Profile

Andrew oversees our London operations, managing a wide array of business affairs and other legal services for media and entertainment clients. Before becoming a member of SmithDehn LLP, Andrew headed the business affairs department at ITV, the UK's largest commercial broadcaster. He also held in-house legal positions at several other top UK broadcasting companies. Having handled work for over 300 production companies, rights owners and agencies, Andrew has advised on an wide range of projects, from negotiating sponsorship and broadcast deals for the BAFTA Award Ceremonies (client: BAFTA) to the online interface for aspiring Guinness World Record holders (client: Guinness World Records). His experience spans all genres of TV production and exploitation, including drama, scripted comedy, docu-drama, documentary, specialist factual, entertainment, talent, and kids, and he has extensive experience with rights licensing and exploitation.

Andrew also founded rights.tv, which, during his tenure there, was the UK’s leading provider of business affairs and commercial advice to the media, film and television industries. He holds an Honours Degree (LLB) in Law from Durham University and qualified as a solicitor with Eversheds in the UK (currently non practising). He also has been appointed as a non-executive director for several companies, including Straight Media, Fireback Entertainment and Kickback Media, providing general commercial and strategic advice as well as day-to-day business affairs services.

Andrew started his career in TV when he joined Granada Television in Manchester, where he was responsible for Legal and Business Affairs for Granada Lifestyle – including This Morning, Tricia, Better Homes and the Granada digital channels including Shop!, Breeze, MUTV and Men&Motors, as well as Granada Kids – including Children’s Ward and the Sooty Show (Claim to Fame: Andrew was Sooty’s lawyer – ‘Don’t Mess with the Bear’). Following the merger with Yorkshire Television, Andrew moved to Leeds where he became Head of Business Affairs for Cosgrove Hall Films (home of Danger Mouse) and the newly enlarged Granada Kids. During his time at Granada Kids, Andrew was responsible for business affairs on a number of award winning programmes, including BAFTA and International Emmy award winning drama “The Illustrated Mum”, RTS winner “Girls In Love” and the (twice) RTS winning, BANFF International Festival 2001 award and BAFTA nominated comedy drama “My Parents Are Aliens” as well as numerous other BAFTA and RTS nominated series. Andrew was also responsible for legal and business affairs for the first ITV ad funded awards programme in prime-time – “Game Stars” and for the Granada web-based joint venture, Swapit Shop.

In 2003 Andrew was seconded to Granada USA, based in Los Angeles, where he was Senior Vice President Legal and Business Affairs, and responsible for all Granada USA’s output, including acting on behalf of the BBC in securing format deals with US broadcasters for The Royle Family and Cutting It, and dealing with all Granada productions in the USA. In 2004 Andrew returned to the UK to head business affairs for ITV, where he was responsible for all commissions for daytime, CiTV, interactive, news and current affairs and night-time, as well as all commissions for ITV2 and the launch of ITV3 and ITV4.

Andrew left ITV to set up his own consultancy in 2004. Since then, Andrew has handled business affairs work for a wide range of independent producers and media companies including Screen Yorkshire, Darlow Smithson (DSP), Pioneer Productions, BAFTA, Guinness World Records, Wide Eyed Entertainment, Acorn Media, Chambers Management, Karushi Management, Shine, Carbon Media, ITV Global, Zodiac Media, Mackinnon & Saunders, Hoho Entertainment, Caryn Mandabach Productions and many more.

Andrew is married with 2 daughters, a Golden Retriever and 2 guinea pigs and lives in York.