C4 appoints Amali de Silva as new Controller of Legal & Compliance

Channel 4 today announced it has appointed Amali de Silva as the new Controller of Legal & Compliance.

Reporting to Martin Baker, Director of Commercial Affairs, Amali will lead Channel 4’s first-class legal & compliance team who provide comprehensive legal and regulatory advice on programme content and corporate issues.

Currently a ligation consultant at Wiggin LLP, Amali’s expertise includes defamation, privacy/breach of confidence, data protection, contempt, copyright and format disputes, specialising in the TV and publishing sectors.

Across her 12 years at Wiggin LLP, Amali has advised broadcasters, production companies, newspapers and other publishers across a broad range of media litigation from pre-publication injunction threats to regulatory issues, having worked on high profile cases such as successfully defending Channel 4 against a libel claim by Andrew Wakefield.

In 2009, Amali was selected as one of The Lawyer’s ‘ Hot 100’ lawyers in the UK. Before Wiggin, Amali previously worked in litigation roles at Olswang and D J Freeman.

Martin Baker said: “Amali brings an abundance of media litigation expertise to this important role having advised on a wide range of challenging issues right across the industry including many complex Channel 4 cases. Her leadership and professionalism will be valuable to the Channel 4 Executive and Board and I’m delighted to welcome her to the team.”

Amali said: “Having worked closely with Channel 4 for many years, and as a great admirer of its commitment to risk-taking, innovation and diversity, I’m really looking forward to having the opportunity to help achieve those aims and lead a legal & compliance team which already has an unparalleled reputation for excellence within the industry.”

Amali will join Channel 4 in the autumn following outgoing General Counsel Prash Naik’s departure when he moves to Sydney with his family and will continue to advise TV and film producers in both London and Sydney.