Chris Richards

Consultant

Commercial & Technology Team

About
Expertise
Recent Work
Accolades

Chris Richards is a member of our Commercial and tech team. 

A qualified solicitor with extensive experience in legal and business affairs in the TV industry, Chris has worked across development, commissioning, production, and distribution, advising on complex commercial contracts and rights management. 

As a Senior Lawyer at BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, Chris was the principal legal contact for production teams, negotiating high-value development, funding, and production agreements. Part of the Natural History Unit’s senior leadership team, he played a key role in managing legal risk, advising on multi-faceted international projects, and implementing commercial strategies. 

Chris has also held business affairs roles across BBC Studios’ Unscripted and Distribution teams, handling major production, talent, and licensing deals. His deep knowledge of intellectual property, media law, and commercial negotiations enables him to provide pragmatic, solutions-focused advice. 

With a strong strategic mindset and a commitment to delivering clear, commercially effective guidance, Chris helps businesses structure their commercial relationships and navigate complex legal landscapes. 

  • Commercial Contracts & Negotiations  
  • Business Affairs & Legal Risk Management  
  • Development, Commissioning & Production Agreements  
  • Intellectual Property & Rights Management  
  • Content Distribution & Licensing  
  • Talent & Union Agreements  
  • Multi-Party Financing & Funding Structures  
  • International Productions & Compliance  
  • Strategic Commercial Advice 
  • Leading legal and business affairs support for the BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit, negotiating and drafting complex development, production, distribution, and funding agreements.  
  • Advising on high-profile international co-productions, mitigating legal, financial, and reputational risks.  
  • Managing business and legal affairs for large-scale, multi-territory natural history productions, including negotiating production services contracts and talent agreements.  
  • Providing strategic commercial and legal risk management advice to senior stakeholders within BBC Studios Productions.  
  • Advising on rights management and content licensing for BBC Studios, ensuring the protection and commercial exploitation of intellectual property.  
  • Leading negotiations on commissioning and distribution agreements, securing funding and partnerships for major productions.  
  • Advising on union agreements and performers’ rights in connection with major BBC Studios productions.  
  • Implementing and developing commercial strategies to maximise revenue and protect BBC Studios’ business interests. 
  • The Commercial & Technology Team is ranked Tier 1 in the Legal 500
  • The Commercial & Technology Team Team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partner
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