What We Do

"Without question the leading Irish firm for film production and financing".
European Legal 500

Matheson Ormsby Prentice was the first Irish law firm to establish a dedicated entertainment and media law group which is dedicated to advising on film and television production and music and entertainment law generally. Members of the Group have advised on such Academy award winning/nominated films as “My Left Foot” starring Daniel Day Lewis and “The Field” starring Richard Harris, as well as in connection with music performers such as U2 and The Chieftains.

We advise clients on the contractual and financing arrangements for feature films and television programming, as well as deal with the contractual arrangements for the talent and other participants in those production activities. We also advise on legal issues arising from music business, recording and music publishing agreements in addition to advising copyright collection societies in the area of copyright law.

We have extensive experience in advising media publishers and broadcasters in relation to all aspects of the law affecting libel, contempt of court, freedom of expression, privacy laws and related matters. We act for major publishers and broadcasters in relation to the ongoing defence of media related litigation against those publishers as well as against major newspaper titles.

We are ranked as one of the leading Entertainment and Media law firms in Ireland by the international legal directories including The Legal 500. 

Feature Film Production

• The Wind that Shakes the Barley, directed by Ken Loach and starring Cillian Murphy
• Breakfast on Pluto, directed by Neil Jordan 
• Tara Road, starring Andie McDowell 
• King Arthur, starring Keira Knightley 
• Intermission, with Colin Farrell and Colm Meaney 
• Laws of Attraction, with Pierce Brosnan and Julianne Moore 
• In America, directed by Jim Sheridan 
• The Good Thief, directed by Neil Jordan 
• The Count of Monte Cristo, starring Guy Pearce 
• Song for a Raggy Boy, starring Aidan Quinn 
• In the Name of the Father, directed by Jim Sheridan 
• The Dead, directed by John Houston 
• Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson 
• Dancing at Lughnasa, starring Meryl Streep 
• A Love Divided, starring Liam Cunningham and Orla Brady 
• Night Train, starring John Hurt and Brenda Blethyn 
• Angela’s Ashes, directed by Alan Parker 
• About Adam, directed by Gerard Stembridge 
• Salt Water, directed by Connor McPherson 
• Nora, starring Ewan McGregor and Susan Lynch 
• On the Nose, starring Dan Ackroyd and Robbie Coltrane
  

In all of these cases we acted for the producers or the Irish co-producers, advising on the financing and contractual aspects of the production including Section 481 investments, dealing with the Irish Film Board, with broadcasters, distributors, sales agents and the talent.

Television Series
We have worked on television series including Amongst Women, starring Tony Doyle, Falling for A Dancer, starring Liam Cunningham and Ballykissangel. Ballykissangel is an Irish/British co-production for the BBC. The Group also worked on Random Passage which is an Irish Canadian co-production involving CBC and RTE. We have also advised Irish producers who have entered into co-production agreements with French and German co-producers who are funded by broadcasters in those territories.

Broadcasting Regulation
We have advised television and radio broadcasters dealing with the IRTC as well as FMI (the film and television producers representative organisation) in connection with its dealings with the RTE Authority. The Broadcasting Act provides a more competitive regulatory environment for broadcasters and we are already advising clients extensively in this area.

Music and Live Entertainment
We have advised the producers of Riverdance The Show, since it commenced production in 1995. We also advised the composer of the music for Lord of the Dance, record companies such as Claddagh Records and copyright collection societies including IMRO and MCPS Ireland.

Talent Advice and Representation
We advise on rights arrangements in relation to creative talent involved in audio and audio-visual work including individual producers, directors, writers, rights owners, book publishing houses, actors and music composers, TV presenters and content service providers, particularly when dealing with broadcasters, financiers, publishers and distributors of their works.

On the entertainment side, James Hickey is well thought of; highlights for the media team included working on feature films including The Last Furlong and This Must Be The Place.
TMT: European Legal 500 2011

Matheson Ormsby Prentice fields an all-star team across TMT, with James Hickey considered ‘among the top specialists in Ireland’ and Don McAleese highlighted as ‘Mr IT’. The firm refuses to rest on its laurels and is bringing younger lawyers through, with Yvonne Cunnane praised for her ‘excellent understanding of business culture’. The firm has an eye watering IT client base, providing ongoing advice to Microsoft, Google and Amazon. Highlights on the media side included advising on the fourth season of television series The Tudors.
TMT: European Legal 500 2010

TMT is a major focus for Matheson Ormsby Prentice.The firm boasts the "most experienced Irish media lawyer" in James Hickey and is "without question the leading Irish firm for film production and financing". On the technology side, Don McAleese and Anne-Marie Bohan are considered "leaders in the field".
TMT: European Legal 500 2009

Matheson Ormsby Prentice has a broad media and entertainment practice that advises film, television, newspaper, production and music companies on the full range of contractual agreements, corporate financing, competition law and defamation.
Media and Entertainment: European Legal 500 2008

James Hickey leads the media and entertainment group at Matheson Ormsby Prentice. The firm provides a broad service, including all forms of contractual corporate financing and litigation, as well as defamation. In the past, the firm advised on the winner of the Palme D'Or 'The Wind that Shakes the Barley' and 'Breakfast on Pluto'. Other clients include the Irish Music Rights Organisation, the Mechanical Copyright Protection Society Ireland and Vodafone. Ruth Hunter also deals in entertainment law, while Sharon Daly provide media litigation experience.
Media and Entertainment:  European Legal 500 2007

James Hickey is the key practitioner at Matheson Ormsby Prentice, with extensive experience of film and television financing and production. The two-partner practice has advised on a raft of well-known films and TV series. Major clients include Irish copyright collection societies IMRO and MCPS Ireland.
Media and Entertainment:  European Legal 500 2006

James Hickey at Matheson Ormsby Prentice is widely acknowledged for his media and entertainment expertise. The two-partner practice advises on the gamut of legal issues affecting the entertainment industry. In 2004 instructions emanated from the film sector; from Hollywood high-budget to independently financed European films. Other major clients include IMRO, MCPS Ireland and Copyright Protection Society Ireland.
Media and Entertainment:  European Legal 500 2005

Transactional specialist James Hickey heads the entertainment team, which also includes highly regarded partner Ruth Hunter.
Media and Entertainment:  European Legal 500 2004