Defamation/Reputation Management
UK Guide 2025 : UK-wide
Band 3
About
Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP
Lee & Thompson provides a quality ‘one stop shop’ service for clients across the media, technology, entertainment and creative industries. Ably led by Mike Brookes, the firm's Reputation Protection Group is a critical part of this offering. We work closely with the firm's specialist departments to ensure that our advice on reputation issues is commercially astute and ties in with our clients’ wider professional objectives and personal relationships.
Our specialist advice encompasses the following
- Obtaining emergency injunctions
- Preventing and challenging publication or broadcast of damaging stories or private information
- Online privacy protection and defamation issues
- Defamation (libel, slander), privacy, copyright and data protection litigation
- Phone hacking claims against Newsg
- Protecting high profile individuals from harassment by the paparazzi, the media or online
- Pre-publication content clearance and advice to publishers and content creators
- Obtaining social media, search engine and website takedowns, corrections, removal of unlawful content and unmasking anonymous defendants
- Making complaints to media regulators and the Information Commissioner Office
- Providing pre-emptive, commercial advice on brand and reputation protection and enhancement
Chambers Review
Lee & Thompson is an impressive media and entertainment boutique firm with significant dispute resolution capabilities, housing a number of dedicated litigators. The firm maintains a strong presence in phone hacking, defamation and privacy litigation and handles reputation management issues for a number of successful recording artists and celebrities. It also offers pre-publication clearance services to film and TV clients.
Work Highlights
- Lee & Thompson defended Channel 5 in respect of a number of privacy claims concerning the programme 'Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away'.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"They are always speedy, professional, efficient and crucially always get great results. They always provide the very best service and are so quick in all communications."
"The team is well versed and always available when needed. They have incredible knowledge around how the industry works."
"The breadth of the team is very good and their attention to supporting the next generation of talented lawyers is admirable."
"The team is strong with great support at associate level and individual specialisms and interests. They offer excellent service levels and responsiveness and are proactive when required."
"They are always speedy, professional, efficient and crucially always get great results. They always provide the very best service and are so quick in all communications."
"The team is well versed and always available when needed. They have incredible knowledge around how the industry works."
"The breadth of the team is very good and their attention to supporting the next generation of talented lawyers is admirable."
"The team is strong with great support at associate level and individual specialisms and interests. They offer excellent service levels and responsiveness and are proactive when required."
Notable Practitioners
Mike Brookes leads Lee & Thompson's content clearance and media disputes group. He advises an impressive client roster consisting of high-profile entertainers and TV personalities on defamation and privacy disputes. He has further experience in carrying out pre-publication clearance and media defence work.
"Mike has great experience and is a superb tactical litigator."
"Mike is unflappable and has seen it all before. He's a great advisor to have on your side in difficult disputes."
"Mike is a leader in his field and a pleasure to work with. He's responsive, has exceptional industry knowledge and his advice is always pragmatic and considers the business as a whole."
"Mike truly embodies the pinnacle of legal professionalism. His commitment to client service is unparalleled, consistently going above and beyond to ensure every need is not just met but exceeded."
Leo Dawkins is head of the reputation protection group at Lee & Thompson. He is well regarded for his skill in handling a wide array of reputation management issues for high-profile individuals, including those from the entertainment sector. His practice is predominantly focused on dispute resolution.
"Leo is an excellent lawyer. He remains calm under pressure and his background acting for claimants offers an additional perspective."
"He is one of the best lawyers I have had the pleasure of working with. He is professional, personable, calm, measured and has a brilliant legal mind. He has never failed to get great results."
"Leo is very adept and responsive."
Ranked Lawyers at
Lee & Thompson LLP
UK-wide
Industries
Provided by Lee & Thompson LLP
Advertising & Marketing
Creative Industries
Film
Media and Entertainment
Music
Sport
Television