Duran Duran, Snow Patrol spats see Blackstone win litigation double bill
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Blackstone Chambers has scooped a brace of leading roles on two high-profile music litigation cases, with co-head Ian Mill QC leading on disputes involving pop groups Duran Duran and Snow Patrol.
Both groups have been sued by former members over breaching partnership duties. Blackstone barrister Tom Weisselberg is also acting for the groups.
It is understood that the Snow Patrol case settled at the last minute. The settlement means that the litigants in the Duran Duran case will not get any advance guidance from the court to resolve the dispute, making a court trial more likely.
“Band members frequently trade in partnership,” said Mill. “When a band breaks up or a member leaves for any reason, there has to be a valuation of the partnership assets and an appropriate accounting between the band members.
It’s surprising how often bands don’t have written partnership agreements.”
Brian Howard, litigation partner at Russells Solicitors, instructed Blackstone on behalf of the remaining members of Duran Duran and Snow Patrol after both groups had band members leave.
Charles Russell litigation partner John Sykes is advising former Duran Duran member Andy Taylor, instructing Andrew Hunter at Blackstone.
Clintons advised former Snow Patrol member Mark McClelland, instructing John Baldwin QC at IP set 8 New Square and Edmund Cullen at Maitland Chambers.
For more on this story see our blog post.
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Readers' comments (5)
Miss November Tuesday | 27-Jan-2009 1:08 am
I Hope This All Gets Settled Soon
I hope all this gets settled and that maybe once it is the unreleased material from Reportage can eventually be released. That and I just hope everyone can move on and continue working and recording.
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Anonymous | 30-Jan-2009 12:34 pm
DD & Andy need each other
DD and Andy Taylor shot themselves in the foot so to speak with the separation in 2006. DD has been medicore without him and needs to put their ego in check and listen to what he says. Likewise Andy needs to understand it isn't all about him and be a little flexible and work with his bandmates. The public needs their collaboration otherwise we will be subjected to lifeless overproduced crap.
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Dick | 31-Jan-2009 10:15 am
We need more people to bash RCM!
I bought a banjo. Me and my banjo will be playing roadside in cities all along the U.S. I'm hoping Simon or John will discover me when they come back and recommend me to Timbaland and want to record with me. Banjo, Timba, and Duran Duran.
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DD Fan No Matter What | 31-Jan-2009 3:43 pm
DD Are Just Fine Now
I've been fortunate to see the band both with and without Andy and I don't think that they are now mediocre at all. Andy is a great musician and ROCKS the house up on stage. We all know that. But he chose to end his DD partnership for whatever reason. And I will miss seeing him up there and hearing his talent. And the band most definitely has their egos as well and all 5 (the original 5) need to all get them in check. However, they could not have found a better person to step in than Dom Brown. Dom has brought back the fun and youth to this band. He's proven that he can definitely play with this band and as seen at the shows, the fans really do like him. If you feel that their music is now "lifeless overproduced crap", then maybe it's time you ended your relationship with the band as well seeing as you seem to think that w/out Andy, DD is playing themselves down the road to an endless black hole.
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ungabunga | 9-Feb-2009 4:12 pm
umhh..
We are bashing rcm and maybe it´s time to bash Andy!!
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