Founded in 2000 by James Collins and Simon Long the firm has established itself as one of the leading providers of legal services to the music and entertainment industries. The firm has since expanded its range of services to cover a broader range of industries including corporate, sports, commercial and dispute resolution.
We are located in the rafters of an 18th century warehouse situated in Bankside, a stone’s throw away from Borough Market and The Tate Modern.
Close to both London Bridge and Waterloo main line Stations and with easy access from Borough and Southwark Underground Stations, our offices are conveniently located but nicely tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city giving privacy to our many high profile clients.
Terms & Conditions
Music
Sports
Corporate
Commercial
Dispute Resolution & Mediation
Film
Theatre
James Collins - Partner
Simon Long - Partner
Angela Sadler - Partner
John Benedict - Consultant
Nick Kanaar - Consultant
Mandy Munt - Practice Manager
email: info_collinslong.com
Where to find us
Collins Long is a partnership of Solicitors authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. (SRA No. 209224)
Music forms the core of our business. We act for well known artists and upcoming bands. We act for A-list producers, songwriters, string arrangers, mixers and re-mixers. We act for Managers of internationally successful artists and guide first-time managers through to chart success. We also count several independent record labels and music publishers amongst our clients. You name it - we've done it!
We advise on and draft a variety of agreements including: Recording Agreements; “360 degree” deals; Licensing Agreements; Music Publishing /Administration Agreements; Distribution Agreements, – Physical and Digital; Management Agreements; Merchandising/Sponsorship Agreements; Band /Partnership Agreements; Agency / Promoter Arrangements; Touring Arrangements; Website Agreements.
We are here to act in your best interests and provide a professional and efficient service. You will find all of our Partners, Consultants and staff very approachable and willing to listen to your needs and requirements.
Please contact us today with your enquiry. We look forward to being of assistance.
James Collins
Simon Long
John Benedict
With sporting events firmly embedded within the world of media as some of the most viewed and sports stars considered the new movie stars, in some cases actually becoming movie stars, a strong legal team working on your behalf behind the scenes to advise and support you along the way, can prove to be an integral part of your personal and financial success.
We have advised and represented Sports Clubs and Organisations individual Sportsmen and Women from a variety of sport disciplines, including Football, Rugby, Cricket & Athletics. We also advise management teams and sport agents.
We cover: Sport Contracts; Sponsorship Contracts, Endorsement and Image Rights Contracts; Sports Regulation and Disputes.
Angela Sadler
We advise on and draft agreements for companies in Sport; Music; Technology; Media; PR and Branding; Leisure; Publishing; Manufacture and Retail; Corporate Governance;
We cover: Shareholders Agreements and Disputes; Buying and Selling Companies; Joint Ventures; Directors Duties and Board Disputes; Partnerships and LLPs.
We advise a wide variety of businesses, partnerships and sole traders in different industries.
We cover: Partnership Agreements; Supplier and Customer Contracts; Franchising; Website Terms and Conditions: Intellectual Property aspects of commercial transactions.
It is inevitable in any industry based on relationships, large amounts of money and musical fashions that occasionally things turn sour. Hopefully, if a properly drafted agreement is in place, the determination of a dispute will be a relatively straightforward exercise. Whether or not a written contract exists, there will always be a need for careful and considered legal advice.
We cover: Contractual Dispute; Injunctions; Shareholder and Partnership Disputes; Debt Disputes.
Nick Kannar
It does not seem that long ago that film was film and animation was animation. With the advances in the use of CGI, you sometimes wonder where reality ends and fantasy begins.
Whatever your preference and whatever your role may be in the film or TV industry, the reality is that vast amounts of time and money may be invested and therefore professional advice from our highly experienced legal team could prove invaluable to your success.
We advise both individuals and businesses in all aspects of the film and television industries. We advise on issues of development, production, financing, distribution and everything else in-between. We also advise on all aspects of music in film and television and advise a number of high profile composers who have provided soundtracks for motion pictures as well as television.
From Blackpool to Brighton, from the West End to Broadway, Theatre continues to thrive in the world of entertainment, with ever bigger shows and casts.
Collins Long advise on all commercial aspects of the theatre industry whether a production company, repertory theatre company, writer, actor or agent.
