Jon Higton

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

Jon was called to the Bar in July 1984. Following a period working for Rolls Royce he joined ITV Sport in 1987 as the Network Sports Contracts Manager. At ITV he was responsible for all ITV Network Sport contracts including the 1988 agreement with the Football League which was the first major 'exclusive' agreement of its type in football in the UK.

In 1990 Jon joined Townleys, the specialist sport law firm, becoming a partner in 1994. In 2001 Townleys merged with Hammonds where Jon took a position as a consultant. In July 2004 he joined Couchmans, the leading sports law specialist firm, reuniting with old Townley's colleagues.

Jon has advised on, drafted and negotiated a plethora of major broadcasting and other media rights contracts in sports including: advising Ascot Racecourse on media rights matters; the Davis Cup and Fed Cup commercial programme; Rugby World Cup broadcasting arrangements from 1991 to 2007; Cricket World Cup commercial rights agreements; and negotiating media rights representation and licensing agreements for many major properties including FA Premier League, FA Cup, England and other international football, Indian and other international cricket, Six Nations rugby, European Rugby Cup, table tennis, golf, surfing, cycling and many others.

Contributed to

1

Sports media and broadcasting

Practice notes

This Practice Note examines the commercial and contractual aspects of sports media and broadcasting, focusing in particular on the creation, protection and exploitation of sports media rights. It examines what sports media rights are under English law, how footage of a sports event is produced and delivered, and examines the principal terms of a typical sports media rights contract.

TMT