Athelstane Aamodt– Barrister Called 1999

PROFILE

Athelstane has worked in-house at a variety of film and television companies for over a decade, culminating in a period at the BBC prior to returning to the Bar.

Athelstane specialises in the fields of commercial law, professional negligence, employment law, media and entertainment law (including: defamation, copyright, intellectual property, privacy, data protection, freedom of information, Ofcom issues, and royalty disputes) as well as sports law, and art and cultural property law.

Thanks to his lengthy industry experience he is also regularly retained to negotiate and draft contracts on behalf of individuals, film and television companies, and theatrical agencies. Athelstane accepts instructions in nearly all of chambers’ advertised civil practice areas.

RECENT CASES:

• Acting for a defendant in active libel and harassment proceedings. • Acting for a claimant in professional negligence proceedings against a surveyor. • Acting for multiple parties in a multi-million pound claim for professional negligence and unlawful means conspiracy. • Instructed by two district councils regarding a major restructuring, including advice on multiple redundancy and settlement issues. • Instructed by a hedge fund about a breach of contract / inducement of breach of contract action. • Instructed by claimant regarding a whistle-blowing claim about a care home. • Instructed by a household-name radio DJ regarding a commercial dispute. • Instructed by a Police and Crime Commissioner re various employment disputes. • Instructed by a theatrical agency regarding a contract / procurement of breach of contract case. • Instructed by an Embassy in regarding two employment cases

COMMERCIAL:

Athelstane undertakes a wide range of commercial work, including:

• Civil Fraud & Asset Tracing • Contract • Company • General Chancery • Insolvency • Partnership • Trusts

Athelstane acts for various clients in such disputes, who have ranged from well-known television personalities to hedge funds.

PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE:

Athelstane is able to offer a great deal of experience, knowledge and practical advice in all claims relating to the negligence of professionals, including solicitors, accountants, valuers, and surveyors.

EMPLOYMENT:

Athelstane acts for both employers and employees in the areas of:

• Unfair Dismissal • Wrongful Dismissal • Whistleblowing • Victimisation • Harassment • Discrimination • Bonus Disputes • Restrictive Covenants • Confidential Information • Working Time Regulations • Loan-Out Companies and IR35 • Holiday Pay • Maternity and Parental Rights • Redundancy and Re-organisation • Transfers of Undertakings • Collective Labour Law

DEFAMATION AND PRIVACY:

Athelstane has a comprehensive experience of defamation, from libel-reading for innumerable publications, films, and television programmes to fending off libel actions from well-known celebrities. He has advised several, highly-prominent individuals and has represented an NHS Trust and a member of the Bar in libel and harassment proceedings. He also writes regularly on the subject of defamation for legal publications.

As a result of his media and entertainment experience, Athelstane has frequently dealt with all of the difficulties and disputes and that can arise around privacy and data protection. This has ranged from Ofcom complaints to allegations of breach of confidence. Athelstane is a legal reader for Associated Newspapers.

MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT:

Athelstane is exceptionally well-versed in all aspects of copyright law, including disputes relating to film, television, music, fair dealing, royalties, and format infringement. He is also extremely experienced in passing off and trade mark disputes and recently acted for an actress in a passing off claim against a well-known high-street supermarket. He has also acted for a well-known stand-up comedian in relation to counterfeit goods that were being sold on-line.

During his time working in-house in film and television Athelstane has drafted contracts for (among many others) Larry David, Gary Shandling, , Christopher Lee, Max Von Sydow, David Beckham, Michael Palin, Jeffrey Archer, Martin Clunes, David Starkey, Gordon Kaye, David Mitchell and Robert Webb, and Derren Brown.

SPORT

Athelstane provides advice and representation in all areas of sports law, including: • Employment contracts • Commercial contracts • Disciplinary proceedings • Sponsorship and endorsement • Image rights • Personal injury • Allegations of cheating and doping

ART AND CULTURAL PROPERTY:

Prior to coming to the Bar, Athelstane had extensive experience of working in the world of fine art and antiques for various private dealers. His expertise in this field includes: • Disputes over authenticity and attribution • Disputes over ownership and title • Loaning of art • Treasure • Export of cultural objects • Listed buildings and preservation orders

CONTACT DETAILS:

Telephone: 0207-822-7000 Fax: 0871-288-5693 Email: [email protected]