Sean Egan Consultants provides legal and business affairs services to theatres, theatre producers, production companies, investors and creative talent working in theatre and related industries, covering both the commercial and subsidised sectors.
Over 25 years of experience is applied to advise organisations including charities, film and television producers and talent, dance and opera companies, museums, galleries, circuses and businesses in other creative industries such as publishing, audio, digital media and merchandising.
Theatre
Sean Egan Consultants provides a full service for all client needs covering plays, musicals, comedy, dance, ballet, opera, circus and immersive shows - including acquisition of rights, production agreements, commissioning agreements, advising on rights issues and merchandising.
We have advised many organisations on creative tax reliefs – particularly Theatre Tax Relief as well as Museum and Gallery Exhibition Tax Relief and Orchestra Tax Relief. We advise on structuring production and review applications, advising on whether the maximum amount is being claimed.
Our work includes sit-down presentations in the West End, on Broadway and throughout the world, transfers, co-productions, UK and international tours, raising finance for productions, so called ‘prospectuses’ and investor agreements.
We are old hands advising on the live capture of productions and the recording of live performances and production and licensing deals with online services.
We combine our charity and theatre expertise when advising theatre schools, whether on charity issues or developing partnerships with further education organisations or other providers. We advise on content issues – including potential rights infringements and defamation issues, copyright and other intellectual property rights and licensing.
Film and Television
Sean Egan Consultants advises on feature films and documentaries, tv programmes and formats – including all aspects of the process of developing, producing, financing and distribution. This includes writers and underlying rights agreements, options, format agreements, coproduction and development agreements, chain of title issues, clearances, music synchronisation agreements, soundtrack and composer agreements as well as audio productions, merchandising and ancillary exploitation.
Our clients develop and mentor creatives from all backgrounds, we act for film schools and provide support and input.
Charity
Charities, social enterprises and not-for-profit organisations have different needs and operate in different ways to their commercial counterparts. Sean Egan Consultants advises trustees on charity law and governance responsibilities, issues relating to trading and the use of trading companies, cultural exemption (for organisations admitting the public), mergers and restructuring.
We advise a wide range of charities - those involved in education, arts, human rights, social inclusion. We draft constitutions, help organisations navigate the charity registration process, advise on trustee obligations and reporting serious incidents.
Other Areas
As part of a broad approach Sean Egan Consultants applies advises on a broad range of other client needs such as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, intellectual property, IT contracts, data protection, music as it relates to the performing arts, films and television, merchandising and ancillary exploitation, incorporating companies and advising on company law issues, catering and other on-site sales agreements.
Many of our clients use us as general counsel to advise on the best approach to a project from its earliest stages through to production and sales. Clients may come from other related arts sectors such as museums and galleries, workshops and consultancies.