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Founder • Media & Business Affairs Expert • Industry Advisor​

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Alistair Davis is a senior UK media and entertainment lawyer advising broadcasters, music companies and creative businesses on television, music and digital media rights.

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With more than 20 years’ experience across the creative industries, he is recognised as one of the UK’s leading Black media and entertainment lawyers.

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Over the course of his career he has worked at the heart of the UK’s creative industries, helping shape the legal and commercial frameworks behind television production, music rights, digital content and media partnerships. His work spans programme development, production agreements, music and rights licensing, talent and contributor contracts, intellectual property strategy, sponsorship, distribution and complex commercial partnerships.

Alistair began his career working in music law and business affairs, advising on artist agreements, music licensing and rights exploitation within the rapidly evolving digital music landscape. This early experience gave him a strong grounding in intellectual property and rights management that has remained central to his work across the wider media sector.

He later expanded into television and digital media, holding senior legal and business affairs roles within leading media organisations and advising on a wide range of television productions and media projects for major broadcasters and international content businesses. His experience spans both scripted and unscripted television, documentary production, branded entertainment and digital media ventures.

He has advised on programmes broadcast internationally and has worked with commissioners, producers, talent and senior executives to navigate the legal and commercial realities of the modern media landscape.

Known for combining strong legal judgment with a deep understanding of how content businesses actually operate, Alistair brings a practical and commercially focused approach to complex media deals.

His experience spans the full lifecycle of media projects — from early development and commissioning through to production, distribution and global rights exploitation.

When Alistair qualified as an entertainment lawyer, he was one of only a small number of Afro-Caribbean lawyers working in the UK media and entertainment sector. That experience gave him an early and lasting awareness of the systemic barriers that can exist within the creative industries.

Motivated to help open doors for others, he went on to co-found one of the first major diversity-led organisations in the UK music industry, helping to champion greater representation and opportunity within the sector. He has worked across the UK, U.S, Caribbean and the Middle East on music related affairs, from Studio One to Bad Boy always representing clients with resilience and integrity. He remains committed to supporting the next generation of diverse talent entering media and entertainment careers.

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Alongside his legal practice, Alistair writes and speaks about the legal, commercial and cultural forces shaping the future of television, digital media and the wider creative industries.

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Founder – Lead Counsel

I founded Lead Counsel to provide practical, commercially focused legal advice to media businesses, producers and creators who need senior legal expertise without the complexity and cost often associated with traditional law firms.

After more than two decades working across both the music and television industries, I understand that the best legal advice i helps people get projects made, partnerships agreed and ideas brought to life.

​I am also co-founder of  Verseworks, a music tech start up and I write on leadership, culture and the creator economy at Get On The Balcony.com.

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Born in London of Jamaican parents when I qualified as an entertainment lawyer I was one of only 3 Afro Caribbean lawyers in the whole of the UK. None of the major music firms had lawyers of colour and none were invested in increasing representation in the industry. 

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I have worked across the UK, U.S, Caribbean and the Middle East on music related affairs, from Studio One to Bad Boy always representing my clients with resilience and integrity. 

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The UK’s media landscape is shifting. Independent creators, production companies and talent are driving the culture yet they are often underserved by traditional structures. Lead Counsel was built to bridge this representation gap because I have lived the experience. 

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I am also co-founder of  Verseworks, a music tech start up and I write on leadership, culture and the creator economy at Get On The Balcony.com.

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Big Business precision with cultural intelligence

Lead Counsel is a boutique legal and business affairs consultancy providing clear, practical advice to creators, production companies and digital media businesses across the UK.

Founded by Alistair Davis, a senior lawyer with over 20 years’ experience in media, entertainment, technology and consumer goods Lead Counsel exists to make legal support simple, fast and commercially useful.

From brand deals to production legal, from rights and IP protection to AI-driven content issues, we help clients move with confidence in a fast-changing creative landscape.

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WHY CHOOSE US

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1. Senior Experience

Alistair has held leadership roles across some of the world’s most respected organisations, including:

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Television:

• BBC - Senior Executive 

• Tinopolis Group – Head of Legal & Business Affairs

• E1 Series (Global Sports Rights Holder) – Legal Director

• Former board member of PACT

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Music & Sport

Lawyer for leading top ten music artists and leading reggae artists

Lawyer for music publishing companies

Lawyer for former UK world championship boxers

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Tech & Commercial

Tech start up - Legal advisor 

Procter & Gamble – Senior Lawyer

Berkley Homes Plc - Senior Lawyer

John Lewis Plc - Senior Consultant 

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This means you get big firm legals and strategic expertise with boutique firm speed and flexibility.

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2. A Boutique Built for Today’s Creative Economy

Traditional legal services can be slow, expensive and inaccessible.
Lead Counsel is different.

We offer:

• fixed-fee contract reviews and legal packages

• fast turnaround times

• plain-English explanations

• practical advice focused on outcomes, not jargon

Whether you’re a creator, a producer or a digital agency, you get clarity you can act on immediately.

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3. Deep Knowledge of Media, IP and Digital Content

We specialise exclusively in:

• Media & entertainment law

• Business affairs for TV, film , music and digital content

• Rights management and IP protection

• Marketing, advertising and influencer agreements

• AI-related content, licensing and risk

• Music rights and sync licensing

• Creator brand deals and content monetisation

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4. Flexible Support for Every Stage of Your Project

Clients come to Lead Counsel for:

• Creator contract reviews

• Brand deal negotiations

• Production legal packs

• Chain-of-title and rights clearance

• Development and commissioning support

• Agreements for cast, crew and contributors

• Digital content licensing and usage rights

• Business affairs outsourcing on a retainer basis

Whatever your need, we offer the level of support that fits your requirements and budget.

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5. A Legal Partner Who Understands Both Creativity and Commercial Reality

Alistair’s background spans:

• scripted & unscripted TV

• sports rights

• music 

• global brand advertising

• digital content & platform strategy

• tech, AI and music licensing

This mix ensures your agreements protect your creativity and make commercial sense.

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6. Access to Finance

We can assist with access to finance for certain television, music and IP products for which we charge a standard broker fee.

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