Emma Woollcott

Practice Areas

Emma is a Partner in Mishcon Private and Head of the Reputation Protection and Crisis Management group. She advises individuals, companies and charities on defamation, breach of confidence, invasion of privacy, harassment and data protection concerns. She is particularly adept in digital technology and online publications, often advising in times of crisis and in the context of wider disputes. Emma provides claimants and defendants with pre- and post-publication advice, including obtaining, defending and discharging injunctions. Her clients span a wide range of geographies and industries, including media and entertainment, technology, financial services, politics, publishing, art, property, sport, fashion, education and the charity sector. She regularly trains journalists and PR and other professional advisors on publication concerns. Emma takes a holistic approach to Reputation Protection, encouraging clients to prepare in advance for potential challenges, and effectively mitigating any damage caused by negative publicity.

She has experience of commercial litigation in a range of forums, often acting for international clients in complex disputes. Emma also has experience working with charities, providing strategic focus to their campaigns and their dealings with government.

Career

Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP

Legal Director, Mishcon de Reya LLP

Associate, Mishcon de Reya

Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya

Solicitor, Addleshaw Goddard LLP

Qualified, Clifford Chance LLP

Trainee, Clifford Chance LLP

Experience

Obtaining urgent High Court injunctions to prevent the misuse of private and confidential information, including in the context of blackmail threats and harassment

Pre-publication advice to a range of media and online publications, managing the risk that sensitive content may be challenged

Challenging content published online and obtaining disclosure from international webhosts and internet and email service providers, in order to identify anonymous / malicious posters.

Advising a leading national professional services firm in relation to defamatory statements made by a competitor to several of its mutual clients, which statements were repeated on blogs and online discussion forums

Preventing the publication of false rumors about a world-renowned sports person, which would have had a devastating impact on his brand

Advising a national religious forum in relation to defamatory statements made about it on the internet and anticipated in a forthcoming book

Acting for a high-ranking police officer in relation to defamatory allegations made against him in the national press and online

Industry Sector Expertise

Investigations > Internal Investigations

Corporate Governance

Crisis and Risk Management

Data Disputes

In-house counsel

LGBTQIA+ Community

Mishcon DPO

Online Safety

Project Disputes

Regulatory

Reputation Protection and Crisis Management

Reshaping Businesses and Relationships

Strategic Data Advisory and Transactional Work

Sectors

Defence, Security and Resilience Technology

Energy and Resources

Media