Whether you’re a media lawyer, production lawyer or producer, this industry leading event is not to be missed. Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to assist your clients in achieving their commercial and strategic objectives across film, music, tv and publishing. Expand your repertoire across a variety of entertainment law issues including regulatory updates, privacy, defamation, Copyright and IP Issues, advertising codes, contracts, WHS and end to end considerations when engaging creatives.

Presenters

Janine Lapworth, Senior Consultant, Simpsons Solicitors
Janine has broad corporate, commercial, intellectual property, entertainment and litigation experience. Janine joined Simpsons Solicitors after running her own entertainment law practice for several years. She has worked at national and international law firms and in senior in-house legal positions in Sydney and Singapore. She has acted for local producers and overseas studios in connection with international television projects in Australia, advising on all stages from initial structuring and financing through production to worldwide distribution. Beyond television, her clients are involved in research, publishing, education, the visual arts and other creative industries.


Marina Olsen, Partner, Banki Haddock Fiora
Marina joined Banki Haddock Fiora in 2013 after practising as a Senior Associate at a national firm and a leading London firm. Marina has extensive experience in litigation relating to both defamation and intellectual property, as well as in general commercial disputes. In recent years she has acted in high-profile media cases including Craig McLachlan v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited & Ors, Elaine Stead v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd & Joseph Aston, Jemma Green v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd & Aaron Patrick and Mooney v Fairfax Media Publications Pty Limited & Anor, and in key trade mark / consumer law cases including Clipsal Australia Pty Ltd v Clipso Electrical Pty Ltd and Société Des Produits Nestlé SA & Anor v Christian & Anor. Marina also advises on commercial and privacy legal issues, with a particular focus on issues facing media clients. Her expertise and interest covers a broad range of industries, including media and entertainment, sport, design and consumer goods. She regularly conducts training seminars and participates in panel discussions for non-lawyers, and has authored numerous papers for key publications such as the Journal of Intellectual Property Law & Practice (UK), the World Data Protection Report (international), the Australian IP Law Bulletin (for which she also sits on the editorial board) and the Communications Law Bulletin. She sits on the committee for the Communications & Media Law Association and is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Sports Law Association, and works closely with the Authentic Design Alliance, which supports and promotes original, authentic design in Australia


Laura Engele, VP Legal & Business Affairs, ITV Studios Australia
Laura Engele is Vice President Legal & Business Affairs and Company Secretary Global Distribution at ITV Studios. Laura leads the APAC Legal & Business Affairs team responsible for the acquisition of global distribution rights, international licensing of all exploitation rights (i.e linear, on demand, home entertainment, clip and non-theatrical), as well as direct to consumer including via FAST/AVOD platforms for scripted and non-scripted programmes and television formats. Prior to joining ITV Studios, Laura worked as a lawyer at Australian commercial law firm Holding Redlich in their media and entertainment team, in production legals at Beyond Productions, and in Government. Laura sits on the Screenrights’ Independent Expert Panel.


Melinda Peters, Partner, Tax Specialist, McCullough Robertson
A specialist tax and duty lawyer, Melinda provides advice on transaction structuring and re-structuring with a view to helping clients achieve tax effective outcomes. Additionally she assists clients with inbound and outbound investment structures, mergers and acquisitions and works actively with clients to prepare for and manage a broad range of tax controversy matters - from audit stage through to legal proceedings. Melinda currently acts for a range of clients across a number of industries. Her clients currently include multinational corporations with Australian resource interests, a number of ASX-listed companies and widely held investment funds. She also acts for a number of growing Australian businesses.


Lee Elsdon, Associate, Simpsons Solicitors
Lee is an Associate at Simpsons Solicitors, specializing in Film and TV. He advises and assists producers, production companies, media financiers and creatives on production and finance matters. Lee has previously worked for the Arts Law Centre of Australia and the Australian Government Solicitor, and prior to his career in the law, he worked for many years in television production and post-production.


Natasha Eves, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Free TV Australia
Natasha Eves was appointed Free TV Australia’s Regulatory Affairs Manager in December 2021. Natasha joined Free TV from SBS, where she was External Affairs Manager, with responsibilities across policy, government relations, and industry engagement. Natasha has a background in media policy and arts and cultural policy, having previously held roles at the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies, and the Australia Council for the Arts.


Belyndy Rowe, Senior Associate, Bird & Bird
Belyndy Rowe is a Senior Associate in our Technology and Communications Group in Sydney. Her current practice focuses on data protection, technology, media, and commercial contracting. Belyndy advises clients who use data and technology to drive their businesses. She provides commercial legal advice for leading businesses in the advertising, travel and leisure, conservation, and media industries. Some recent highlights of her work have included advising media companies and broadcasters on the use of data to build audience profiles and target content, agtech start-ups on the legal regulation of drone technology used for planting, hospitality and accommodation industry disruptors on the use of data to drive their businesses, and health care providers on the commercialisation of their IP and use of health information to improve demographic-based health outcomes. Identifying and managing legal risks in contracts and operations is a major part of her current and past roles. Belyndy has experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating a range of commercial agreements, advising on managing and commercialising intellectual property assets, and negotiating major commercial transactions. Belyndy advises on large technology deals, consumer law matters, the specifics of ad tech, data breach response, and data as a business asset.


Emma German, Senior Legal Counsel, Network Ten
Emma German is senior legal counsel at Paramount ANZ, with a deep specialisation in content production (across Paramount ANZ’s free and paid platforms, including Channel 10, 10Play, Paramount+, Nickelodeon and MTV). Prior to Paramount ANZ, Emma was in-house legal counsel at Stan Entertainment, helping the company transition from tis start-up phase to become Australia’s largest local entertainment-on-demand provider. Emma began her career in private practise at King & Wood Mallesons after studying at the University of Sydney. She has always held a strong passion for the media and entertainment industries.


Sarah Butler, Special Counsel, Holding Redlich
Sarah is a Special Counsel in Holding Redlich’s Corporate and Commercial group. Sarah's expertise is in intellectual property, transactional and regulatory matters, with a focus on the media, entertainment and technology industries. Sarah's clients include broadcasters, technology companies and start-ups, advertising agencies, production companies, consumer brands, government agencies and private equity investors.


Rebecca Lindhout, Special Counsel, McCullough Robertson
Rebecca Lindhout is Special Counsel in McCullough Robertson’s Digital & IP Team. She acts across a broad range of TMT matters, including media rights, sponsorship, talent, marketing, telco, technology procurement and technology services agreements. She also advises on general commercial arrangements and the IP/IT aspects of corporate transactions. Rebecca obtained her law degree from Oxford University and trained at Slaughter and May in London, including on secondment to ITV where she was Commercial Affairs Executive (Sport). She also spent a number of years working in the legal team at FOX SPORTS Australia. Rebecca is a member of the executive committee of the Communications and Media Law Association (CAMLA).