Emma Kingdon
Emma Kingdon is a consultant in our Corporate & Commercial practice. She has specialist expertise in entertainment and media law, having worked with a number of film financing institutions, film producers and investors, scriptwriters, authors, content owners, branded entertainment producers, reality and documentary producers as well as commercial producers and large publishing houses.
Emma also has experience in negotiating and drafting large technology service agreements (including SaaS, software development and licensing, and outsourcing) as well as a background in mergers and acquisitions (mainly private equity) and general commercial transactions (such as distribution agreements and franchising arrangements).
About Emma
About Emma
Emma began her career as a Candidate Attorney at Syfret Godlonton-Fuller Moore (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr). She was appointed as an Associate in 1999, promoted to Senior Associate in 2000 and became a Director in 2001. Emma became a Consultant in 2011.
Emma has a special interest in social enterprise, and the role this sector plays in the greater economy as a means to bring about social change. As a result, she is able to use her experience as a commercial attorney to support social entrepreneurs and further the goals of the sector as a whole, including in relation to impact investing, business development and corporate structure.
Emma is a non-executive director of a urban market gardening non-profit, Neighbourhood Farm NPC.
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
- LLM (Commercial Law), University of South Africa (UNISA)
- Year of admission as an attorney: 1999
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
Languages
Languages
- English
About Emma
Emma began her career as a Candidate Attorney at Syfret Godlonton-Fuller Moore (now Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr). She was appointed as an Associate in 1999, promoted to Senior Associate in 2000 and became a Director in 2001. Emma became a Consultant in 2011.
Emma has a special interest in social enterprise, and the role this sector plays in the greater economy as a means to bring about social change. As a result, she is able to use her experience as a commercial attorney to support social entrepreneurs and further the goals of the sector as a whole, including in relation to impact investing, business development and corporate structure.
Emma is a non-executive director of a urban market gardening non-profit, Neighbourhood Farm NPC.
Credentials
Education
- BA LLB, University of Stellenbosch
- LLM (Commercial Law), University of South Africa (UNISA)
- Year of admission as an attorney: 1999
- Registered with the Legal Practice Council
Languages
- English
Experience
Drafting wide range of media agreements
Emma has many years of experience in negotiating and drafting a wide range of media agreements, including film option agreements, investment agreements, financing documentation, sponsorship agreements, production agreements, airtime and broadcasting agreements, standard commissioning agreements, chain of title documentation, distribution agreements, directors and production team agreements, and music rights procurement.
Film and television productions in South Africa
Advised in respect of various aspects for the producers, investors and financiers of film and television productions in South Africa (such as Sony Pictures, Sony Animation, Lookout PointMoonlighting Films, Federation Studios, Cofiloisirs, Natixis Coficine, Comerica Bank, Banc of California) of film and television programmes (such as Sniper 11, Catch Me A Killer, Mad Max: Fury Road, Story of an African Farm, uCarmen eKhayalitsha, Spud, Blended, The Giver, Devils Peak and Around The World in Eighty Days.
Programme producers
Advised reality, format and documentary programme producers (Lorton Entertainment, Justin Bonello, Monticello Inc, Cooked, Charly’s Cake Angels, Class Act, Ultimate Braaimaster,).
Publishing
Drafted standard publishing agreements for a number of publishing houses, such as Penguin Random House South Africa.
Social Enterprise
Advised TCB – Taking Care of Business, formerly The Clothing Bank, a non-profit organisation in various transactions, including the transfer by the Grow Educare division of its early childhood development administration software platform to Old Mutual's 22Seven division.
Media sponsorship
Advised brand owners on media sponsorship and other branding transactions, such as the sponsorship of MasterChef SA and the South African national rugby side (Springboks).
HCL Axon
Advised HCL Axon in its SAP implementation project with Shoprite Checkers and on its acquisition of the SAP implementation business of UCS.
Diageo South Africa
Acted for the joint venture of Diageo South Africa, Heineken International BV and Namibia Breweries in South Africa (brandhouse Beverages) in all commercial matters.
Lonrho plc
Acted for Lonrho plc in all acquisitions made in South Africa and all commercial matters.
News
Elections 2024: Internet service providers must prevent dissemination of fake news
With the national and provincial elections less than two months away, the Film and Publication Board (FPB) published a notice on 22 March 2024 in which it defines the terms “ misinformation...
One step closer to law: The Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill
On 29 February 2024, both houses of the National Assembly approved these two controversial bills and sent them to the President for assent. The drafters of the Copyright Amendment...
Market recognition
- Chambers Global recognised Emma as "Up and Coming" in Corporate/M&A in 2008.
Market recognition
- Chambers Global recognised Emma as "Up and Coming" in Corporate/M&A in 2008.
