US firm O'Melveny & Myers is set to launch a London media practice with the hire of Olswang's high-profile head of film and television, Libby Savill.

Savill, who will join the US firm in August after serving a notice period, advises major studios and independent producers and distributors on the production, financing, and distribution of motion pictures, as well as all other aspects of the movie business.

While at Olswang she has been involved in major British films including The Full Monty, An Education, and all of the James Bond films since Goldeneye. She also structured the financing deals for last year's Best Picture Oscar-winner The King's Speech, receiving a co-executive producer credit for her work. 

She is also is a governor of the British Film Institute and previously served as an member of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs experts panel regarding film tax credits.

At O'Melveny, she will join the firm's entertainment, sports and media practice, which is led by Joseph Calabrese in the firm's Century City office on the West Coast of the US.

Calabrese said: "Libby has worked with some of the motion picture industry's most important and influential players, from major US studios to leading US and UK-based producers, distributors, and financiers, many of whom already are clients of our firm."

Savill added: "Having worked with O'Melveny on a number of successful transactions for a number of years, I am excited about uniting our practices."

In US O'Melveny has worked with a number of major movie industry clients including MGM, Lionsgate, Warner Bros and The Weinstein Company.