Denton Wilde Sapte has won two new media and entertainment clients, including the firm’s first instruction for FTSE 100 giant Pearson.
The first instruction saw corporate partner Richard Macklin this month close Dentons’ first deal for publishing giant Pearson Education, advising on the creation of a joint venture with BBC Worldwide.
Under the joint venture, a new brand called BBC Active will publish educational products and services across an international learning market, including schools and home education.
Macklin led on the deal, alongside TMT partner Scott Singer,who dealt with licensing issues. BBC Worldwide was advised by Olswang.
Meanwhile, Dentons has closed a deal for the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) on its acquisition of the Savoy Theatre. This is the first time ATG has instructed the firm since real estate partner Andrew Hill joined from Addleshaw Goddard, where he was ATG’s key adviser.
ATG is the UK’s second-biggest theatre group with a total of 23 venues, including the Comedy Theatre, the Donmar Warehouse and the Playhouse Theatre.
Hill led on the deal alongside Dentons corporate partner Simon Mitchell and taxation, IP, employment and pensions teams.
Hill confirmed Dentons hoped to secure ATG as a long-term client, saying: “We are looking forward to growing our relationship through work on further acquisitions.”
The wins will be considered a fillip for Dentons after the firm’s media and entertainment practice was hit by a mass defection to DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary last year.
