Multiple parties are involved in the creative process giving rise to possible dispute in the Film and TV industry. Explore the most pressing issues. Dissect the new location offset regime. Analyse the critical issues of insurance and duty of care. Focus on music rights, licensing and copyright concerns. Be sure to leave with additional skills and further crucial knowledge to assist in these frequently problematic areas. 

Presenters

Mr. Nicholas Cole, Director, Cole Media and Entertainment Law
Nick Cole is the Legal Practitioner Director of Cole Media & Entertainment Law. He is an intellectual property and commercial lawyer with extensive experience in the media and entertainment industries and a particular specialisation in film and television. He also advises clients generally in relation to commercial matters and intellectual property. Nick is also a Producer at Talk Films, a small independent film and television production company. Nick is able to provide a unique insight into the Australian screen industries that comes from first hand commercial experience. He has acted as Production Counsel for Hacksaw Ridge and The Water Divine. He represents and works extensively with Asian, UK and North American financiers, US studios, television broadcasters, Australian government agencies, content creators, screen producers and distributors.


Mr. Ian Robertson AO, Partner, Holding Redlich
Ian Robertson is a corporate, media and regulatory lawyer who heads the media and entertainment practice of national law firm Holding Redlich. He is also the National Managing Partner of the firm. He became a partner of Holding Redlich in Melbourne in 1990 and established the firm's Sydney office in 1994. He is also the President of the Board of the Victorian Government screen agency, Film Victoria. His former appointments include Deputy Chair of the Australian Government screen agency, Screen Australia, board member of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, director and Chair of Ausfilm, director and Deputy Chair of Film Australia Limited, and director of the predecessor agency to Film Victoria, Cinemedia. Mr Robertson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.


Ms. Lucinda Edwards, Senior Legal Counsel, SBS
Lucinda Edwards is a Senior Legal Counsel with Special Broadcasting Services (SBS), with over fifteen years industry experience working in the media industry in the UK and Australia. She is part of the SBS legal team who were awarded Sport and Entertainment Team of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Corporate Counsel Awards in 2021 and has previously worked both in-house and in private practice. Lucinda provides advice across SBS's television, online and radio services on a range of issues including management of the commissioned slate ofcontent, providing pre-publication advice to journalists and producers in the news and current affairs division and advising on sports and content acquisitions. She has broad commercial law expertise in both transactional and regulatory matters, with a focus on intellectual property, Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, music rights and disputes. Lucinda has previously sat on the boards of MediaRING, Moorambilla Voices and the Copyright Society.


Mr. Stephen Boyle, Principal, Boyle Media and Entertainment Lawyers
Stephen is the sole practitioner director of Stephen Boyle Media and Entertainment Lawyers. Stephen has over 20 years’ experience in providing legal advice to the Australian film and television industry, including having worked at the then Australian Film Commission on the Treaty Co-Production Program. Having worked in house major production houses, as well as for government Screen Agencies Stephen has a broad understanding of the legal issues that are related to development and production in film and television as well as intellectual property issues related to emerging technologies.


Mr. Steven Rosser, Principal, Steve Rosser Law
Steve has over 25 years Legal and Business Affairs and executive experience in the global media and entertainment industries. He is admitted as a lawyer in both the UK and Australia. Rated as one of Australian TV’s “most powerful and influential dealmakers”, Steve has worked extensively in legal positions in-house, most significantly with 17 years at FremantleMedia Australia and Asia Pacific where he was the Director of Commercial and Legal Affairs. Steve has unrivalled experience in rights acquisition, protection and management, project development, production, financing, sponsorship and distribution across all platforms and media. His comprehensive commercial experience and insight in working with creative talent, both behind and in front of the camera, has established his strong reputation and extensive network. Steve is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In his previous lives he has been both a producer and an accountant.


Mr. Christopher Johnson, Director of Legal and Business Affairs, APRA AMCOS
Chris Johnson is Director of Legal and Business Affairs at APRA AMCOS. Prior to this, Chris worked was a Senior Associate at Banki Haddock Fiora, providing copyright licensing (particularly music-related), regulatory, trade practices and general commercial advice to a range of clients particularly in the entertainment and media industries. Chris has also worked as a lawyer at specialist telecommunications law firm, Webb Henderson (providing telecommunications advice in relation to Australia's National Broadband Network) and Gilbert + Tobin (in that firm's 'Competition & Regulation' and 'Corporate, Communications & Technology' groups). Prior to practicing law, Chris worked extensively as a documentary and television editor for numerous television networks and independent producers both in Australia and internationally.


Mr. Shaun Miller, Principal, Shaun Miller Lawyers
Shaun Miller is the principal of the sole practice law firm Shaun Miller Lawyers, which specialises in film and entertainment law. The firm predominantly acts for production companies that make film content, including feature films, documentary films, television series, web series and shorts. Legal services are provided at each stage in which that film content is made: development, financing, production, distribution and marketing. Shaun has specialised in film and entertainment law for over 20 years. He has over 290 ‘legals’ credits and over 45 ‘executive producer’ credits which can be found on his IMDb profile. Shaun also has a background working in film distribution and exhibition via Sharmill Films and Cinema Nova. He is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne within the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music. A highlight of Shaun’s career was being awarded Lawyer of the Year, Entertainment Law, Best Lawyers, 2020 and 2023 as well as being selected onto the Doyle’s Guide 2022 and 2023 listing of Recommended Victorian Non-Contentious Intellectual Property Lawyers.


Mr. David McEwan, Founding Director, Galvanize Insurance
David McEwan is the Founding Director of Galvaniize Insurance. He has over 20 + years’ experience. Having worked within small, medium and large international insurance firms, then establishing his own firm his knowledge of the insurance industry is vast, considerable and provides a wealth of expertise and experience to his clientele. David McEwan Galvaniize Insurance has established themselves as one of the leading Film & TV insurance brokers in Australia focussing on helping the industry as a whole from small to large productions.


Amelia Edwards, Chief Counsel, Universal Counsel
Amelia is the founder and Chief Counsel of Universal Counsel, the one-stop professionals. Amelia is an experienced outsourced commercial in-house counsel and managed services consultant, specialising in business strategy, negotiation and advocacy, innovation, IP protection & commercialisation, and complex regulatory compliance. She works with in-house counsel and directly with business leaders to provide comprehensive support services, refined through her deep understanding of the risks, opportunities, and commercial practicalities facing businesses in key regulated industries including F&B, health, tech, and creative services. Amelia speaks regularly to legal professionals, industry, and authorities about how businesses can best navigate and thrive within regulatory frameworks (not just mitigating risk but capturing opportunity) and how the law and industry standards can evolve to best support businesses and the broader community; innovation and sustainability are two of her primary areas of focus. Universal Counsel is a complete end-to-end managed professional services solution for businesses, always on call and always in your corner. The UC network model is specially designed to make your life easier by covering everything from managing risks and regulatory requirements to getting products to market, protecting your assets, increasing sales, building your team and capacity, solving problems, securing funding and investment, and simply helping you get what your business wants to do done. #UCthedifference.


Mr. Chris Chow, Managing Director, Creative Lawyers
Christopher Chow is the founder and Managing Director of Creative Lawyers. He specialises in advising clients on contractual, commercial and intellectual property matters in the entertainment and creative industries. Chris has spent his entire career working with clients involved in music, film, TV, games/software, content and otherwise creative endeavours, helping them achieve practical solutions, protect their rights and assist in dispute resolution. Chris founded the firm in 2012, and it has since become a one-stop-shop for clients in the entertainment and creative industries.