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Media Arts Lawyers partner launches boutique firm
After nearly 15 years with Media Arts Lawyers, its first female partner has launched her own boutique legal practice.
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Creative industries lawyer Yasmin Naghavi has departed Media Arts Lawyers to start her own specialised media and entertainment boutique firm, Artis Causa, based in Melbourne.
Naghavi became the first female partner at Media Arts Lawyers when she was appointed to the role in 2021.
During her 15-year tenure at the media and entertainment law firm, she represented notable figures, including MasterChef judge Andy Allen, TV personality Julia Morris, and comedians Guy Montgomery, Becky Lucas, and Urzila Carlson.
She also advised a diverse range of creative clients, including YouTube channels, fashion and accessory labels, graphic and motion design studios, illustrators, visual artists, authors, photographers, and game and app developers.
Joining the boutique firm is fellow Media Arts Lawyers lawyer Marian Liwanen, who spent over three years with the firm, along with two paralegals.
Naghavi shared that her decision to establish Artis Causa – Latin for “for the sake of art” – was driven by a desire to better support industries where creativity and commercial outcomes are deeply intertwined.
She also noted the growing need for specialised media and entertainment law firms, as the creative industries continue to evolve more rapidly than the legal frameworks designed to support them.
“These sectors are collaborative, cross-platform, and often built on personal brand, which means the risks are reputational, the timelines are compressed, and the stakes are high. On top of that, access to funding remains limited, and there’s increasing downward pressure on fees and budgets,” she said.
“This means clients have to be incredibly smart – not just about protecting their work, but about how they commercialise their IP, structure their deals, and sustain their business over time. Lawyers in this space can’t just be reactive or transactional, they need to understand the creative process, the pace of the industry, and offer strategic advice that protects originality while enabling growth.”
The boutique firm provides a comprehensive range of commercial legal services, including contracts, employment law, reputation and crisis management, corporate advisory, and intellectual property.
Partners at Media Arts Lawyers expressed their pride in her new venture and extended their support as she embarks on this next chapter.
“Yasmin has made a remarkable contribution to Media Arts Lawyers over many years. We’re proud to have worked alongside her and fully support her as she launches Artis Causa – a firm that reflects her dedication to creative talent. We look forward to continuing to collaborate and wish her every success in this exciting new chapter,” they said.