Caroline Thompson

Practice Areas

Caroline is a special counsel in the litigation team.

She is a commercial litigator with particular experience of acting in professional negligence claims, media law disputes and disputes relating to art and cultural assets.

She has over a decade's experience in acting for domestic and international clients facing complex and often emotionally charged legal disputes. Caroline often successfully manages to resolve disputes for her clients out of court but is also experienced in litigating both in the High Court and Court of Appeal. She gives clear and pragmatic advice and aims to obtain the best possible result for her clients.

Caroline is recommended in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK legal directories, and also is listed in Spear's Reputation Index, which features the best reputation managers and lawyers for high-net worth clients.

She regularly speaks at conferences and seminars, and recently co-authored the chapter 'Reputation in the digital age: how to combat online reputational risks' in the third edition of the STEP Handbook for Advisers: Family Offices.

Caroline speaks Italian and Spanish and often works with clients based in or with interests in Italy, Spain and Latin America. Her client base is broad and includes individuals, families, family offices and corporates as well as NGOs and charities.

Professional Negligence

Caroline co-heads the Professional Negligence practice in Withers' London office. She has considerable experience of acting for both claimants and defendants in professional negligence disputes. She has particular experience in acting for barristers accused of negligence and understands the professional and personal impact of such claims. It is unusual to act for both claimants and defendants in negligence disputes, and this has given her a unique understanding of the tactics and approaches adopted on both sides. Caroline has acted and advised on claims against a variety of professionals including solicitors, barristers, financial advisers, accountants and chartered surveyors. Caroline is a member of the Professional Negligence Lawyers' Association.

Media & Reputation

Caroline frequently acts for clients facing reputational challenges – whether due to allegations of professional negligence or concerns regarding the use of private, confidential, privileged and/or false information.

She specialises in information disputes, including breach of confidence, misuse of private information, defamation, malicious falsehood, data protection, harassment and blackmail. Previous experience includes advising corporates and charities about the unauthorised use of information and personal data both by staff and also external third parties. Caroline also regularly acts for individuals who face accusations of using (or threatening to use) information or personal data inappropriately, as well as individuals whose personal data is or may be misused. Many of Caroline's clients are in the public eye and she provides advice both prior to and, where appropriate, after publication or broadcast of stories relating to her clients.

Commercial Litigation

Caroline's commercial litigation practice is broad and includes advising clients on shareholder, joint venture and partnership disputes, as well as the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments. She also has experience acting for clients in art related disputes and is a member of Withers' Arts & Cultural Assets Group.