Expert Defamation Legal Services
As the digital age propels us into an era of unprecedented connectivity, the line between free speech and defamation has become increasingly blurred. Your brand’s online presence has never been more important and safeguarding your reputation and intellectual property is paramount.
In today’s interconnected world, defamatory content spreads rapidly, making recovery challenging. Protecting your reputation against defamation is crucial for maintaining integrity and success.
Libel vs slander
Defamation involves false statements that can damage your business or personal reputation. It includes libel, which is defamatory statements made in written form, and slander, which is spoken defamation. While both can cause substantial harm to you or your business, libel is often considered more damaging due to its widespread and lasting nature.
Whether it is a misleading social media post, disparaging review, or a baseless accusation against one of your products, defamation can undermine the value of your intellectual property – significantly impacting your reputation and market position.
The challenges of online defamation
Dealing with online defamation can be a complex and challenging process. Therefore, having a team of experts in both defamation law and digital reputation management is essential.
Our defamation lawyers understand the importance of vigilance and proactive strategies. We will empower you with the knowledge needed to defend against defamatory actions that threaten your most vital assets. Our expertise and experience means, not only can we guide you through how to deal with the matter legally, but we can also advise you as to how to manage your reputation throughout the process.
Whether you are a creator, innovator or business, our experts provide bespoke solutions to help you maintain the integrity and value of your intellectual property and ensure your brand and reputation remains secure in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Daniel Jennings
Partner
Specialising in Defamation, Libel & Slander Solicitors law
Defamation litigation and representation
From providing guidance on how defamatory statements might impact your trademark or patent rights, to pre-trial motions and courtroom advocacy, we have a successful track record in representing our clients in several high-profile defamation cases.
Our team of experts can help safeguard your reputation and protect your intellectual property from libellous or slanderous statements. Our experience and ability to handle complex matters means we’re well versed in pursuing legal action against counterfeiters and infringers, including drafting cease and desist letters to demand the removal of any defamatory content, and to prevent further damage. We’re also able to represent clients who find themselves having to defend against a defamation claim where the alleged statements pertain to trademarks, copyrights, or patents.
Whether you’re an individual, business owner, or public figure, our team will provide tailored, expert guidance to protect your brand and intellectual property.
Digital reputation management
Our intellectual property team has experience in both traditional and digital media defamation. We can help protect your intellectual property by implementing legal strategies to manage and mitigate online defamation. We collaborate with digital forensics experts to identify the sources of defamation and execute takedown requests to online platforms and search engines, safeguarding your brand’s intellectual property and reputation.
Why choose Shakespeare Martineau?
- Our team offer prompt and professional service, whether through in-person meetings or virtual consultations, you can trust that our advice will be timely and professional, helping you feel confident in your legal matters, every step of the way
- We provide advice that is not only pragmatic and quick but also easy to understand. Every lawyer in our firm is approachable, helpful, and committed to offering reliable legal solutions, making the process straightforward for clients
- Our clear and easily understandable approach has kept clients coming back for years, knowing they can depend on us for comprehensive legal support time and time again
- Our clients regularly highlight the exceptional expertise and professionalism of our lawyers. Our team cares deeply about every aspect of your case, ensuring you receive a thorough and attentive service
Defamation claims and reputation management
We have extensive experience in both bringing and defending defamation claims and we’re able to offer strategic advice for both managing reputations and avoiding disputes. Our experience means we can advise you on how to deal with the matter legally, as well as how to manage your reputation and avoid some of the common pitfalls in the first instance.
Expert defamation and privacy solutions
Our team has an in-depth understanding of defamation law, representing clients in reputation management cases and key reported decisions. We have acted in a variety of claims dealing with specialist defamation and privacy matters, obtaining creative and unusual solutions for our clients.
Top-tier IP and defamation defence
We are ranked as a top-tier firm in Legal 500 s for our intellectual property service, demonstrating our expertise and exceptional record of accomplishment in defending intellectual property in defamation cases. Our strategic approach to resolving defamation issues quickly and efficiently ensures our clients benefit from our renowned legal acumen and strategic insights.
Online defamation and reputation management
The complexities of online defamation and digital reputation management requires a particular understanding of the law, response planning, and proactive reputation management. Our specific expertise means we can help our clients to mitigate the impact of negative reviews and safeguard their reputations by staying vigilant and being prepared.
Meet our Defamation, Libel & Slander Solicitors team
Carys Thompson
Partner & Head of Sheffield
Nicholas Briggs
Partner & Head of Intellectual Property
Ed Wright
Partner
Kerry Russell
Partner
Kim Walker
Partner
Mark Thompson
Partner
Mauro Paiano
Partner
Selina Hinchliffe
Partner
Trevor Fenton
Partner
Charlotte Cassells
Associate
Stewart Argo
Legal Director
Daniel Kelly
Associate
Reveka Athanasiadou
Associate
Asmee Dutt-Choudhury
Solicitor
Rosie Allen
Solicitor
Building a responsible business
Our commitment to sustainability and social impact
We are an accredited B Corporation that is committed to driving positive change in our communities, minimising our impact on the environment, and ensuring an all inclusive diverse and supportive culture for our people.
Wherever you are on your journey, our Defamation, Libel & Slander Solicitors specialists are here to answer any questions you might have
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please fill out the enquiry form. We will aim to reply to your query within 2 hours
Need to talk to someone sooner? You can call use at the number below
Call Us: 0330 024 0333
Defamation, Libel & Slander Solicitors FAQs
Libel is defamation in a written form whereas slander is defamation in a spoken form, making it more difficult to prove. Provided that the ‘serious harm’ test is met, libel claims usually lead to compensation awards.
In order to prove a statement is defamatory you must show that;
a) a statement was made
b) the statement caused or is likely to cause significant harm to the claimant
c) the statement refers to the claimant
d) the statement was published
e) there was no lawful defence (i.e. consent, truth or matter for public interest)
There are four main defences available in defamation; truth, honest opinion, matter of public interest and privilege (qualified (such as job references) or absolute (statements made in Parliament)).
To protect yourself or your business from defamation in the UK, you may wish to consult one of our specialist defamation lawyers for a legal assessment and potential cease and desist actions. You may also wish to employ reputation management services to monitor and mitigate defamatory content promptly. Report defamatory content to the website hosting platforms, referencing UK defamation laws and their terms of service for content removal.
It is important to note that bringing a claim for defamation is typically shorter than most other claims and you must bring this to the relevant authorities’ attention within one year from the date of publication of the defamatory statement.
Yes, a company can sue for defamation. For a company’s defamation claim to be successful, they must prove that the defamatory statement has caused or is likely to cause significant harm to their business, usually in the way of significant financial loss.
UK defamation law is often considered more claimant-friendly compared to many other countries, requiring claimants to prove that a statement caused serious harm to their reputation. Unlike the US, where the First Amendment provides robust free speech protections and requires public figures to prove “actual malice,” the UK places the burden of proof on the defendant to show that their statements are true or constitute fair comment. Additionally, the UK has stringent rules on jurisdiction, allowing claimants to bring cases in UK courts if the defamatory content is accessible in the UK, which can attract international litigants.
Working with a law firm with trademark specialists offers numerous benefits. Experts provide in-depth knowledge, ensuring your trademark is properly registered and protected. They can help navigate complex legal processes, handle disputes, and offer strategic advice tailored to your business. This expertise will ultimately saves you time, reduce risks, and strengthen your brand’s legal standing.
