Blog
Reputation, Misinformation And Limits Of De-Banking Reform
Helen Morris
When allegations threaten your personal reputation or that of your business, it is imperative to obtain advice at the earliest possibility to avoid lasting damage. Our highly experienced team provides expert advice to individuals and businesses on complex media and reputation management matters.
We specialise in defamation, privacy, harassment and data protection law and provide emergency social media assistance. We are a ‘go-to’ firm in times of crisis for high profile individuals and leaders in the worlds of sport, entertainment, politics and business. We act for both claimants and defendants which provides us with the insight to resolve disputes as quickly and efficiently as possible for our clients.
Our team of leading reputation management lawyers has extensive experience in dealing with a vast range of reputational matters. Whether it is the first approach by a reporter with defamatory allegations about you or your business, a threat to disclose your personal or confidential business information or the removal of harmful online content, we are here to help you. Our reputation and media team is available at all times and on an emergency basis.
HOW WE CAN HELP
The work we undertake includes:
- pre- and post-publication reputation advice
- bringing and defending defamation claims
- breach of privacy claims, including obtaining and resisting privacy injunctions
- breach of confidence claims
- harassment claims and blackmail threats, including online / social media attacks
- data protection claims, including data breaches and right to be forgotten requests
- individual and corporate reputation management, including online profile clean up
- complaints to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), including ISPO Arbitration Claims
- removal of damaging online content, including the publication of private and explicit information and photographs
- removal of profiles from compliance databases
Kingsley Napley has a long history of acting in high profile matters where the media spotlight has been shone on our clients. When a crisis hits, clients and their advisors turn to us because we are uniquely placed to advise, whether that is in the glare of publicity or discreetly behind the scenes. Our vast experience means that we see not only the immediate crisis but also the long term ramifications for our clients.
Our reputation management lawyers work closely alongside Kingsley Napley’s top ranked criminal team, who act in the highest-profile criminal cases. We are therefore the most experienced media law team in the area of arrest, charge and trial reporting. This experience sets us apart and we have vast knowledge of matters which bridge media, reputation and criminal law, such as blackmail and extortion; harassment; and sexual misconduct. It can be imperative that clients understand these types of cases from both the civil and criminal perspective.
Sometimes our clients also require the help of our family, employment, and regulatory teams and we are uniquely placed to provide cross-practice reputation advice in related proceedings, such as public inquiries, employment disputes, regulatory or divorce cases. We work closely with our colleagues across the firm to deliver a seamless service to our clients and at very high speed.
Our clients also increasingly face allegations that cross borders by being published online, on social media and by media organisations in multiple jurisdictions. We work with our global network of media and criminal defence lawyers to find creative solutions to the myriad of reputational issues that our clients face and to protect them from the publication and spread of harmful allegations.
We provide our clients with clear advice about costs and the various ways of funding their legal representation, alongside strategic and commercial advice every step of the way.
EXAMPLES OF OUR RECENT WORK
- Advising a high profile international sports person on defamation, privacy and data protection issues.
- Advising a global food business in relation to pre- and post-publication media advice.
- Representing one of the UK’s most famous and loved television presenters in relation to intrusion into their private life.
- Advising a high profile individual on privacy issues, including threatened publication by a well-known US publisher in breach of a High Court privacy injunction.
- Advising a top British actor on protecting the privacy of his children, including the unauthorised publication of photographs.
- Advising a high profile individual in relation to an alleged historic sexual assault.
- Advising a prominent member of the House of Lords in relation to an investigation by the House of Lords Commissioner for Standards.
- Acting for a high net worth businessman in making an application in the Court of Protection concerning access to documents on the court file.
- Acting for a financial services company threatened with inclusion in a prime time television broadcast regarding allegations of wrongdoing, which resulted in it being omitted from the broadcast.
- Advising a charity in relation to a privacy, fairness and due impartiality complaint to Ofcom in relation to a high profile TV programme.
- Advising an educational institution on its intellectual property rights in relation to a former employee’s use of social media.
- Advising a high profile billionaire in relation to complex business and family matters
- Acting for an extremely successful businessman in relation to harassment and privacy issues.
- Acting for the head of a Family Office in relation to false allegations of financial misconduct published in the media in multiple jurisdictions.
- Advising the founder and former CEO of a publicly listed company on reputational issues arising from allegations of financial misconduct.
- Acting for a telecommunications company in relation to claims made by a broadcaster that they had engaged in illegal activity, which resulted in it being omitted from the broadcast.
- Acting for a businessman being blackmailed and harassed in relation to an allegation of sexual assault made in multiple jurisdictions.
- Acting for a former Prime Minister in a data protection and libel claim.
- Advising a former international politician in a claim against compliance database provider
- Acting for a businessman being blackmailed and harassed by his former wife.
- Advising a Swiss financier in relation to a harassment and privacy issue.
- Acting for a minor in relation to a serious data breach by an organisation that published material containing their sensitive personal data.
- Advising a client in the successful resolution of an IPSO Arbitration dispute against a national newspaper.
