Key facts
- City lawyer Ian Rosenblatt has sued music tycoon Simon Cowell in London's High Court.
- The lawsuit alleges breach of agreement over transaction fees.
- Rosenblatt claims he was owed fees after stepping down from Syco Entertainment and as an adviser to Cowell.
- Legal documents include allegations of threats made against Rosenblatt.
- Rosenblatt previously advised Cowell on significant deals, including the Got Talent format securitisation.
City lawyer Ian Rosenblatt has initiated legal proceedings in London's High Court against music mogul Simon Cowell, alleging that the media personality withheld agreed-upon fees. The lawsuit, filed in the Commercial Court by Quinn Emanuel, which represents Rosenblatt, centers on Rosenblatt's departure from Syco Entertainment, Cowell's production company, and his role as an adviser.
According to court documents, Rosenblatt claims Cowell breached an agreement concerning transaction fees that was established in October 2022, shortly after Rosenblatt indicated his intention to step down. Rosenblatt's legal team asserts that there were also "a series of threats against Mr Rosenblatt in an effort to deter Mr Rosenblatt from pursuing his debt and/or damages claim."
Rosenblatt's prior involvement with Cowell includes serving on the internal team that secured a $125 million securitisation deal for the intellectual property of the "Got Talent" format. He also led the legal team advising Cowell in 2020 when he bought out Sony Music's stake in their television joint venture.
This legal action follows a period of significant upheaval for Rosenblatt's professional life. His former firm, Rosenblatt Group, which listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2018, collapsed dramatically last year as RBG Holdings. At the time of the collapse, the board terminated its consultancy agreement with Rosenblatt and made allegations against him, which he denied, calling them "untrue and defamatory." He subsequently established Rosenblatt Law with a team inherited from RBG Holdings.