Defamation/Privacy

Adrienne Page KC is a leading silk with particular experience acting for claimants in a range of matters relating to defamation, malicious falsehood and harassment. She has led the Bar in the interpretation of the 'serious harm' requirement for claims under the Defamation Act 2013.

"It is always a delight working with Adrienne. She is fun, down to earth and incredibly erudite."

"She is phenomenal, one of most experienced KCs in this area."

Andrew Caldecott KC is a star of the Defamation and Privacy Bar, and he is widely regarded as the leading silk in the area. He has unrivalled Supreme Court experience and is continually instructed in high-profile, precedent-setting cases concerning defamation, privacy and malicious falsehood.

"He is strong on the thornier legal issues. Only someone of his experience and calibre can get his head around certain issues."

David Sherborne is a stellar defamation specialist barrister who wins unanimous praise from peers for his privacy practice. He remains at the forefront of phone-hacking litigation and continues to receive instructions in landmark libel and privacy cases.

"For defamation work, he's absolutely brilliant. He wins every case he does - what more could you want?"

"David is an impressive advocate and strategist."

"David is outstanding. A brilliant advocate."

Adam Wolanski KC is a leading defamation barrister who is valued by instructing solicitors for his client management skills and well-honed advocacy style. He acts for and against the major media organisations and newspapers in high-profile cases concerning libel, privacy and reporting restrictions.

"Adam is one of the top defendant media KCs. He is at the top of his game and one of our first ports of call for massive issues."

"Adam is an excellent leader and has very persuasive advocacy skills."

"Adam is always a very assured presence who is able to focus on the key points that steer a route to victory. He has the court’s confidence and ear. He does not shout but persuades."

Alexandra Marzec has an enviable reputation in the area of libel and privacy litigation. She is particularly proficient in media defence, having acted for newspapers, private investigators and other members of the press in phone hacking claims.

"Alexandra is unflappable, provides very clear advice and is very good strategically."

Clara Hamer is a rising talent, with a practice covering all aspects of media and information law. She acts in privacy and defamation matters for national newspapers, publishers and broadcasters.

"She is an absolutely fantastic junior. Her greatest skills are that she is completely assiduous and a master of detail on cases that are factually complex or document-heavy."

"Clara is an exceptionally talented young junior. She is destined for great things, is very bright and very practical."

"Clara is an absolute star. She is thorough, hard-working, always across the detail and a pleasure to work with."

Godwin Busuttil is a top defamation barrister, offering a raft of expertise in privacy, conspiracy, data protection, online harassment and libel. He acts for both claimants and defendants andhas co-authored much of the leading commentary on the practice area, and has appeared in some of the leading defamation and privacy cases of recent years.

"Godwin is brilliant in media law."

Greg Callus has a superb reputation as a barrister with a flourishing data protection and libel practice. He is instructed by both claimants and defendants, and counts high-profile publishers and broadcasters among his clientele.

"Greg Callus is Mr Jurisdiction. He knows everything about the interplay between different legal systems and is a really great barrister on top of that."

"He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law. Not just defamation or data privacy, but generally his knowledge and strategic thinking is unparalleled."

Jacob Dean is a premier barrister in the media sector who frequently appears in major cases, both as sole counsel and under the direction of leading silks. He has appeared before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on a number of occasions. He has particular expertise in online and cross-jurisdictional matters.

"Jacob is fantastic to work with. He is very responsive, practical and has amazing attention to detail. He always delivers fantastic results."

Jane Phillips is a well-regarded barrister specialising in media litigation. She acts for a number of high-profile celebrity clients and media organisations in sensitive disputes. She also provides pre-publication advice to book publishers and broadcasters.

"Jane is always very authoritative and balanced in submissions. She has court-like expertise."

"Jane is very wise and calm. Her written work is so good and her knowledge is excellent. Her judgement and wisdom set her apart."

"Jane has a brilliant legal mind and can give very clear and useable advice. We would go to her for the most complex and challenging work."

"Jane has excellent judgement, is technically brilliant and a pleasure to work with."

Jonathan Scherbel-Ball is a defamation and data protection-focused barrister who is well respected for his defence work. His practice is augmented by his previous in-house experience at the BBC. He has a significant Northern Irish practice and regularly represents publishers and broadcasters, government departments, and a range of blue-chip multinational companies.

"We use him on really complex libel, privacy and data cases. He is a star performer. We really rate him for legal work and he is good at building client relationships."

"Jonathan is the full package. His responsiveness and ability to turn work around quickly without compromising on clients' commercial needs is remarkable."

"No one comes close to his advocacy and legal abilities. Top notch advocate."

Justin Rushbrooke KC continues to be in high demand for his strong advocacy skills and understanding of the DPA in the context of defamation and privacy law. He has niche expertise in corporate libel claims and disclosure orders.

"He is excellent."

"He is phenomenal."

Kate Wilson is frequently involved in high-profile libel and privacy claims, with experience in the Supreme Court. She has niche expertise in online issues and claims involving public authorities. She has additional expertise in cases concerning reporting restrictions in the Crown and Family Courts.

"Kate worked in the City before going to the bar so financial transactions don't faze her. She is a great advocate, very well prepared. and she exudes intelligent authority."

William Bennett KC enjoys an established reputation in the fields of defamation and privacy. He generally appears for claimants in high-profile libel claims.

"He is very pleasant and on top of things."

Adam Speker KC is a superb barrister with a broad media practice encompassing all aspects of reputation management, privacy and media defence. He has appeared before the Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the Privy Council.

"Adam provides clear and pragmatic advice and is an outstanding and robust advocate. He is hugely experienced and communicates well with clients."

"Adam is very user friendly and great with clients. He has good technical abilities when it comes to complicated defamation and privacy matters."

