Defamation & Reputation Solicitors

The threshold for “serious harm” is quite high, and depends on the publication’s circumstances. If only a few individuals have read the defamatory statement or the statement isn’t likely to be taken seriously the test probably won’t be met.

The term “libel” is used to describe a permanent form i.e. Written, whereas slander is only in a temporary form, i.e. spoken. There are a few exceptions but normally bringing a claim for slander requires actual loss to be proven, whereas for a libel claim you’ll usually be entitled automatically to compensation so long as the test for “serious harm” has been met.

The intention of the defendant is typically irrelevant. The primary issue is really what an average person would assume the words meant and if they’d cause harm to your reputation. It’s possible to defame somebody accidentally through carelessness. It’s also possible to be liable if you just repeat another person’s defamatory statement should it cause harm to the claimant.

A claim must be brought within a year from the publication’s date. Only in exceptional circumstances will the time limit be disapplied.

The court may order that you are awarded damages for injury to your reputation, for your distress and injury to your feelings, and to vindicate your defamation. They may also issue an injunction to prohibit similar statements being republished and the defendant may be required to pay your legal costs.

In most cases though, a settlement will be made out of court with solicitors being free to negotiate the terms which could include compensation, an apology or retraction and an undertaking never to republish a similar statement. The costs of your case may also need to be paid by the defendant.

If you wish to bring a claim for defamation you must instruct us to draw up a Pre-Action Protocol Letter of Claim. In order to do this, we must review all the documentation including the publication that you are complaining of. Once this is done, we’ll prepare then send to the defendant the formal Letter of Claim which sets out your case as well as your requirements.

In order to instruct us, contact our team today. We’re looking forward to helping you bring your claim.

Many ask us ‘what’s different about you?’ and we like to reply, ‘because we go the extra mile’. We see our work as building and maintaining good business relationships rather than just earning fees. How we do this is by keeping in constant contact with our clients and intermediaries. From pre to post instruction we ensure that our clients are informed of all legal issues that may impact their business and therefore lives. That is why we provide daily or weekly updates to ALL of our clients whether there is anything to tell them or not (we don’t charge for this we just see it as part of our service). We like our clients to rest peacefully knowing that when we are instructed, and we say ‘we will take it from here’ they know we mean it.

The world is changing, and many individuals are realising that lifestyle is as vital to them as is income. We are the lucky ones who can hand pick lawyers who can provide the best quality advice but at outer city costs. Our offices are in North West London which may not be the most salubrious in the market but at the same time this allows us to charge our clients for what they pay for, our advice NOT our office space.

ALL our lawyers have previously worked in large city-based law firms and continue to practise and offer  the same high level service  they provided to clients in the City but without the pressure and demands often dictated by City law firm. This allows us to be competitive on our fees without compromising our service.

All in all, our clients win, which is the way we like it.

All our clients benefit from the same high level of care and attention whether the instruction is big or small. At the outset of each matter, we discuss the entire process with our clients, including the costs, potential outcomes and issues associated. This is to ensure clients are fully aware, knowledgeable and are in control always. Supporting and ensuring we provide the highest level of services, we offer our constant contact process with the partner or barrister leading  your file, a document log in for matters which are for larger and more complicated instructions and on-going support post transaction should our clients require it. Our aim is not just to get the work done, but to make our clients’ lives easier as we do it, which is why we ensure that our clients have regular access to the resources they need from us.