Eversheds has taken a lead role on the negotiations that have seen The Beatles agree to make their music available to download on iTunes, reports The Am Law Daily.

The deal was announced yesterday (16 November) by Apple, EMI – the band's record label – and The Beatles' company, Apple Corps, with the agreement bringing an end to years of speculation as to when the group would embrace the digital downloading revolution.

Apple Corps turned to Eversheds for advice on the negotiations, with commercial litigation partner Nick Valner advising alongside senior associate Neil Mohring.

Valner said: "The deal had to be completed in a very short space of time during which we were involved in intense negotiations with EMI and Apple Inc. We are delighted to have played a small part in a historic day."

The other two parties to the deal were both advised by in-house counsel. Apple Inc relied on associate general counsel Kevin Saul, while EMI was advised by an in-house team of John Ray in Los Angeles and general counsel Kyla Mullins in London.

According to the companies' statement, the band's 13 studio albums – as well as individual songs – will all now be available to download, as well as a two-volume compilation and the popular 'Red' and 'Blue' collections.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs – a self-described huge Beatles fan – has been trying, unsuccessfully, to cut a deal with the band and its label for years. His efforts may have been hampered by past legal disputes between his company and Apple Corps over use of the Apple name.

Eversheds' Valner also led the UK top 10 firm's team representing The Beatles in 2008, when the band signed a licensing agreement with MTV Networks. That deal resulted in the creation of The Beatles: Rock Band video game.

Click here for a Legal Week article by Nick Valner about the long-running Apple dispute.

The Am Law Daily is a blog on law.com, Legal Week's US affiliate title.