Defamation solicitors

Get expert advice on defamation claims and reputation management

Defamation is an area of law that has the aim of protecting reputation from harm. For an individual or entity to have been defamed they must show that the words concerned have been published, that they are related to them and that they have adversely affected their reputation. There are two branches of defamation; libel concerns statements made in a lasting form such as in a newspaper article and slander relates to comments that are not permanent such as oral comments.

In a world where the internet and social media are accessible to all and have a significant impact on users, defamatory statements can now enter the public domain with a wide global reach having potentially damaging consequences to reputation for those on the receiving end.

Why choose our defamation lawyers?

Our defamation solicitors understand that your reputation can be one of your most valuable assets, both professionally and personally, and our lawyers are ready to provide you with swift, effective and comprehensive advice to protect you/your company against any defamatory statements and advising on potential alternate actions including malicious falsehood, breach of confidence, protection from harassment and misuse of private information.

Whether it be initial pre-action correspondence or taking urgent action to apply to the court for an injunction and/or damages (before or after publication), our team of lawyers have a wealth of experience of working with clients to advise on reputation management issues and are here to guide you every step of the way. Wherever we can, we will do our best to avoid litigation and treat that as a last resort.

We've advised a number of individuals, companies and organisations on a variety of reputation management matters, which include:

Acting for companies in connection with defamatory comments posted on social media platforms, working with internet service providers to have comments removed swiftly and with minimal harm.
Working with a charity to advise on malicious falsehood and libel in connection with widely circulated correspondence and comments posted on online discussion boards.
Acted successfully on behalf of two former international footballers in relation to comments made about them in the book and film 'The Damned Utd'.
Acted for a former director of Leeds United and his wife in relation to defamation proceedings and then a harassment action successfully pursued against the club and its former chairman, Ken Bates.
Acting for senior police officers, a former county councillor and others in relation to harassment proceedings pursued against individuals who had used the internet and emails to harass and seek to cause reputational damage over many years.
Acting for a lead Ofsted inspector who, having failed a school, was defamed by some governors in a letter to parents and in the local press.
Acting for the head and a principal to a school academy in harassment and defamation proceedings against parents and former pupils at the school who had created a Facebook site where defamatory comments were posted.
Advising an unincorporated association on defamatory articles posted on a website and successfully negotiating their swift removal.
Advising a social housing organisation on both corporate and personal reputational issues.
Advising individuals on Google ‘right to be forgotten’ requests.
Advising a company on the appropriate forum for proceedings in relation to defamatory comments circulated by an association in various jurisdictions.
Advising corporate and individual clients on a wide range of matters concerning the unlawful/unauthorised use of confidential information.