- Advising a doctor subject to regulatory proceedings on inaccurate media reporting.
- Advising a senior figure in the financial sector in relation to threatened newspaper coverage of a regulatory investigation.
WHAT CLIENTS AND DIRECTORIES HAVE SAID
They are calm, knowledgeable, authoritative and very good at listening. They know the law from top to bottom and manage to filter what it means so they aren't bamboozling you with facts."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2025
They demonstrated a strong understanding of the legalities and also a high degree of understanding of the real-world implications of the issues."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
They were very responsive, professional and personable. They quickly got to grips with understanding a complicated situation and were very efficient in their actions."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
The team rapidly got to grips with a complex case and set of facts. They represented my opinion and position extremely well and ensured my voice was heard and understood."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
They are a superb team. They are authoritative, calm, knowledgeable and expert. They never dramatised the situation. They were very patient and inspired great confidence."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
The team demonstrated exceptional command over the process, displaying a clear understanding of the necessary steps and effectively accomplishing the objectives to achieve the desired outcome."
Chambers and Partners, 2025
The team was professional, experienced and able to inspire absolute confidence. They listened carefully and were fast-acting and creative in their responses. They were also quick to reply to all questions and to respond without delay."
The Legal 500, 2025
They were completely in command of the situation and displayed expert knowledge of the law. They also communicated with warmth, humour, and precision."
The Legal 500, 2025
A very highly regarded reputation management team with claimant and defendant expertise."
The Legal 500, 2025
The defamation and reputation management team is small but brings a good combination of responsiveness, industry knowledge and client-friendliness. It is unusually well positioned to offer useful cross-over representation of defamation and privacy (both litigation and regulatory) with data protection and crime."
The Legal 500, 2025
This is a brilliant and excellently led team which can draw on the vast and diverse experience of the firm."
The Legal 500, 2025
They have an outstanding, exceptionally hard-working and creative approach to solving problems."
The Legal 500, 2025
Kingsley Napley has a strong senior team and the ability to reference experts across the firm."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2024
The team is excellent with particularly strong communication skills and strategic thinking."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2024
The Kingsley Napley team has a good understanding of commercial implications of litigating over matters such as reputation management and information misuse."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2024
A strong practice with client service at the highest levels."
Chambers and Partners, 2024
They have demonstrated a strong track record of getting to the nub of the issue quickly and are creative in their approach to dealing with matters."
Chambers and Partners, 2024
The client service is unrivalled, and is incredibly professional from start to finish."
Chambers and Partners, 2024
Kingsley Napley is one of the best firms that I have ever dealt with."
Chambers and Partners, 2024
A superb and large team with wide range of skills and knowledge at all levels. Hard hitting, highly efficient and focussed. An excellent costs team who works alongside them."
The Legal 500, 2024
Kingsley Napley have a great private client and data protection team and their reputation goes a long way."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2023
Kingsley Napley have a strong representation across a wide range of specialities."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2023
The Kingsley Napley team offer great client care and their attention to detail was excellent."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2023
The grim reaper should use this firm – they have the ability to make even bad news palatable. They are logical, without emotion and make the most complicated parts of law understandable."
Legal 500, 2023
A superb team with considerable depth and experience, and a range of skills. They go the extra mile, making themselves available to clients around the clock and at short notice."
The Legal 500, 2022
The Kingsley Napley Reputation and Media team has outstanding knowledge and experience across all areas of media, data protection and privacy law. They excel in dealing with complex matters at short notice and on an urgent basis."
The Legal 500, 2022
Highly regarded in the media landscape"
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2022
They have a depth of experience in other areas too and thus can advise clients if their issue spreads across different disciplines"
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2022
Their matters are often complex and raise novel points that require a high level of expertise and excellence. They handle these cases supremely well"
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2022
I'm very impressed with the team generally. Their legal ability is excellent."
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2022
They excel in dealing with complex matters at short notice and on an urgent basis"
The Legal 500, 2022
Outstanding knowledge and experience across all areas of media, data protection and privacy law."
The Legal 500, 2022
Fantastic service"
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2021
They are extremely impressive – speedy in reaction, dexterous, wise, client-friendly, tough but fair"
Chambers and Partners, High Net Worth Guide, 2021
Melanie Hart
Partner
Sue Thackeray
Partner
Ben Atkin
Senior Associate
Phoebe Alexander
Associate
Jessica Cattrall
Associate
A team of highly intelligent individuals with exceptional empathy and understanding of issues large and small, and even if you have the smallest most inconsequential case the team make you feel like it’s the most important case in the world."
The Legal 500, 2023
In adversity you need more than just a good lawyer who understands the law. Each one of the team I have dealt with has the ability to speak fluent human...They also walk through every aspect of complicated bits of law to ensure you understand it"
The Legal 500, 2023
The reputation management team is experienced and has a market-leading advantage of being able to draw off the wide range of other specialists in the firm such as crime, employment, data protection for those cases with more than one legal angle. The team offers a hands-on service which is both commercial and client-friendly."
The Legal 500, 2023