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Abigail Payne

Abigail is a partner in the firm’s film and television group. Abigail provides expert advice on all aspects of film and television development, production, financing and distribution. She is particularly renowned for her expertise in structuring international co-productions and providing advice on international subsidies and tax credits as well as other financing structures. She advises clients from across the industry, including film and television funds, television platforms, banks, studios, completion guarantors, leading producers, distributors, talent agents, literary estates and other underlying rights holders. Abigail works closely with Indies, supported by the firm’s close relationship with Indielab, an accelerator for companies in the film, television, animation and games sectors. She, alongside numerous others in the firm, provides companies and individuals in its cohort with a range of free advice, including in relation to the film and television industry as well as issues with fundraising and financing. Abigail is a member of BAFTA and Women in Film and Television. She was also awarded The Legal 500’s ‘Technology, Media and Telecoms Lawyer of the Year (London)’ in 2019. · Harbottle & Lewis LLP

EnglandFilm & Television, Media & EntertainmentFrench, German

About

Partner in Harbottle & Lewis LLP’s film and television group advising on all aspects of film and television development, production, financing and distribution, with particular expertise in structuring international co-productions and advising on subsidies and tax credits. Advises a wide range of industry clients including funds, platforms, banks, studios, completion guarantors, producers, distributors, talent agents and rights holders; member of BAFTA and Women in Film & Television and awarded The Legal 500’s Technology, Media and Telecoms Lawyer of the Year (London) in 2019.

Practice areas

Film & TelevisionMedia & EntertainmentEntertainment FinanceInternational Co-productions

Office

Expertise

International co-productionsFilm & television financingSubsidies and tax creditsAdvice to film and television funds and platformsIndie/independent sector (relationship with Indielab)Completion guarantors

Education

  • Bath University (BA European Studies with French and German Hons)
  • Nottingham Trent University (CPE; LSF)

Admissions

  • Qualified 1995

Languages

FrenchGerman