Benedicts (Solicitors) LLP

Our partners are:

John Benedict | Serena Benedict

Assisted By Sebastian Davey

Serena Benedict

Serena Benedict has been actively engaged in the music and entertainment industries for over 20 years.

With a legal background in Film Copyright and Libel law from Peter Carter Ruck’s original firm of Oswald Hickson Collier she moved to the commercial firm of Paisner & Co. She started her professional career in the Music Industry in 1979 with the Virgin Group of Companies overseeing legal and business affairs for the Record and Publishing companies, Virgin Films, Virgin Books and the Studios Group.

She was then appointed Head of Copyright and Director of Business Affairs for MCA Music (now Universal) where she was to become Managing Director, but decided not to take up the position in a full time capacity with the first of two children (now grown up) on the way.

After working in a consultancy capacity advising companies such as the Zomba Group (now BMG) and Chrysalis Records, she joined her husband, John Benedict, in 1987 in the specialist entertainment practice of Benedicts, now Benedicts (Solicitors) LLP.

She also represents artists through Just Another Management Company and is co-founder with John of the specialist multi media music companies, Just Music and Just Publishing which deal in the acquisition and exploitation of music rights in all media.

She is a member of the MPA and an expert in all aspects of intellectual property rights with a particular emphasis on talent and acquisition and exploitation of new media rights. She has extensive practical and commercial knowledge of the music industry and personal acquaintance of many of the major players.

In addition to her function as managing partner to the firm and her work in support to John both in his transactional and journalistic work, she is a fluent French speaker. Other recent relevant work has included:

Large and small independent record labels – advising on structure and on the acquisition of music master rights and their licensing for ring tones, video games, downloads, tv and cinema commercials, theatrical use, instore, on-hold music, outdoor, common carrier, public relations, special events, film, compilations and the internet, including all documentation and negotiation throughout

Large and small independent music publishers – advising on structure and on the acquisition of music publishing rights and their licensing for ring tones, video games, downloads, tv and cinema commercials, theatrical use, instore, on-hold music, outdoor, common carrier, public relations, special events, film, compilations and the internet, including all documentation and negotiation throughout

Music management companies – advising on structure on the management of artists, composers and producers, including all documentation and negotiation throughout


solicitors to the music and media industry	speak no evil hear no evil see no evil