Jamie Ryder

• Advising an international converged media and technology company on the roll out of its OTT content platform and video-game streaming platforms in various territories across the Middle East including licensing and content regulation.
• Advised a leading international media brand on its proposed launch of various VoD services throughout various territories in the Middle East, and the associated regulatory and licensing implications.
• Advised a major international film, television and music producer on the digital distribution of its media content, on multiple online platforms, in various territories throughout the Middle East and Europe, and the legal and regulatory framework in respect of the censorship and rating of such content.
• Advising an international media company on its proposed linear television channel launch in the Middle East including advice in respect of content censorship, age-ratings and other regulatory considerations.
• Advising a series of overseas sports rights holders including the Premier League, NBA and Formula Ein respect of broadcast and advertising regulations and risks associated with the exploitation of content and advertising (including digital advertising) in the Middle East.
• Advising Saudi Telecom Company (STC) on its US$1.8 billion purchase of the exclusive worldwide broadcast rights for the Saudi Professional League and other matches, and associated marketing and sponsorship rights.
• Advised leading regional pay-TV operator, OSN in respect of multiple matters including:

• breaches of its exclusive copyright and other piracy related matters;
• a range of third party channel-carriage agreements with internationally prominent channels and associated OTT / VoD content distribution;
• a monthly "regulatory watchlist" service, updating the client on key regulatory developments across a number of key jurisdictions; 
• content acquisition agreements (both for live sporting events and library collections);
• channel carriage agreements including exclusive arrangements with leading regional channels;
• software licence agreements related to on-screen graphics; and
• set top box supply and distribution agreements..

• Advised OSN in its strategic collaboration with multi-platform media and entertainment organisation, Abu Dhabi Media Company, in a deal which saw OSN become the exclusive broadcaster of a suite of premium sports and entertainment channels as well as the migration of ADM’s existing subscriber base.
• Advised Abu Dhabi Media in respect of its purchase of the exclusive broadcast rights of the English Premier League in the Middle East and North Africa Region, and subsequent secondment to the client as primary in-house legal advisor on all matters relating to the multi-platform distribution of such broadcast rights, including:

• agreements relating to exploitation by encrypted satellite broadcast;
• agreements related to the delivery of live matches via a web-platform as well as multi-territory delivery on a free to air, analogue and digital, terrestrial basis;
• agreements for simultaneous retransmission of encrypted satellite broadcasts on various other delivery platforms including by means of mobile telecommunications, IPTV and Cable; and
• agreements for the provision of content production and channel management and scheduling services.

• Advising a leading global broadcaster on a range of agreements, including:

• content sale and acquisition agreements;
• co-production, production and commissioning agreements;
• channel carriage agreements;
• agreements for the sale of advertising space and associated revenue share;
• intellectual property infringement matters in relation to web, broadcast, and mobile content as well as trade mark infringement and domain name disputes;
• agreements for the provision of audience research, measurement and analytical services;
• talent agreements for producers / directors;
• event management agreements;
• agreement for the provision of online anti-piracy services;
• host broadcaster agreements for an international athletics competition; and
• agreements for the design and on-going support of mobile and web-based applications.

• Advised Paramount Pictures on the production and location arrangements for Mission Impossible IV - Ghost Protocol and Star Trek 3 (Star Trek Beyond), filmed on location in Dubai, and Mission Impossible – Fallout and Mission Impossible 7, filmed on location in Abu Dhabi as well as in respect of government incentives and rebates.
• Advised 20th Century Fox on various content clearances for the movie Independence Day: Resurgence in respect of the movie itself and Super Bowl advertising.
• Advising Dubai Expo 2020 on its suite of commercial sponsorship and associated commercial supply agreements (including large scale telecommunications network and cutting-edge technology procurement).  Sponsors included Siemens, Cisco, Etisalat and Accenture.
• Advised TikTok on its sponsorship of the African Cup of Nations and other associated competitions.
• Advised Etihad Airways in its key sponsorship of English premier league football club Manchester City including shirt sponsorship and various branding rights.   
• Advised Etihad Airways in relation to the renaming, re-branding and sponsorship of the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
• Advised a dragster racing team in Qatar on the headline sponsorship of its dragster racing team.
• Advising noon on its sponsorship of Saudi football club, Ittihad FC.
• Advising the headline sponsor in respect of its sponsorship of the Hail Rally Event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Advising Dubai Expo 2020 in relation to the detailed Master Services Agreement with "Magnopus" in respect of a metaverse recreation of the Exop site. Magnopus is an LA based creative and software agency and was retained to design and implement a fully immersive and interactive digital recreation of the Expo site utilising cutting edge virtual reality technology. Magnopus also provided a digital overlay on the physical Expo site, allowing visitors to interact with the environment at the physical site utilising mobile device based augmented reality.
• Advised Universal Music on various agreements in relation to a Middle East version of the television show, "The Voice".
• Advised Falcon's Treehouse, a US-based creative services agency specialising in theme park attraction design, on its content licensing arrangements and ride-design consultancy services in respect of a number of cutting-edge theme park attractions in the UAE.
• Advised Merlin Entertainment on the licensing in of intellectual property rights to create an immersive themed attraction in the Middle East.
• Advised a number of international media entities on a suite of agreements for the filming and production of reality television series' to be filmed in the UAE.
• Advised a sports rights holder on its official supply agreements for its professional football league.
• Advising a Middle-East film fund on a range of motion picture related agreements including:

