Irving David

As a music and entertainment lawyer, Irving has built up an impressive roster of clients in the music, entertainment and media industries over the years and offers extensive knowledge of Commercial Law and Intellectual Property Rights including Copyright, Trademarks and Product Licensing.

Irving also has a passion for Ballet and is considered to be the “go to” lawyer for all legal matters pertaining to both Classical and Contemporary Dance.

His client roster ranges from a broad selection of independent record labels and music publishers to countless singer songwriters, managers and agents. His corporate clients include Birmingham Royal Ballet, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Birmingham Museums Trust, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Young Vic, the Frederick Ashton Foundation, One Dance UK, The Harvey Goldsmith Group of Companies, and the International Artist Managers’ Association.

Irving is consistently recognised by the UK Legal 500 as a Recommended Media and Entertainment Lawyer.

Clients have described him as having “strong communication skills”; being “a good technical draftsman”; as “always going that extra mile to explain complex issues”; and “admired for his no-nonsense approach, his, seemingly, vast knowledge and his good humour”.

In Legal 500, Irving is described as being “a lawyer of the highest standard: efficient, speedy and keen to help you to understand the process/issues/agreement/contract”; "he walks you through the process from start to finish with impeccable professionalism”. He has “an impressive breadth of experience in advising on commercial and IP matters, particularly in the music space” where he “knows the industry inside out".

“His work, knowledge and advice is second to none; he is engaging, understanding and sincere"; is “very approachable” and “provides incredible support”.

Irving originally trained with the leading London entertainment law firm, Wright & Webb. He subsequently joined Warner Brothers in London and became their UK Director of Legal and Business Affairs. Returning to private practice, he formed David Wineman with a colleague in 1981 and merged his practice with Level in 2021.

He is a full voting member of BAFTA, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts; a corporate member of IAMA, the International Artist Managers Association providing its membership with a legal helpline; a corporate member of the MPA, the Music Publishers Association; gives frequent Master Classes for the MMF, the Music Managers Forum and for the MPA; and contributes regularly to trade publications on legal, commercial and IP issues relevant to the music and entertainment industries.