Defamation, Reputation & Media

Protecting your reputation. Responding when yours is challenged.

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Illustrative image · Kindel Media / Pexels

How we can help

A damaging post, a news report or a lawyer’s letter can leave you unsure what to do next. We advise on reputational disputes involving online statements, media publications and allegations shared with others.

If a statement identifies you or your business and has been communicated to another person, it may warrant legal assessment. If you are accused of defamation, the exact words, context, evidence and available defences are equally important. An upsetting statement is not automatically actionable.

Our experience

Our work includes:

Representing defendants in contested defamation proceedings involving online publications and documentary evidence.
Responding to urgent applications concerning allegedly defamatory content.
Preparing witnesses, cross-examination and challenges to disputed digital evidence.

These descriptions concern work undertaken and do not imply a particular outcome.

Your options

Depending on the circumstances, options may include responding to a demand, seeking a correction or removal, negotiating an apology or settlement, or bringing or defending proceedings. Court remedies may include damages and, where the legal requirements are met, an injunction.

We assess publication, identification, meaning and potential defences, including justification, fair comment and privilege where applicable. We also consider urgency, costs and whether a proposed response could draw further attention to the dispute.

What happens next

Step 1: Understand your concerns and deadlines.

Understand your concerns and check any immediate deadlines.

Step 2: Review the publication and supporting evidence.

Review the full publication, surrounding context and supporting evidence.

Step 3: Agree a strategy and engagement scope.

Explain the available routes and agree the scope of our engagement.

Step 4: Carry out the agreed action and review the strategy.

Carry out the agreed response, negotiations or court work, keeping the strategy under review.

Hands gesturing during a discussion around a table.

Illustrative image · Alena Darmel / Pexels

Before you contact us

Keep the complete publication, original links, screenshots, dates and relevant exchanges. Bring any demand letter or court papers and details of any loss you say resulted. Preserve evidence before content is altered or removed, while complying with any applicable court order.

Seek advice promptly: deadlines depend on the circumstances. Send only a brief outline through the website; we will arrange an appropriate channel for confidential documents.

General information only. Advice and representation are subject to assessment and an agreed engagement.

Discuss your matter

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