Going back into production: Wiggin LLP examine the legal considerations for film and HETV post-lockdown

The successful restart of film and HETV production is dependent on the industry navigating the practicalities and many legal challenges posed by a post lockdown work environment. 

In this session, Seth Roe, Melissa Frost, Patrick Rennie and Ceri Stoner from Wiggin LLP will talk you through some of the key legal issues that productions will need to be on top of whilst the Covid-19 risk remains.

Who it's for

Employers, hirers, employees and freelancers - this session is for anyone working in HETV or film production.

What it covers

Topics up for discussion include:

• recommended contractual changes post-lockdown
• risk assessments and new policies
• sick pay considerations
• data protection considerations with new policies (temp checking, testing etc.)
• coming back from furlough
• impact of Covid-19 on IR35 assessments

The session will comprise a presentation followed by a Q&A session where participants will have an opportunity to have their questions answered by the experts.

Speakers

Seth Roe helps media and technology businesses resolve the bespoke staffing and HR issues they face on a daily basis. He advises on all aspects of employment law, providing practical and effective solutions to clients as well as regularly dealing with complicated employment disputes. Seth has particular expertise advising media and technology companies on the best method of engaging their workforce, which is crucially important in these sectors given the prevalence of atypical working arrangements and the influx of new innovative staffing models.

Melissa Frost is an Associate in the Film & TV Group at Wiggin and advises on a range of legal and commercial matters relating to the development, production and distribution of film and television for independent clients and studio clients, such as HBO, Marvel, and Warner Media. Melissa has recently advised on the production of several SVOD commissioned projects including children’s programming as well as the development of various independent television and film projects for clients such as Ink Factory, Fulwell and Bird Flight.

Melissa is a member of the BIFA event committee and advises on the production finance transactions for British independent films at Wiggin, recently including Wild Rose (Fable Pictures), Wildfire (Cowboy Films) and Blue Story (DJ Films). Prior to Wiggin, Melissa worked as VP, Legal & Business Affairs at Lionsgate UK leading on film acquisitions and distribution.

Patrick Rennie is a highly experienced data protection expert with specialist knowledge across the Film & TV sector. His role is to help clients understand how data protection applies to their businesses and the most effective way to solve privacy issues. 

Much of his work focuses on the GDPR and other data legislation, as well as conducting audits and acting as a DPO for clients. His specialist knowledge of the Film & TV sector means he understands the lifecycle of a production and the data protection issues that will arise such as appropriate wording in a casting director’s agreement or collecting the health data of talent for the purposes of obtaining production insurance.  Patrick holds the Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection, as one of only a few candidates achieving a ‘pass with distinction’.

Ceri Stoner is a partner in Wiggin’s tax group advising companies across all aspects of their taxation requirements. She has a broad range of experience advising in relation to mergers and acquisitions, special projects, corporate structuring and re-organisations. Ceri specialises in employment taxes and incentive arrangements for management and other employees. Her practice also includes advising on investment fund formation and carried interest arrangements, asset management and new start up business structures.

Ceri sits on the ICAEW’s Employment Tax Committee and HMRC’s GAAR advisory panel. She has recently received recognition as winner of Tolley’s Taxation’s ‘Rising Star’ Award 2019.

This session is supported by ScreenSkills using National Lottery funds awarded by the BFI as part of the Future Film Skills programme and by the HETV Skills Fund with with contributions from UK high-end TV productions.

This session will take place online via Zoom. Click ‘get ticket’ to reserve your place: you must login or register before you are able to get a ticket for this event. A booking confirmation with a joining link to the session will be sent to you via email.

If you are no longer able to use your ticket, we ask you to please contact support@screenskills.com so that we can release your place. Our sessions are often oversubscribed, so we’d like to give other freelancers the opportunity to fill available spots. Thank you for your consideration.