We are also experienced in all aspects of music in theatre. Our clients have been involved in several major productions throughout the West End and beyond.
Nick Kanaar
James qualified as a barrister in 1988 and spent three years practising in the area of intellectual property and contract. In 1990 James joined Lee & Thompson Solicitors, in due course relinquishing his position as barrister and requalifying as a solicitor. He set up his own firm in 1996 and in May 2000, he joined forces with Simon Long as joint senior partner of Collins Long. Together they have built on their initial vision of providing a “one-stop shop” for clients involved in the entertainment industry.
In his dual role as both litigation and commercial lawyer, James has represented clients across the industry spectrum.
James is a member of the BRIT Awards Voting Academy, a much sought after music industry seminar speaker and a regular industry panellist: chairing the “Future of the Recording Contracts” panel at Manchester’s “In The City” conference and lecturing on Recording Agreements” for Hawksmere. He is listed in the “Legal Business Report: Legal Experts” and rated a “Key Individual” in the Chambers & Partners Guide.
Contact James on: jamescollins_collinslong.com
Simon was born when Elvis Presley was All Shook Up. He grew up with The Beatles on the radio and fell in love with The Kinks. Music became an obsession. The Business behind the Music became a fascination. But after playing in numerous bands at school and college, it became obvious that his guitar style was not going to be the passport to a lifetime in the Music Industry. Reading the Melody Maker and NME it became apparent that the business stuff revolved around contracts ... A light went on..... Maybe a career in the law was the way in.
Fast forward through nearly 20 years of reviewing record deals and advising artists, Simon founded Collins Long with James Collins ...with the ethos of providing sound advice combined with a personal and caring service to clients. 10 years on and the firm represents some impressive talent, from double Oscar winners, to long established rock bands, and in 2011 artists we have worked with dominated the breakthrough artist category at The Brits Awards.
Contact Simon on: simonlong_collinslong.com
As a Corporate/Commercial and litigation lawyer, Angela acts for clients ranging from individuals, partnerships and medium sized companies in a variety of industries, and has advised on a broad range of issues. She holds a post grad in Sports law and has advised sportspersons and clubs on players contracts, sponsorship and regulations. She is also an accredited mediator and for several years was a visiting lecturer at the London Metropolitan University.
Contact Angela on: angelasadler_collinslong.com
John Benedict has been actively engaged in the music and entertainment industries for over 20 years. After a formal commercial training in the law firm of Paisner & Co he started his professional career in the industry in 1980 in a group of companies specialising in music, films and video (Arcade, Gem Records and GTO Films) he quickly learnt the art of deal making in the buying and selling of rights, and the exploitation of these rights.
John sits on the AIM New Media Committee and the AIM Rights Committee and also runs a legal surgery for AIM and its members under the pseudonym of Dr John and is the author of the AIM Guide to Survival and Success in the Music Business as well as being a regular contributor to various industry publications, including MusicAlly. He has chaired a number of conferences, including part of “Music and Technology: Visions For the Future” conference at the RSA and as a panellist of “ Does Digital Devalue Music?” at the FPA, a number of conferences at In The City, and on new business models for the music industry.
Contact John on: johnbenedict_collinslong.com
Nick Kanaar is a consultant here at Collins Long where his practice, whilst specialised in the entertainment industry, has a wide commercial spread and his expertise is in the area of the transactional making of contracts and the contentious variation of them. He is a veteran in the music industry and in particular was responsible for the seminal case of Macaulay (Instone) V Schroeder.
He acts for a variety of artists, actors, managers, independent record companies, music publishers and film and TV producers.
Contact Nick on: nickkanaar_collinslong.com
Mandy is our Practice Manager who keeps us all in check! Having had many years experience working at the Bank of England, Office Manager for a Independent Financial Advisor Practice, Secretary to the Head of a Secondary School, Clerk to the Governors and in between all of this having a family, Mandy brings an organised and calming influence to a busy & vibrant legal practice.
If in doubt on who can help you please send Mandy an email or pick up the phone and give her a call.
Contact Mandy on: mandymunt_collinslong.com
To view or print a copy of our Terms & Conditions please click on the document below
Terms and Conditions 2011.pdf
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us
