Mediator Profile - Dennis Muirhead

"Dennis mediated a dispute for me that was blurred by the emotional interests of the other party. His ability to clarify and rationalise the situation meant he could diffuse these emotions and ultimately succeed in identifying a commercially viable resolution for both parties."
Client

Profile Summary

Dennis Muirhead qualified as a Mediator in 2002 trained by ADR Chambers (Canada) with The University of Law. He is accredited by the Civil Mediation Council and is a Senior Mediator at Clerksroom. Dennis is a successful commercial mediator and lawyer with over 40 years' experience as a criminal defence litigator in human rights, Counsel assisting a Royal Commission into drugs, death penalty, immigration, defamation, motor racing, entertainment and the music industry.

Dennis has spent over 30 years in management, business and legal affairs in the music, entertainment and technology industries. He was the founding chairman of the Music Managers Forum (MMF). He is an experienced company chairman and director particularly of technology start-ups, charities, voluntary organisations and University Alumni.

As a litigator, Dennis developed the ability to listen carefully to and understand his clients' positions. This skill has helped him to become a successful mediator. 

 

Full Profile

Dennis read law at the University of Adelaide and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1965. He practised there for three years before being admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1971 when he was with Kingsley Napley as assistant to Sir David Napley.

You may know Dennis as a co-founder of the law firm Simons Muirhead & Burton in 1972. He was Counsel assisting the South Australian Royal Commission into the non-medical use of Drugs 1977 - 79.

Dennis was a founding executive director of The Fifth Medium Ltd 2006 - 11, a founding director of Rightster Ltd 2011 - 13 and a business development executive at Rightster Group plc. Rightster is a leading worldwide company specializing in the distribution, marketing and monetization of live and on demand video online. He was an Advisory Board Member of We7 Ltd a pioneering music streaming service from 2006-2012 now owned by Tesco/Blinkbox Music by Guvera.

Dennis was a Business Ambassador for the State of South Australia from 2002-2010.

Dennis is President of the South Australian Universities Alumni Europe. In 2012 he was made an Alumni Fellow of the University of Adelaide is now a member of the Alumni Council 2014 -16.

During the 1980’s and 1990’s Dennis was Chairman of two leading charities namely City Roads (Crisis Intervention) and the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependence - ISDD. Also Chairman of the Fulham Legal Advice Centre and the Metropolitan Police Juvenile Mediation Scheme Islington Steering Committee.

With a keen interest in sport, Dennis was Business and Legal Affairs Director for Richard Lloyd Racing (RLR) Porsche 962 in Group C Prototype Sports Cars (Le Mans) in Europe and Japan 1987-1992.

In 1982, Dennis established Muirhead Management and Muirhead Music to manage record producers, engineers, artists and song writers. He was probably the first person globally to manage record producers, in particular four times Grammy Award winning producer Hugh Padgham, (XTC, Peter Gabriel, Split Enz, The Police, Sting, Phil Collins, Genesis, David Bowie and Melissa Ethridge) and producers Eddy Offord (Yes, ELP, John Lennon, Baker Gurvitz Army, Lindisfarne), Nick Patrick (Russell Watson), John Brand, Robin Millar, John Eden, Stuart Colman (Shakin' Stevens, The Crickets, Connie Francis), Paul Grabowsky AO (Jazz pianist/composer) and producers Richard Bennett, RS Field and singer songwriter Billy Swan (I Can Help) in Nashville TN, studios including the legendary SUN Studio, Memphis TN and artists Elena Roger (Evita, Boeing Boeing and Piaf - Olivier Award 2009) and Pete Brown (Cream and Jack Bruce).

Dennis is an expert witness in music industry cases. He is an international music and new media conference moderator, panellist and mentor.

In 1992, Dennis co-founded and was the founding Chairman of the Music Managers Forum UK (MMF) which is established worldwide. Dennis is now an MMF Advisory Board member. He was inducted into the British Music Roll of Honour in 2008.

Dennis is a Trustee of the Australia Music Foundation UK (AMF), a member of the Americana Music Association (AMA) Nashville and a past member of the Country Music Association (CMA) Nashville UK Advisory Group.

Honours and Awards

Life Member of the South Australian Universities Alumni Europe 2015
Alumni Council of the University of Adelaide 2014 -16
Life Member of Pulteney Old Scholars 2012
British Music Roll of Honour 2008
Business Ambassador for the State of South Australia 2002 - 2010
A Song by Lindisfarne "Court in the Act" from the Charisma album Dingly Dell - 1972 

"Dennis has extensive experience in industry and I recommend him as a robust and skilled tactician, business manager and consultant." Alexander Ross, Lawyer

"Strong music industry experience and established entrepreneur and founder." Alexander Apponyi, Investment Banker

"I have worked with Dennis for over twenty years and highly commend him as one of those rare individuals who has the practical experience and skills drawn from different perspectives of his work. Whether as legal adviser, manager or entrepreneur, his judgment is exemplary." Jonathan Caplan QC

Professional Background

2002 to date
Commercial Mediator 

1982 to date
Management of record producers, artists and music publishing (Muirhead Management) 

1975 - 1982
Business and legal affairs in the music industry (Simons Muirhead & Burton)  

1972 - 2006
Criminal litigator and Consultant (Simons Muirhead & Burton) 

1967 to date
Criminal law, human rights, drugs, Privy Council Appeals, death Penalty, Counsel assisting a Royal Commission into Drugs, immigration, defamation, motor racing, entertainment and the music industry.

 

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Skills and Interests

Rockabilly, rock'n'roll, Americana roots and jazz, motor racing and speedway, cricket, Aussie Rules and Chelsea soccer, my family, cooking and trying to keep fit!

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