M Law Media Law Team - Matthew Higdon - Oliver Fetiveau - Victoria Russell Peter Coles - Sarah Bridge Freddie Bessant - Neil Paterson - Robin Bynoe - Tom Wesel - Eva Ren

OUR STORY

In 2003, the UK was a different place. Mark Zuckerberg was in his dorms, dreaming up Facemash, only renamed TheFacebook the following year. Google was a private company and AOL bombarded the world with installation discs (“you’ve got mail!”). Robbie Williams had just signed his infamous 360 music deal with EMI, a deal which over the next decade would become the norm as the labels fought the online pirates. Apple was only just launching iTunes, and we chilled without the Netflix.

The world of law was unassailable: big was beautiful, atriums were large, tradition was lauded, events sponsored, and legal services, like beer, were reassuringly expensive. Frustrated by the politics and the focus on profits which plague larger firms and which left little room for more interesting work brought by start-up clients or creatives, M Law was established in 2003, recognising a better way for our clients, and for ourselves. With decades of expertise from various industry specific city firms, we came together to offer something more personal and effectual.

Fast forward to now. Online business has a foot on the high street’s neck and the world is abuzz with influencers, vloggers, multi-channel networks, 360 deals, cryptocurrency, AI, blockchain, Brexit, and e-sports.

M Law has kept pace. Our full service commercial firm with clients from the worlds of media (digital and traditional), retail, telecoms, entertainment and sport continues to provide innovative and savvy advice that meets and exceeds the ever evolving demands of these industries.

OUR TEAM

Matthew Higdon

Oliver Fetiveau

Peter Coles

Sarah Bridge

Victoria Russell

Tom Wesel

Robin Bynoe

Neil Paterson

Eva Ren

Elio Cassandro

Billy Jenks

Clio Lee

Eva Ren

Eva joined the firm in 2019 as a trainee solicitor. Eva graduated from University of Bristol with Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 2015. She subsequently completed the LPC at the University of Law in London as well as obtained a Master degree in Law, Business and Management. Before joining M Law, Eva gained experience as inhouse paralegal in a bank, investment firm as well as a commercial law firm.

Something you may not know about Eva

Eva organised weekly Jazz gigs in Clifton, Bristol for 2 years despite Jazz not being her first choice of music. Eva is one of few people in the world can imitate every face emoji. Eva has been featured on BBC2 Glastonbury 2019 as a girl in the crowd.

Eva Ren

Peter Coles

Whilst I am basically a commercial, transactional lawyer, my specialism is that elusive animal, the law relating to Entertainment – which I see as covering all aspects of the creation, production, financing and exploitation of audio-visual products. Whilst delivery methods and revenue generation areas may have changed, most structures and lessons learned from my first days as an inhouse lawyer at National Film Finance Corporation are still very relevant today. A case of plus ça change …

Something you may not know about Peter

Peter is a keen amateur actor, and enjoys photography. He also likes walking - not just long distance footpaths; he is currently doing two circular walks around London, and enjoys exploring out-of-the-way corners of the city

Peter Coles

Matthew Higdon

After a master’s degree in intellectual property law, Matthew trained and worked as a finance lawyer at Clifford Chance. He founded M Law LLP in 2003 and for the last two decades has advised a wide range of clients from tech entrepreneurs to major international brands, technology/media/telecoms interests and sports businesses (including F1 and leading football clubs).

His corporate/commercial practice focuses on structured finance, acquisitions, disposals and cross border transactions, particularly in high growth TMT sectors.

Matthew has been rated 'Hot 100' by The Lawyer and 'Lawyer of the Week' by The Times.

Matthew Higdon

Oliver Fetiveau

With clients in the world of media, entertainment, retail and sport, Oliver runs the dispute resolution practice at MLaw. He qualified as a solicitor at Ashurst, before spending two years as in-house counsel for an independent music publisher. He joined M LAW in March 2006, and was made a partner of the firm in 2007. Oliver is half French, and deals with French-speaking clients.

Something you may not know about Oliver

Oliver is a lifelong supporter of Hull City football Club, a bad guitarist, and he hopes one day, when he has time,to write a screenplay.

