Creatives, performers, and founders come to me for advice on their deals, rights, and reputation — across film, television, music, publishing, and online content. From London to LA, I bring a bit of clarity and calm to complex legal matters, particularly those involving artificial intelligence.
Kelsey Farish
Media
Kelsey Farish
Media
Lawyer
Solicitor — Media, Entertainment & AI
Creatives, performers, and founders come to me for advice on their deals, rights, and reputation — across film, television, music, publishing, and online platforms. From London to LA, I bring a bit of clarity and calm to complex legal matters, particularly those involving AI.
MY EXPERTISE
I’ve been advising on artificial intelligence since 2019, and today I’m internationally regarded as a leading lawyer on AI issues in the media and entertainment industry. My favourite instructions often involve voice cloning and digital replicaas (deepfakes), but I also advise on copyrightability and infringement, consents and responsible use, labelling of AI content, AI company T&Cs, and much more.More on my AI expertise →Clients come to me for advice on how to monetise, control, and protect their work, especially in the context of AI and social media. In addition to my day-to-day legal work, I completed Harvard’s CopyrightX programme, wrote my master’s thesis on how streaming platforms like YouTube and Spotify handle musician royalty payments, and regularly guest lecture about copyright at universities around the UK and Europe.More on my copyright & IP work →Publicity work is all about managing how people and organisations are perceived in the public sphere. The legal side often focuses on attribution, payment, exclusivity and confidentiality, but narrative control can be just as important. My specialism is in image (persona) rights for talent, but I also advise on endorsements, advertising, trade marks, and PR more generally.
More on my publicity specialism →
I CO-HOST A PODCASTBusiness Affairs & Production Advice
SENSE CHECKS & CONSULTATIONS, FROM £200 + VAT read more
A contract is more than just paperwork: each one tells a different story about risk, control, and trust — and what happens if something (or someone) goes off script. I write, negotiate, update and amend all types of agreements and policies, and offer a range of services: from short consultations designed for freelancers, to leading on complex negotiations for — and oposing — multinational studios, tech companies, and producers.
Even when a project or partnership looks perfect on paper, it’s important to consider the business, reputational, and legal issues. I help clients address potential problems early, and to create the structure and strategy needed to keep things on track.
Spotlight on
Artificial intelligence
and the creative sector
Being a lawyer is my job. My love for movies, music, and literature is why I do it.In 2019 I published one of the first peer-reviwed papers in the world to focus on deepfakes from a legal perspective, because I was concerned about the lack of protections for actors and audiences.
Today, I focus on the media and entertainment industy almost exclusively, and my clients are as varied as the work itself. I’ve advised performers, writers, producers, historical venues, film equipment and prop hire companies, as well as technology startups, e-commerce businesses, and national retailers. I also regularly provide guidance and training to broadcasters, cultural institutions, and industry bodies including Film London, BAFTA, the Heritage Filming Alliance, and ScreenSkills.
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Visibility can create value — but only when it’s properly controlled. Talent and publicity work is about managing how someone is seen, credited, and paid for the use of their name, image, voice, or likeness. My expertise includes image (personality / persona) rights, talent contracts, endorsements, trade marks, advertising rules, and reputation-sensitive decision-making.
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Writing has always been how I make sense of things, especially where the letter of the law presses against real life and things get interesting. I’m published in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks, and I’ve contributed to several government policy papers and academic research projects. You can also subscribe to my newsletter.
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I often speak at industry conferences, film festivals and universities about how AI and copyright laws shape how we tell stories, and how we see ourselves. No matter the audience, I try to make the law feel more relevant and accessible.
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I co-host AI & The Creative Professional, a podcast focused on how artificial intelligence is impacting the creative industries. The week’s top stories about AI often lead to nuanced conversations about things like capitalism’s tension with regulation, history and hallucinations, literary theory and psychology… because AI touches all of that and more.
I’m an experienced public speaker and published author in both peer-reviewed academic publications and trade press. I regularly present at industry events, provide on-air commentary for national and international news media, and lecture at universities around the UK and Europe. As a sole practitioner, I don’t need to follow a pre-approved script: I just try to talk about things that matter in way that feels human — not robotic.SPEAKING & WRITING
kelsey media lawyer
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