Reputation management, media and information litigation

Protecting your reputation and information as if it was our own. Our experts handle defamation, data misuse, privacy, confidentiality, media enquiries and connected issues for professionals, personalities, businesses and organisations.

We respond swiftly and effectively to enquiries or threats, whether from known sources or anonymously online, through strategic pre-action advice, managing rights of replies, injunctions if necessary, disclosure orders and proceedings including:

  • Defamation (libel or slander)
  • Misuse of private information
  • Breach of data protection
  • Harrassment by publication

Utilising our expertise and contacts in this niche area we support clients in what is often a crisis situation, on an urgent round-the-clock basis if required. We provide strategic insights and risk-focussed guidance even in the most complex and sensitive scenarios, meaning our clients are carefully guided and can be confident in their decisions.

Our lawyers

Our specialists advise both claimants and defendants, with strong sector expertise covering sport, media and entertainment, insurance, education, charities, health and private wealth, amongst others. Our team understands the importance of your reputation, brand and information and will help you fight to protect it, or defend claims presented against you.

Our experience

Reputation management

  • In the leading case of Ajayi and Others, we succeeded in an application to defend and strike out a six figure libel and malicious falsehood claim in the specialist High Court, Media and Communications List. Costs of £2 million to trial were avoided.
  • Supported numerous sport, media and entertainment figures, public, health and educational institutions with media enquiries pre and post publication, to secure apologies, take downs, secure accurate content and avoid untruths, and where necessary, present libel and/or privacy complaints. Most of our client work remains confidential, but includes guiding international football stars James Milner and Kieran Trippier in issues reported by international media, and helping a La Liga footballer in relation to a potential libel claim pertaining to a book about him. We provide comprehensive assistance in issues involving media brands such as The Sun, The Daily Mail, ITV, the BBC (including Panorama), Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
  • Acted for a celebrity family subjected to defamation and harassment via social media platforms, obtaining disclosure orders and implementing a protective strategy to end the distress being caused.

Information Protection

  • Helped a significant charity regarding undercover filming of a deceased resident and events preceding their death. The team provided comprehensive assistance, including Charity Commission and Information Commissioner reporting, and managing reputation issues including Panorama coverage.
  • Successfully supported a client regarding an injunction to prevent ongoing use and dissemination of HR data stolen by an employee. We represented the client through ICO processes, culminating in no further action against our client.
  • Ensured an education institution achieved a commercial resolution in a threatened claim for misuse of private information and breach of data protection legislation following a potential data breach of special category data for 400 individuals.

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