About Us

Laing & Co

Solicitor Advocate

Laing and Co is the name of the independent legal practice of Adrian C. Laing and is based in North London. Laing & Co has been fully functional as a legal practice (Sole Practitioner) since February 2004. Meetings take place by appointment only.

Adrian Laing is a practising Solicitor Advocate and a qualified Barrister (having practised at the Bar as a Tenant from 1983 to 1987). The Law Society has granted Adrian Laing full rights of audience in all Courts throughout England and Wales.

Adrian Laing is recognised as one of the leading media and publishing law specialists in the UK, having presented papers at several prestigious events and written extensively on a wide range of media related topics over a number of years. For seven years (1994 - 2001) was the Director of Legal Affairs at Harper Collins Publishing (UK).

The most common type of work undertaken by Laing & Co is: pre-publication legal reports; contract disputes; copyright issues; employment related matters; film and television deals including options: confidentiality agreements; distribution agreements; termination strategies; data protection issues: website terms; standard terms and conditions of supply and purchase.

Adrian Laing is the co-author of The Media Contracts Handbook and The A—Z of Contract Clauses (Sweet & Maxwell).

A summary of Adrian Laing’s background is as follows:

2004 - 2008: Laing and Co formally established. Over the last four years, the client base of Laing & Co has grown to include an impressive (though confidential) list of leading publishers, agents, authors, film and television production companies, presenters and the publishing arms of governmental bodies and Charities.

2003: Sat and passed (Grade A) Qualified Lawyers Transfer Test to qualify as a Solicitor (in addition to being a Barrister). Admitted as a Solicitor October 2003. Formal Waiver Certificate granted by the Law Society (based my established expertise and experience in media law matters). Practising Certificate issued by the Law Society.

2001 – 2003: Director, All Media Services Ltd. Consultancy work, courses, books.

1994 – 2001: Director of Legal Affairs and Company Secretary and Director of Harper Collins India, Harper Collins Publishers Ltd. Responsibilities included all legal and contractual matters, insurance, company secretarial matters and property.

1993 – 1994: Senior Broadcasting Lawyer at the City offices of Hammond Suddards (as it then was), now a leading national law firm.

1991 – 1993: Full time Consultant to Thames Television plc in respect of its application for a Channel 5 Licence and UK Gold.

1990 – 1991: Assistant Head of Licensing at The Independent Television Commission during the Channel 3 franchise round.

1987 – 1990: Freelance career as a writer, documentary film producer and media Consultant.

1983 – 1987: Practised as a Tenant in Chambers (2 Pump Court, Inner Temple) specialising in criminal jury trials (defending and prosecuting). Personally conducted over 50 jury trials and more than 1,500 court appearances

1980 – 1983: Pupillage training at the Bar. (2 Harcourt Buildings, 3 Temple Gardens, 2 Pump Court).

1979 – 1980: Studied under the late Professor Michel Foucault at the College de France, Paris.

November 1979: Called to the Bar (Inner Temple, aged 21).

1978 – 1979: Council of Legal Education, Gray’s Inn, London.

1975 – 1978: Graduated with honours from Exeter University (LL.B).

1970 – 1975: Hillhead High School, Glasgow.