Joel Cohen

Joel is a Partner in SMB’s Commercial team.

He is a corporate commercial lawyer with significant experience across media and entertainment, corporate finance, intellectual property, licensing, and commercial matters. Most recently, Joel was the General Counsel and Group Head of Business and legal affairs to Idris Elba and his companies and personal interests.

Joel was previously General Counsel to the FIA, UK ASN Motorsport UK, General Counsel to Premier Models and its international partners and latterly Head of Legal for a film finance and production house.

He has advised a wide range of both public and private clients, including development-stage, emerging-growth companies as well as angel investors, venture capital funds, family offices and strategic investors. More broadly, he has advised fashion and sports bodies across film, television, music, live events and touring and digital media.

Joel works extensively across a wide range of sectors, including motorsports, football, fast moving consumer goods including cosmetics, drinks and hospitality, commercial real estate, restaurant, clothing, luxury goods, digital commerce, apparel and entertainment and technology.

In additional, he has advised leading international companies and governing bodies on best practices, including setting up two cross jurisdictional charitable foundations.