Mailin Bala Email & Phone Number

Mailin is a highly experienced commercial lawyer, specialising in copyright, digital, technolgy and data. She supports her clients to bring their project to life on a breadth of commercial matters which pivot around their exploitation of intellectual property, the build and use of technology and digital products and services. She works with clients ranging from start-ups to established global businesses, working across a variety of sectors, but with a strong focus on technology, media, publishing and other creative industries, automotive and retail.Mailin’s experience includes working in-house, including as Technology and IP Counsel to a global consultancy company, as virtual General Counsel to a legal solutions SaaS provider, as well as for a number of Pearson owned companies, including the Financial Times, Penguin Television and Pearson Broadband

Highlights include advising content provider in connection with its negotiation and implementation of metaverse as a service (MAAS) agreement relating to its partnership with NEOM (Saudi Arabia’s new smart, sci-fi city) for Oxagon, acting as virtual in-house counsel for legal solutions SaaS provider, and supporting premier league football club in connection with range of matters, including digital advertising agreement, fly on the wall documentary and membership offerings.

Bristol

Highlights include advising technology company in connection with the build and licensing of voice capture products, use of open source software and licensing arrangements with suppliers, global podcast platform, on compliance and its relationships with advertisers, creatives and brands.

Highlights include acting for creative ideas agency in connection with its engagement to provide social media services by high profile brands and talent, acting as virtual in-house counsel to global tobacco company in connection with its technology agreements, advising TV production company in connection with the production and distribution of its BAFTA award winning children's animation and advising award winning architectural and design practice on its engagement to design a marketing pavilion for a mobile phone operator in Russia for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games.

Laurence Kaye Solicitors

Highlights include working on three year project for Pottermore.com, the experiential and e-commerce digital home of the ‘Harry Potter’ books from inception to its launch, including advising in connection with the development of its platform, engagement with its users and compliance across five territories and advising in relation to joint collaboration with key industry players and UK broadcasters to develop a technical specification to enable consumer electronic products to receive free to view television services.Chambers and Partners UK Guide entry: http://goo.gl/q9xRZ

London, United Kingdom

Acting as sole In-House Counsel to Penguin Television, with responsibilities as member of strategic business affairs unit responsible for negotiating partnerships and reporting to the Board). Highlights included advising on acquisition of rights and the development and exploitation of existing Penguin assets and development of new. Work highlights include advising and negotiating commissioning agreements with broadcasters, including PBS, Channel 4 and Channel 5, advising in respect of strategic alliances with media companies in Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China.

London, United Kingdom

Solicitor in TechMedia department specialising in media and e-commerce. Highlights include advising on-line gaming operators on e-commerce and contractual issues and advising on variety of contracts for operation for a leading information portal that is a joint venture by UK regional newspapers.Work also included two lengthy spells on secondment, first, acting as sole legal counsel to Pearson Broadband, a start-up charged with exploiting Pearson’s extensive publishing assets in digital format and second, to FTyourmoney.com, a personal finance internet start up owned by The Financial Times.Pearson Broadband (2002- 2003)Acting for this start up focused on the development of its television business and KnowledgeBox, an interactive learning tool for schools. My work on the television aspect to this business included: working closely on Pearson's initiative into China, advising on and drafting agreements involving the production, sponsorship and distribution of programming in China, as well as agreements to facilitate the transfer of revenue from China to the UK, advising on the distribution on the back catalogue, acquisition of new content and co-productions. My work on the KnowledgeBox part of the business including advising on the development of this digital product from inception to eventual sale to schools throughout the UK and US. Also advised on the rollout of the product via a distributor throughout South East Asia. Other responsibilities included managing the intellectual property portfolio.FTyourmoney.com (2000 - 2001)Acting as sole in-house legal counsel to this personal finance internet start up. Dealt with day to day development and operation of this online business, including dealing with a range of contractual and other legal issues such as e-commerce arrangements with lenders, online alliances, syndication of content, web design, data protection and other regulatory issues.

Cheltenham

Solicitor in the media litigation department, specialising in defamation. Assisted on a number of cases as well as handling own caseload. Work included: advising on claims for libel (e.g. advising celebrity defendants against The News of the World newspaper); advising cable, satellite channels and publishers on programme content, including compliance with ITC, BSC and ASA codes; advising on claims for copyright infringement, breach of contract, breach of confidence and passing off.

Training in boutique media law firm, including seats, in Film, TV, Music, Theatre, Corporate and Litigation departments