Creative industries team helps on international commission | 24 March 10
THE creative industries team at law firm Ward Hadaway has helped assist an acclaimed artist with a major international project.
Laura Harper, associate at Ward Hadaway, advised Mackenzie Thorpe Limited on a sculpture commission from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in the USA.
Mackenzie Thorpe is the acclaimed, Middlesbrough-born artist whose gallery is based in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and whose work is in demand from both galleries and collectors across the world.
His latest work is a sculpture which will be placed in the entrance for the Children’s Physician Building and Children’s Hospital at the Oklahoma University Medical Centre in Oklahoma, USA.
The resin artwork, which will be around 15 feet tall on completion, features two child-like figures skipping (see model, left).
It was selected from submissions from over 50 international artists and is to be featured at the building, which is due to open in November 2010 and forms part of a $111m development.
Laura Harper advised Mackenzie Thorpe Limited on the legal agreement for the commission.
Laura said: “It was great to be working with Mackenzie and Susan Thorpe again on such an interesting project.
“The legal framework around this particular project was interesting because in addition to the usual considerations for a commission of this nature, we also needed to look at how Oklahoma state law would impinge on the project as its liability provisions are quite complex and rather different to federal US law and UK law.
“As an admirer of Mackenzie and the incredible work which Mackenzie Thorpe Limited are currently undertaking, it has been a pleasure to have been involved in this project.”
Susan Thorpe, director of Mackenzie Thorpe Ltd, said: “On an international project of this scale we knew it was critical to iron out any potential ambiguity at the outset and Laura’s input and guidance proved to be invaluable.
“Thanks to Laura we now have a clear, well thought-out contract, which protects our interests and provides a clear framework for both us and the commissioners.”
The work is the latest in a series of creative and artistic projects which the Creative Industries team at Ward Hadaway has advised on.
The firm provided legal advice on the production of 1 Top Class Manager, a book by and about the former manager of iconic bands Joy Division and New Order, Rob Gretton - see story.
Ward Hadaway also provided legal support for mobile gaming specialist, Connect2Media on a raft of distribution and licensing agreements for its portfolio of top-selling titles, which include Guitar Hero ® World Tour Mobile and World Poker Tour ® - see story.
The Creative Industries team has specialist experience and expertise in advising clients based in the following sectors: advertising and design, PR, fashion, publishing, software, games, digital media, furniture design, architecture, film, television, music and the arts.
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