Stephanie Wickenden represents Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn in defeating copyright claim for song from Cats

Stephanie Wickenden has successfully defended a copyright claim brought against Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Trevor Nunn in relation to the copyright in the song “Memory” from the famous musical production of “Cats”. The claim was struck out last week by the High Court and was held by Master Brightwell to be “totally without merit”.

The Claimant, Mr Philip Christian, who allegedly wrote a song he called “Midnight” claimed that a recording of it was overheard by a dancer at the Pineapple dance studios in London and later relayed to Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber who reproduced it when composing “Memory”. In his judgment, Master Brightwell described the claim as “inherently incredible” and “entirely fanciful and entirely hopeless”. Upon the Claimant indicating that he may pursue similar claims against other well-known performers and songwriters, Master Brightwell noted that he intended to refer the matter to a High Court Judge to consider whether it was appropriate to make a civil restraint order against the Claimant.

This claim has been reported by several news outlets including the Times, for which see here.

Stephanie Wickenden was instructed by Steven Tregear and Alice Rudge at Russells for Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Nick White and James Yow at Charles Russell Speechlys for Trevor Nunn.

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Stephanie Wickenden specialises in intellectual property, art and media law.

She has experience in commercial chancery cases in the creative and technology sectors, including contractual and tortious IT disputes, contentious trusts and estates matters involving creative assets, and shareholder and directors’ disputes involving IP breaches. A significant proportion of her practice has an international element, including cases involving disputed jurisdiction, foreign law, and service and enforcement out of the jurisdiction.

With a background in art and theatre, combined with expertise in IP, commercial and private international law, Stephanie is uniquely placed to advise on contentious and non-contentious matters relating to art and cultural property. Having spent three years at a top international law firm, she also advises on IP transactions and licensing.

Stephanie enjoys working as part of a team and is confident acting as sole counsel. She is regularly instructed in significant Intellectual Property cases before the UK courts, often unled and against KCs, including Thatchers v Aldi [2025] EWCA Civ 5 and EasyGroup v Nuclei and others [2023] EWCA Civ 1247. She has appeared before the CJEU (General Court), Court of Appeal, High Court and IPEC, and in registry proceedings before the UK IPO and EUIPO.