• joint venture agreements;
• film-financing arrangements and related documentation; and
• talent agreements for performers, producers and directors.

• Advised a major sporting events rights holder in respect of copyright breaches by way of illegal broadcasting of its events.

Jamie is ranked as one of the leading TMT lawyers in the UAE by Chambers and Partners Global guide and a Next Generation Partner by the Legal 500 and:

• "Jamie has assisted me with a number of technical software and IT-related projects. His advice, drafting and general approach are second to none." - Chambers and Partners, 2022
  "Jamie Ryder is an outstanding relationship partner. He puts in huge amounts of overtime when needed to meet client demands. Listens carefully and is responsive. Mobilises the right resources for the job. A great asset to the DLA team.’ - Legal 500, 2021
• Peers praise [his] depth of knowledge in the media, sports and entertainment spheres, while interviewees also enthuse: "He is a fantastic attorney who is responsive, thorough and has a deep knowledge of regional issues.”’ - Chambers and Partners, 2021
• ‘[his] engagement, resourcing, efficiency, work value and communication is beyond what I have seen by a law firm in my 30 years of work with firms.‘ - Legal 500, 2020
• ‘has unrivalled knowledge of sports and media rights. He provided timely and insightful counsel and guidance.‘ - Legal 500, 2020
• Sources praise his "attention to detail" and say: "All parties respect and like him." - Chambers and Partners, 2020
• is "an outstanding media lawyer" - Legal 500, 2019;
• clients are quick to highlight [his] "great drafting and negotiating skills." - Chambers and Partners, 2018;
• ‘produces consistently high-quality work: he is a very strong negotiator with amazing energy reserves.’ - Legal 500, 2018
• is 'best known for his work in the media and sports sectors, advising major broadcasters on sponsorship agreements, content acquisition and regulatory issues. He is "fabulous, our go-to," said a source, adding: "He is flexible and he's got the right tone of voice on negotiations. He has a great demeanor and is a positive person always looking for a way forward."'- Chambers and Partners, 2018;
• is 'described by sources as having "a truly impressive depth of knowledge within media law."' - Chambers and Partners, 2017; and
• 'rated highly for his experience in media and entertainment, with a particular focus on the sports industry. According to sources, his work "demonstrates not only his considerable legal expertise, but also a valuable commercial approach."' - Chambers and Partners, 2015.

Secondment to a leading regional broadcaster based in Dubai as senior legal counsel, advising on all matters affecting the media organisation including

• Channel carriage agreements;
• Agreement for the organisation and sponsorship of an International Football Tournament;
• Software licence agreements; and
• Set top box supply and distribution agreements.

Secondment to leading global broadcaster based in Doha, Qatar, acting as in-house counsel and advising various internal business units on a range of agreements, including

• Content sale and acquisition agreements;
• Co-Production, production and commissioning agreements;
• Intellectual property infringement matters in relation to web, broadcast, and mobile content as well as trade mark infringement and domain name disputes;
• Agreements for the provision of audience research, measurement and analytical services;
• Talent agreements for producers / directors;
• Host broadcaster agreements for international athletics competition;
• Agreements for the design and on-going support of mobile and web-based applications.

Secondment to the client as primary in-house legal advisor on all matters relating to the multi-platform distribution of its broadcast rights of the English Premier League including

• Agreements relating to exploitation by encrypted satellite broadcast;
• Agreements related to the delivery of live matches via a web-platform as well as multi-territory delivery on a free to air, analogue and digital, terrestrial basis; and
• Agreements for simultaneous retransmission of encrypted satellite broadcasts on various other delivery platforms including by means of mobile telecommunications, IPTV and Cable.

Jamie has delivered a number of seminars/webinars, particularly on the subjects of:

• content creation, protection and distribution;
•  advertising and social media influencer regulation and control;
• covid-19 and force majeure;
• content piracy (both digital and analogue);
• IPTV Services;
• sports sponsorship; and
• good faith in commercial dealings and comparative jurisdictional reviews of force majeure and hardship.

Jamie has also appeared on Dubai radio business breakfast discussing a number of topics including the hosting of live sporting events and associated legal risks.