Lisbeth (Libby) Savill is a partner in the London office of Latham & Watkins and Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment, Sports & Media Industry Group.

Ms. Savill has been recognized as a leading lawyer in the film and television industries for many years, and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to her practice to help clients navigate the ever-changing landscape in this area. She represents a wide range of entities across the media and entertainment sectors including film and television producers and distributors (including major studios), broadcasters, platforms and digital-first companies, and financiers (debt and equity) and investment funds. Her work includes:

  • Creation and financing of audio-visual content
  • Distribution, licensing, and other exploitation arrangements of audio-visual and live content
  • Funds and co-financing arrangements of content
  • Commercial advice on the purchase, sale, and financing of entertainment and media companies, as well as strategic joint ventures

She is also actively involved in issues important to the entertainment sector. For example, she served as the deputy chair of the British Film Institute from 2011 to 2019, and as a board member of Film London 2003 – 2010, and was a member of the BFI’s Commission on UK Independent Film in 2019. She was an invited member of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs experts’ panel regarding the creation and implementation of UK creative sector tax reliefs, which reliefs are key to the continued growth of the creative industries in the UK. She now sits on the Board of the Southbank Centre. Ms. Savill was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2019 New Year’s Honours List for services to film and television.

Ms. Savill has extensive expertise across the media and entertainment sector. A sample of Ms. Savill’s more recent experience includes representing:

  • Moonbug Entertainment on its acquisition by Next Generation Media Company, a Blackstone-backed portfolio company
  • Moonbug Entertainment Limited, a digital-first children’s entertainment company from its inception, including acting for its investors in connection with its incorporation, on its key acquisitions, and on its international licensing arrangements
  • The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (General Sports Authority) on various matters including its multi-year agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) for the production of WWE events exclusively in the MENA region and in relation to its inaugural Formula E event
  • Cohen Media Group on its acquisition of the Curzon business in the UK, including its cinema chain, distribution business, and on-demand platform, including evaluation of its licensing and commercial arrangements
  • Endeavor/IMG on various matters
  • Netflix on its acquisition of Millarworld, the comic book company founded by Mark Millar, creator of a number of iconic characters and stories including Kick-Ass, Kingsman, and Old Man Logan, representing Netflix’s first corporate acquisition
  • Top-tier commercial and investment banks in connection with providing borrowing base credit facilities to their clients in the film and television sector, using film and television rights and receivables as collateral

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • LL.B, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • BA, University of New South Wales, Australia
Calabrese, Joseph A.
April 25, 2022Recognition

Showbiz Law Pioneer Saw It All

Joe Calabrese, the recently retired Global Chair of Latham’s Entertainment, Sports & Media Practice, discusses the strength of the Latham platform and the transition of the ESM practice to the next generation, including new ESM Co-Chairs Ken Deutsch and Adam Sullins.