office full of 'down-to-earth people'. In other words, there's no room for star-struck employees who might ask clients such as Jamie Cullum for autographs. If you're lucky enough to secure a contract you'll get a thorough grounding in the core commercial areas - corporate, litigation, property, employment - as well as the more 'sexy' areas like music, film, theatre or TV (perhaps unsurprisingly there is 'competition for the really popular seats'). There's also the chance of a client secondment, usually at one of the firm's aviation clients. A Lex 100 Winner for job satisfaction, trainees here say they get 'far greater client contact, greater responsibility' with a 'quality of work which seems much higher than at other firms.' Whilst one says work/life balance is 'relatively good - usually leave by 6:30pm', another warns 'the hours can end up being as long as those in larger firms'. Another says that the greater responsibility available 'means it can get quite stressful'. That said, this is a friendly firm with 'approachable partners'. Staff are encouraged to mingle and are lucky enough to have 'free lunch everyday, which everyone eats together'. Outside office hours, trainees would appreciate more social events and would like the firm to be a bit more generous, both with pay and 'the comically low budget for trainee drinks'. However, for 'the opportunity to work in niche, exciting areas of the law', this 'completely unique' firm takes some beating.