Making movie magic from behind the scenes. We're your film, media and interactive entertainment adviser in New Zealand.
In Auckland Chris Young acts handling production, distribution and structuring for major US and independent studios, producers, distribution companies, financiers and investors across a range of television, film and digital media productions in New Zealand. Chris is regularly on the ground in the US to meet with clients so when the time comes, productions are delivered in the most commercially and legally effective way.
We act in Wellington through Kate Cruickshank for the NZFC, supporting the NZFC with film financing and other funding arrangements.
Over the years we have advised legendary productions, blockbusters and long running TV series.
Significant work we have carried out over the years acting for major US and independent studios includes the Lord of the Rings trilogy, production work for the Power Rangers series, Spartacus and Ash vs Evil Dead series. We also act for Te Tumu Whakaata Taonga – New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) financing numerous productions, including world famous New Zealand films such as Whale Rider, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and Boy.
Our services for film production combine finance lawyers, commercial lawyers, tax, labor/employment, structuring including for the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate and IP experts. We give comprehensive, practical advice to international organisations wanting to take advantage of New Zealand as a filming destination. We advise on all aspects of film and television productions from financing, co-production, investment, sale and leaseback, and pre-production through to distribution.
We have significant experience including structuring productions to comply with the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate including the PDV Rebate and 5% Uplift requirements; all intellectual property aspects including copyright, trade marks, licensing and acquisition of rights; production structuring and production agreements, financing, tax, labour, real estate, and litigation.
Ranked 'Highly Recommended by Managing IP – IP Stars for Copyright and related rights', Chris is consistently ranked as a leading IP lawyer in legal directories including Chambers Asia-Pacific (Band 1), The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (Hall of Fame), Managing IP and WIPR. Our team can advise on all IP aspects including cross-border IP advice, copyright, trade mark clearance and registration, chain of title, licensing and acquisition of rights.
Structuring the relationship between the local production company to be established (or to be contracted) to carry out production work and the owner of copyright in the relevant production.
Special tax structures to be implemented for the transactions between the copyright owner and the local production company.
Structuring productions including for offshore major studios to comply with the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate including PDV and rebate uplift requirements.
Preparing and negotiating all production cast and crew agreements, writer agreements, composer and location agreements relating to the production.
Assessing overseas producers’ standard production documentation for compliance and suitability with local law.
Advising across the whole spectrum of issues that often arise under local law. This ranges from corporate / commercial and tax advice on copyright ownership structures and film financing, to the full range of tailored employment (including the Screen Industry Workers Act), health and safety, property and litigation advice.
The Auckland team acts for major US and other independent studios, producers and distribution companies advising on production agreements, IP and IP structuring, corporate structuring, financing, and grant applications/qualification.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts has been my go-to law firm for Australia and New Zealand for many years. Their work is of the highest quality and their responsiveness is second to none. My only regret is that I can’t hire them for work outside of the region!
Gavin Wise, Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs Starz
Significant work we have carried out over the years acting for major US and independent studios includes:
Our Wellington team acts for the NZFC and support other clients in the creative sector, including clients who invest in video gaming studios, and video gaming studios themselves.
Our recent film work includes:
Chris advises major US studios, producers and distributors and heads the Auckland film and media practice.
A leading intellectual property and commercial lawyer, Chris’s work includes IP commercialisation and licensing; the intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions; film and television production and other transactions involving IP assets . Chris has significant experience in all aspects of IP including branding, strategy, trade mark registration/portfolio management, licensing and enforcement worldwide. He regularly advises on IP aspects of film and television productions. Examples of work include production, distribution and structuring arrangements for Power Rangers, Spartacus, The Avengers, Evil Dead, Noir, Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor, and Thor Ragnarok and advising Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. IP and licensing aspects of the sale of its New Zealand subsidiary, Discovery NZ Limited, to Sky Network Television Limited. He has also handled trade mark registration work for this sector including for The Saul Zaentz Company (The Lord of the Rings).
Chris is consistently recommended as a leading lawyer in directories including Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 Asia Pacific.
He has been actively involved in the International Trademarks Association (INTA) and the International Bar Association (IBA) for years and served on a range of important committees having chaired INTA’s East Asia Pacific Famous Marks subcommittee, and been on the Parallel Imports Committee, Internet Committee and the Asia Pacific Global Advisory Council. Chris is currently the New Zealand representative on INTA’s Bulletin Committee.
Kate advises film financiers such as the NZFC and has been involved in the funding of a range of New Zealand films, co-productions, and international films, including advising the NZFC on the 5% uplift for A Minecraft Movie, Our Flag Means Death (S2), and in funding a range of New Zealand films, including recently Pike River.
Kate has also advised on the redesign of several rebates, including the PDV Uplift Rebate (2026) and the Production 5% Uplift (2023 and 2026).
Kate also advises on chain of title, production services agreements, cast and crew agreements, sales and distribution agreements, collection agency management agreements, investment agreements, and completion guarantee documentation.
In the video gaming and interactive entertainment space, Kate has advised on project financing for game development and publishing agreements. Kate is also a regular speaker at the NZGDC – New Zealand's premier game developers conference.
Ranked as a Next Generation Partner, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific says: “Kate is renowned for her ability to provide commercially astute and pragmatic advice, as well as working seamlessly with the various business units of her clients.”
A senior film and entertainment lawyer, John has negotiated the licensing arrangements for numerous international exhibitions including the internationally acclaimed exhibition about the making of The Lord of the Rings trilogy for Te Papa. He also advised New Zealand Symphony Orchestra on its licensing and commercial recording such as the sound records of The Hobbit soundtrack. John has also served as chair of on the boards the NZFC and NZ On Air.
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