LEADING MUSIC LAW FIRM COLLINS LONG APPOINTS PRAVEEN BHATIA AS PARTNER TO LAUNCH DEDICATED EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE

08 October 2014 - Press release

Collins Long, one of the UK’s leading music and entertainment law firms, has appointed Praveen Bhatia as partner.

An expert in intellectual property, media law and employment law, Bhatia joins Collins Long from top tier media law firm Sheridans where she worked for 13 years.

At Sheridans, Bhatia spent more than a decade advising senior executives and artists from the worlds of music, TV, film, fashion, sport, tech and retail, for the last five years in its Employment Group, and before that she worked in its Music, Theatre and Media Group.

At Collins Long, Bhatia is establishing a new employment practice to advise senior executives, artists and employers in the creative industries on all aspects of their employment strategy and its execution.

Founded in 2000 by partners James Collins and Simon Long, the firm has established itself as one of the leading providers of legal services to the music and entertainment industries with clients including no. 1 UK and international artists and labels. Bhatia will join the firm in their offices in the rafters of a 19^th century warehouse in Southwark.

Commenting on Bhatia’s appointment, Collins and Long said: “Already a go-to name for music executives, Praveen is known to be technically brilliant, practical and commercial. Her work with creative sector senior executives neatly complements our existing practices in music, film and theatre. We are delighted to have her join us as a partner to start our new dedicated employment practice and further strengthen the services we provide to the creative industries.” 

Bhatia said: “After 13 fantastic years with Sheridans, I am excited about the prospect of establishing a new employment practice and working with the Collins Long team. They are cutting-edge both in terms of the deals they do and their style of working which is always flexible and commercial in order to add genuine value and give a full support service to their clients.”

Bhatia, 37, trained as a solicitor at Sheridans which she joined in 2001 and where she qualified two years later. From 2003 she worked in its Music, Theatre and Media Group where she gained broad commercial and intellectual property experience and acted for a range of artists, from up and coming new bands to established household names. It was here that Bhatia began to specialise in in working with senior management, A&R executives and artists on their deals with companies and brands. Her work ranged from CEO service agreements to sophisticated label and talent arrangements, including advising on payment structures, equity arrangements, intellectual property related bonus schemes, long term incentive arrangements, post termination restrictions and international moves and packages.

Bhatia has a first class honours degree from the University of London.