Benjamin McDermott

I am a lawyer in our Media, Entertainment & Sports group in Sydney.

My combination of experience working in private practice, the not-for-profit sector and the arts enables me to assist clients in reaching creative solutions to complex and novel problems.

Whether I am assisting clients in transactional matters or disputes, I value a collaborative approach. In transactional matters, it's important to me that clients feel involved in the process and outcome of their transactions. For clients involved in disputes, I like to engage with the details of the matter to draw out the real issues in dispute and drive the matter toward a harmonious resolution.

Prior to joining Bird & Bird, I worked at copyright law peak bodies, a top-ranked Australasian boutique entertainment law firm, and as a session guitarist. I gave general advice on copyright law to the Australian public, consulted on licensing and infringement of literary and artistic works, assisted musicians and other clients in the entertainment industry to negotiate deals and resolve disputes, and worked generally in the Australian music industry. I currently sit on the management committee of the Copyright Society of Australia.

I hold degrees in music, arts and law. I have completed advanced courses on European copyright law and intellectual property asset management, and general courses on US copyright law and computer science. I have previously published articles, reviewed publications and interviewed on copyright & related rights. I continue to broadly contribute to articles on current issues in intellectual property, commercial and corporate law.