Aidan Eardley KC is a barrister with an outstanding reputation for media law matters and a strong track record of acting both for and against the media. He draws praise for his understanding of the DPA and his strong advocacy skills.

"Aidan is a phenomenally impressive barrister. He is incredibly technical with a measured style which is very affective. He is very well respected and listened to by media judges."

"He brought some really excellent thinking to a case."

"Aidan is obviously supremely good. A brain on legs."

"His self-effacing manner belies his considerable ability and tenacity. He is a highly effective advocate deploying his logical legal arguments in a way which judges find it difficult to disagree with."

Chloe Strong represents clients in defamation, privacy, confidence and copyright claims. She represents both individuals and companies, and frequently provides pre-publication advice to major publishers.

"Chloe is excellent. She is very robust and knows her stuff."

"She knows everything there is to know about privacy law."

"She gives her all to each case she is instructed on and is a forceful and effective advocate."

Julian Santos is a highly rated barrister with particular expertise in cases concerning defamation, privacy, data protection, harassment and breach of confidence. He is active in ongoing matters arising out of the phone-hacking scandal.

"A tremendous barrister. He is fantastic on paper and as an advocate, and he's great fun to work with."

Richard Munden is an experienced barrister with broad expertise in media matters, including claims involving the DPA and traditional libel matters. He is active in a number of phone-hacking and related privacy claims.

"He has an outstanding grasp on all things media law, and his knowledge in respect of the tort of misuse of private information is impressive. His advice is given with one eye on the commercial impact."

"He is one of the best media juniors at the Bar. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of facts and a tremendous grasp of law."

"He is very astute, strategic and effective."

Ben Gallop is an esteemed junior barrister building a strong reputation for defamation and privacy work. His recent practice has focused on defending a number of major newspaper publishers, including the proprietors of the Daily Telegraph, the Mirror and Mail Online, in high-profile libel claims. Before joining the Bar, he worked at the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

"Ben is a star before his time. He is one of the brightest people at the Bar. With any regulatory issue we would go straight to Ben even before a silk."

"Ben is an absolutely phenomenal junior and already has an incredibly successful career. From a media perspective he is the go-to junior."

"Ben is my go-to junior for defamation and privacy-related issues and provides invaluable experience beyond his years of call."

David Hirst is a highly lauded defamation and privacy barrister with a niche focus on online matters such as internet harassment, tracing and disclosure orders against ISPs. He also advises corporate entities and media organisations on pre-publication.

"David is excellent in libel and data protection. He is very user-friendly and has a very commercial approach to the advice he gives."

Gervase de Wilde focuses on representing newspapers, broadcasters and private individuals in disputes concerning defamation, privacy, harassment and court reporting. His previous experience as a journalist for a national newspaper gives him considerable insight into the sector.

"He aways prepares meticulously and has excellent judgement. A rising star!"

Jonathan Barnes KC is a highly experienced barrister who acts mainly for claimants in actions concerning reputation, including libel and privacy proceedings. He is well regarded for his expertise in data privacy matters and his previous experience as a solicitor practising in the field.

"He is very good at helping clients focus on the best point."

"He is an exceptional advocate."

Tom Blackburn SC is held in high regard for his busy defamation practice which has taken in a number of heavyweight libel cases, in both the UK and Australia.

"He is always available and happy to give advice. A reliable, lovely personality and a pleasure to deal with."

Victoria Jolliffe is an accomplished media law barrister focusing on reputational matters for claimants and defendants. She has niche expertise in Norwich Pharmacal applications, and privacy and harassment injunctions.

"She is really good and very sensible."

Ben Hamer is a strong up-and-coming junior with a practice focused on acting in defamation disputes for both individual claimants, as well as in group actions. He has experience acting in high-profile matters in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

"Ben is brilliant. A rapidly ascending star, he has got a great mix of experience in media and privacy issues, and all that experience is right at the cutting edge."

"Ben is going places fast. His written advice is admirably clear and he is very good on his feet. Clients like his warm and sympathetic personality."

"Ben has a beautiful manner to him. He always meets deadlines and is fabulous to work with."

Felicity McMahon enjoys a growing reputation in the area, thanks to her successful work for both claimants and defendants in matters relating to privacy, libel and harassment.

"She is the hot person to go to for all things data protection. Very good on that."

John Stables is a well-versed defamation practitioner who is regularly instructed by high-profile broadcaster and publisher claimants and defendants. His practice is further bolstered by his significant experience in media regulation matters.

"John is on top of the facts."

"He is very industrious."

Victoria Simon-Shore practises in the area of media law and has expertise spanning libel, online harassment, privacy and breach of confidence. She also provides pre-publication advice to newspaper clients.

"Her self-deprecating manner masks her high intelligence and steely tenacity. Doesn't blow her own trumpet, so we will do it for her! A top-class barrister."

Hope Williams is quickly establishing a strong defamation and privacy practice, having appeared in many high-profile cases of recent times.

"Hope is very thorough and fantastic to work with."

"Hope is very approachable and will have an excellent career."

Lily Walker-Parr is a highly esteemed media law barrister who is notably experienced in claims against the traditional press and those concerning information published on social media.

"She is very bright and going from strength to strength. A brilliant junior."

"Lily picks up work extremely fast and produces excellent first drafts. She is really easy to work with."

"Lily knows this stuff backwards, has a really good feel for it and is a future star of the bar."

Luke Browne is impressively experienced acting for claimants and the press in privacy and defamation claims. He has expertise in traditional libel, as well as novel cases bringing in additional areas of law, such as social media-related claims.

"He embodies confidence to me and the clients and conveys exceptional advice. He is exceptional and confident in the results he will achieve."