Selina Potter
UK Guide 2025
Band 1 : Media & Entertainment: Film & Television
Band 1
About
Provided by Selina Potter
Practice Areas
Head of Broadcasting.
Selina has been a leading lawyer in the UK media sector for over 20 years. She provides commercial advice to broadcasters and other audio-visual distributors on all aspects of their business. This includes advising on the acquisition and distribution of content over all platforms and devices and on issues at the intersection of media and technology. She also advises book and magazine publishers on all commercial elements of their business.
Selina has acted on some of the leading transactions in the media sector over the years, including several joint ventures for BBC Studios, the launch of BT's sports channels and digital switchover for the BBC.
Her clients include broadcasters, pay television platforms, video on demand services, content owners, satellite operators and publishers.
Selina is recognised by both the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners Guide to the Legal Profession as a leader in her field.
Professional Memberships
Royal Television Society
Women in Film and Television
The Lawyers' Circle
Work Highlights
BBC Studios for over 20 years on the media and commercial aspects of their key joint ventures and strategic partnerships, including their JV to set up UKTV and their arrangements with AMC for BBC America. Other deals for BBC Studios involved the magazine, clips, book, learning and DVD sectors. She also acted for BBC Studios on the ill-fated VOD venture "Project Kangaroo" with ITV and Channel 4.
The BBC on aspects of digital switchover and the launch of Freeview HD.
An international SVOD service on its movie output deals with US studios and independents.
Sky Italia on the acquisition of premium sports and movie rights and on multi-channel carriage arrangements.
A major sports rights body on regulatory and content aspects of the global roll out of a digital content offering.
Miramax on its international distribution arrangements with channels and on demand services.
BT Sports and Television on the launch and distribution of their sports channels, including the technical and production services arrangements underpinning their Premier League coverage.
NBC Universal on distribution and regulatory matters for their international networks.
DC Thomson and Beano Studios on the exploitation of their animated children's characters, including the Dennis the Menace television series.
SES AMERICOM (now SES World Skies) on the technical building blocks for their IP Prime platform, including licences for conditional access and middleware and agreements with set top box manufacturers.
Education
New College, Oxford
MA Jurisprudence
1986
Chambers Review
UK
Selina Potter advises broadcasters, SVOD platforms and rights holders on all aspects of film and TV content acquisition, carriage and distribution. She also advises on media regulation with respect to major M&A and joint ventures in broadcasting.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It is always a total pleasure to deal with Selina. She is composed, assured and a genuine expert in a crowded field."
"Selina is just delightful and one of the best lawyers."
"It is always a total pleasure to deal with Selina. She is composed, assured and a genuine expert in a crowded field."
"Selina is just delightful and one of the best lawyers."