Maitland Chambers

Edmund’s practice covers a broad range of Chancery and commercial litigation/arbitration, with a particular emphasis on disputes in the media and entertainment sectors, as well as insolvency and company-related disputes, including claims for breach of directors' duties and minority shareholders' actions, breaches of warranty, the enforcement of guarantees and security, civil fraud and asset tracing/recovery.

Edmund’s specialisation in media and entertainment work embraces particular expertise in copyright and licensing in the music, film, TV, broadcasting and publishing industries. He has a wealth of experience in relation to online copyright infringement and Copyright Tribunal matters.

Edmund has also been involved in a wide array of business disputes between operators in the music, film, broadcasting, TV and publishing industries, representing artists, performers, managers, record labels, publishers, production companies, funders and broadcasters.

Edmund is recommended in Chambers UK Bar Guide for Chancery: Commercial and Media and Entertainment, in The Legal 500 for Commercial Litigation and Media and Entertainment and in Chambers Global for Dispute Resolution: Commercial Chancery.

Expertise
- Civil Fraud
  
  Advises and represents claimants and defendants in civil fraud claims, dealing regularly with freezing injunctions and other interim protective measures.
- Commercial Litigation & Arbitration
  
  Advises and represents clients in all aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration, including contractual disputes, banking transactions, enforcement of security, warranty claims arising out of business acquisitions, jurisdiction issues, breach of confidence, commercial fraud and asset recovery.
- Company & Partnership
  
  Advises and represents shareholders, directors and companies in contentious work in relation to corporate governance and the rights and duties of shareholders and directors. Regularly involved in minority shareholders' litigation.
  
  Deals with all aspects of partnership litigation, including valuation and accounting issues.
- Insolvency & Asset Recovery
  
  Acts generally in all areas of personal and corporate insolvency, including both the initiation of insolvency procedures and subsequent asset recovery, resolution of trust/equitable claims, etc.
- Intellectual Property
  
  Advises and represents clients in wide range of copyright and performers rights issues, including both plagiarism claims and industry-wide anti-piracy strategies. Has particular expertise in the context of online exploitation.
  
  Has extensive experience in the Copyright Tribunal and in rate-setting arbitrations.
  
  Regularly deals with passing off and trade mark claims
- Media & Entertainment
  
  Advises and represents participants in all areas of the music, film, TV, broadcasting and publishing industries.
  
  Acts in high profile litigation for clients in the music/recording sector, including performers, artists, writers, managers, record companies and collecting societies.
  
  Also advises and represents broadcasters, programme makers, publishers, film producers and financiers, distributors, theatre producers, actors, agents, and others in contractual, licensing and rights disputes. He has particular experience in the field of online exploitation of rights.
- Professional Negligence
  
  Represents claimants and defendants in professional negligence and related areas, in particular in relation to solicitors, accountants, valuers, etc.
Directory Quotes

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2024)
"Cullen is one of the top people in this space."

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2024)
"He is really good on his feet, a clear advocate, responsive and gets into the detail. He is really impressive."

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2024)
"He is an absolutely outstanding barrister for media and entertainment work."

Chambers UK Chancery: Commerical (2024)
"Outstanding - he is user-friendly, absurdly clever and so thorough."

Chambers UK Chancery: Commerical (2024)
"He is superb on his feet and judges seem to love him. His advice was brave, commercial and strategically spot on. "

Chambers UK Chancery: Commerical (2024)
"Incredibly bright and someone who gives robust, clear advice, he is fantastic to work with. Able to work quickly without junior support, he is a fearless advocate not to be underestimated. He is a nice and quietly spoken man so people underestimate how effective he is as an advocate. As a result he will often prevail against those who are perhaps more ostentatious in their advocacy."

Chambers UK Media and Entertainment (2023)
"Edmund provides clear and concise advice and inspires confidence from clients. He is incredibly user-friendly, has excellent judgement and is great at distilling complex information. He's very calm and unflappable and he has a good manner with the court."

Legal 500 Media and Entertainment (2023)
"A top quality media and entertainment barrister."

Legal 500 Commercial Litigation (2023)
“It is a real pleasure to hear Edmund’s advocacy. As long as he is not your opponent. Because he has authority, gravitas and tone that delivers. His advisory and strategic advice is also excellent.”

Chambers UK Chancery: Commercial (2022)
“Judges really relate to him - he's excellent at reading the situation and getting into their heads.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2022)
“He is very calm, takes everything in his stride and has a very nice manner that comes across well in court." "He is very hands-on and really gets stuck into the matters." "He is such a good cross-examiner and understands the industry so well.”

Legal 500 UK Commercial Litigation (2022)
“Edmund has an outstanding intellect and excellent judgement. He is easy to work with, extremely responsive and brilliant in court.”

Chambers UK Chancery: Commercial (2021)
“A strong advocate.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2021)
“He's brilliant and great to work with. He turns things around so quickly, gives really clear advice and is a great advocate.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2021)
“He's super intelligent and provides a really efficient service. His strategic mind is the best I've come across. He's a fantastic advocate who doesn't mind wading through the detail.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2021)
“Edmund is ferociously clever, user-friendly and has great clarity and judgement.”

Legal 500 UK Commercial Litigation (2021)
“A notable practitioner.”

Legal 500 UK Media & Entertainment (2021)
“A superb barrister and a notable practitioner in this field. Great expertise and experience.”

Chambers UK Chancery: Commercial (2020)
“A cool, calm advocate. You always want him on your side. He's very astute and good at helping the client see the bigger picture." "His advice is comprehensive, decisive and quickly delivered.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2020)
“He's thorough, user-friendly and responsive." "He's down to earth, approachable and gives very sensible advice.”

Legal 500 UK Media & Entertainment (2020)
“He is exceptionally bright, responsive and approachable.”

Chambers UK Chancery: Commercial (2019)
“A user-friendly silk who is an excellent communicator.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2019)
“He's extremely intelligent and a brilliant advocate." "He is exceptionally pragmatic, good with clients and a real team player. He knows what can and can't be achieved so he's very good at giving sensible and reasoned advice.”

Chambers UK Chancery: Commercial (2018)
“Displays meticulous attention to detail coupled with an unflinching determination to get to the right result. He works exceptionally hard and provides tremendous value for money.”

Chambers UK Media & Entertainment (2018)
“Has a very analytical mind and is very precise; he's a valuable addition to any case." "He's exceptionally bright, provides sound commercial advice and is brilliant at cross-examination.”

Legal 500 UK Media & Entertainment (2018)
“He is brilliant to work with, really gets into the detail and is great with clients.”

Legal 500 UK Media & Entertainment (2018)
“Really gets into the detail.”
Notable Cases
Edmund Cullen KC's notable cases include:

Edmund Cullen KC

Call: 1990 Silk: 2012

Expertise

Civil Fraud

Commercial Litigation & Arbitration

Company & Partnership

Insolvency & Asset Recovery

Intellectual Property

Media & Entertainment

Professional Negligence

Directory Quotes

Notable Cases