DLA Piper advises Caryn Mandabach Productions in acquisition by Banijay UK

DLA Piper advised Caryn Mandabach Productions (CMP), an independent scripted production company founded by producer Caryn Mandabach, in its acquisition by Banijay UK. CMP produces the BAFTA-winning global, hit drama series and brand, “Peaky Blinders.”

Under the agreement, CMP’s slate of projects and back catalogue will transfer to Banijay UK, which will manage all future series, spin-offs, and brand ventures resulting from that intellectual property, which includes the recently announced “Peaky Blinders” movie greenlit by Netflix.

Mandabach will transition to a first-look development and producer agreement with Banijay UK under the newly formed “Conduit Productions” umbrella.

Tom Ara, global co-chair of DLA Piper’s Media, Sport and Entertainment sector, said: “Caryn, the legendary producer behind the global hit drama series ‘Peaky Blinders,’ entrusted us with this pivotal deal—a momentous chapter in her remarkable journey. As we eagerly anticipate what lies ahead for Caryn, we take pride in our role within the pages of her history.”

In addition to Ara (Los Angeles) who led the deal, the DLA Piper team in the US included partner David Markman (Los Angeles); of counsel Paul Myers (Baltimore); associates Nathaniel Baird (Seattle), Rachel Piccirillo and Elijah Holloway (New York) and Dorsey Hairston (Los Angeles).

The DLA Piper team in the UK included partners Jon Kenworthy, Matt Davies, Jonathan Exten-Wright, Duncan Calow (all in London); senior associates Deepa Parmar, Elizabeth Emerson, Tom Fancett and Louise Campbell (all in London); and associates Bradley Osborne, Alex Lowe and Payel Patel (all in London).

The DLA Piper team worked closely with the CMP’s advisors Christopher Silbermann and Nicole Riley at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Bob Stanley and Randall Goldfarb at CAA Evolution to bring the deal to a conclusion.

DLA Piper's market-leading international team of media, sport and entertainment lawyers, located throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, advises on M&A, finance, borrowing, investment and corporate issues, production and rights acquisitions, exploiting media rights, staging and exploiting live sports and other events, intellectual property protection and enforcement, regulatory and administrative issues, antitrust and competition law, stadium and arena development and resolution of disputes.