Oliver Fetiveau

Sarah Bridge

Sarah has specialised in private client law for over 14 years, working for a broad spectrum of clients including high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs, families, landed estates and trusts. Her expertise covers all aspects of private client work from wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts and probate to estate planning, capital gains tax planning and trust planning for both UK and non UK domiciliaries. Sarah was formerly head of private client at west end media and entertainment law firm, Harbottle & Lewis LLP.

Sarah Bridge

Neil Paterson

Neil, a solicitor qualified in Scotland, has a broad range of general commercial experience and advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters with a focus on media, regulatory matters, commercial contracts, employment, music and sport.

Neil joined M Law in 2015. Neil trained in Glasgow at an established private practice and prior to joining M Law appeared widely in the criminal and civil courts, as well as the Immigration and Employment Tribunals. Neil read Law at the University of Glasgow and has a PG Cert in Sports Law & Practice from De Montfort University.

Something you may not know about Neil

Neil and a friend from the trade once ran their own bar in Glasgow. He has a keen interest in soul and disco music and is over sensitive about ‘first press’ vinyl from that era. A proud Scotsman, he enjoys most sports and considers following the fortunes of the Scottish national teams as a continuing life lesson. He aims to climb all 282 of Scotland’s Munros “at some point” and has, at time of writing, scaled 32, never once in the appropriate clothing.
Neil Paterson

Robin Bynoe

Robin Bynoe graduated in Jurisprudence from Oxford University. He was successively a partner and head of the intellectual property groups at Jaques & Lewis (which became Eversheds London) and Charles Russell. His practice includes data protection and privacy, IT, franchising, copyright and trade mark work, as well as media. He has published and spoken widely on these topics and is the co-author of two books: Franchising with Martin Mendelsohn and Privacy and Disclosure for Family Lawyers with Miranda Fisher and Tanya Roberts.

Robin Bynoe

Victoria Russell

Victoria specialises in regulatory work in the communications, media and technology sectors. She has spent her career helping all types of companies navigate the regulatory process, providing representation throughout the various stages and ensuring due process.

Previously hailed as a 'rising star' by The Times, Victoria qualified in 2000 and joined MLaw as a consultant in 2009. Prior to joining mLaw, Victoria was a Partner at Charles Russell LLP (now Charles Russell Speechlys).

Victoria Russell

Tom Wesel

Tom joined M Law in 2013 as a consultant. He advises on UK and cross-border tax issues and the advantage of tax planning opportunities through the overlap of a number of countries’ tax systems.

Tom heads up the MA in Tax at King’s College London Law School. He is a barrister and member of the Tax Faculty of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.

Tom obtained his LLB from the London School of Economics and an LLM in Tax from Queen Mary College, University of London, speclialising in international taxation and trained at Enterprise Chambers, 9 Old Square, Lincoln’s Inn.

Tom Wesel

Billy Jenks

Billy specialises in commercial and intellectual property law. He focuses on working with high-growth start-ups across a variety of sectors and talent, particularly footballers. Among other roles, Billy is the Gucci Gaming Academy’s legal advisor, assisting and advising its players as they progress.

Something you may not know about Billy:
Billy spent a year in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, where he helped transfer a school of 400 from a system of Russian-education to one of an English International Baccalaureate.’

Billy Jenks

Elio Cassandro

Elio qualified as a solicitor with Allen & Overy, proceeding to live and work in Paris, Tel Aviv, Sydney, Los Angeles and NY working for various media companies. He moved back to London just before the pandemic. He is of Italian-Australian descent and speaks French, Italian, Spanish and (a little) Hebrew. He’s particularly interested in entertainment and privacy law.

Something you may not know about Elio:
Elio loves a board game: Backgammon, Chess, you name it.

Elio Cassandro

Clio Lee

Clio is a solicitor with over a decade of experience practicing in London and Hong Kong, specializing in various commercial areas and industries through roles in both private practice and in-house positions. With a bicultural background—being half Canadian and half Japanese—Clio was raised in Canada and Hong Kong and educated in the UK. She brings a global perspective to her work, effectively addressing cross-border issues for her clients throughout her career. Clio is now joining MLaw as a consultant.

In addition to her legal practice, Clio has consistently invested in and managed properties worldwide. The resulting business acumen, combined with her fluency in French, has enhanced her ability to meet the diverse legal needs of her clients. Over the course of her career, she has worked in cultures and legal systems in over a dozen countries across multiple continents.