Wiggin LLP is a boutique UK media law firm focusing exclusively on media, including film and TV; music; sport; betting and gaming; technology; computer gaming; broadcast; and publishing. It has offices in Fitzrovia in London, Cheltenham in Gloucestershire and Brussels in Belgium.
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The firm is consistently ranked by legal directories Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 as one of the top media firms in the UK.
Chambers UK 2012 says "this firm is a first choice for those seeking experienced media counsel, and is very active in film and TV as well as digital media work in particular" while Legal 500 describes partners as “smart and agile negotiators"
History
Wiggin originated as a private client and tax firm based in Cheltenham which specialised in offshore tax work for ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The lawyers’ connections and interests in the US meant the practice soon became diversified. The team worked with a family in Costa Rica on a TV project and got access to cable TV before anyone else in the UK, and advised on the offshore tax structure which enabled US investment in UK cable. A fledgling media business was born, and this began to grow. The team also advised talent such as Yoko Ono and The Grateful Dead and thus the firm’s reputation was established.
In 1989 Wiggin opened an office in Los Angeles. It was the first firm to practise English law in the USA, which it did for six years. It built up a good deal of work coming from US clients, who remain to this day.
In 2003, the private client practice demerged and is now known as Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove. Wiggin & Co (now Wiggin LLP) set up by itself to build a media practice.
Today it has 20 partners and 33 fee-earners and is run by Chief Executive Officer, John Banister.
Work
Wiggin made headlines when it acted as both legal advisor and executive producer on highly successful UK film The History Boys. Partners Charles Moore and Miles Ketley advised the film's creators on how to get the best deal from potential financiers and helped promote the film at the Cannes Film Festival. The two partners provided strategic business advice in return for a slice of the film's equity.