Injunctions & damages for UK libel, defamation & falsehood claims...

Libel (defamation): experienced UK lawyers representing claimants and defendants in actions for libel, slander and malicious falsehood

Solicitors here advise on and conduct legal proceedings seeking damages for defamation (libel and slander) and the publication of malicious falsehoods. Our solicitors represent both claimants and defendants.

FIXED CHARGE PACKAGE WITH OPTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

"I thank you for your high quality services so far and look forward to ... a speedy conclusion of the claim if possible."

NO-WIN-NO-FEE AVAILABLE WHERE RISK-ADJUSTED FUNDING IS NEEDED

You consider that you may have been libelled. To bring a viable action in the English courts, you would need to be able to show that publication occurred in England or Wales.

A claimant in a defamation action must show that the words they complain of would be understood by a hypothetical reasonable reader (i.e. requires publication to a third party) to refer to them and to bear a meaning defamatory of them, that is, a meaning which would tend to lower their reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.

The actual effect of the publication of the words is irrelevant to whether they are defamatory: this is determined by reference to right-thinking members of society only. A claimant must also show that the words complained of have been communicated (published) to a third party. Anyone involved in the publication of the words will be liable unless they can establish a defence.

A defence can be for the defendant to show that although defamatory its words were published pursuant to the discharge of a public duty (e.g. reporting suspicion of a crime to the authorities) and are thereby privileged from suit but such a defence is vitiated if the claimant can show that the words complained of were published with malice.

It is a defence for the defendant to show justification = substantial truth of the words complained of.

FIXED CHARGE PACKAGE WITH OPTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

We can offer a limited objectives package.

Libel proceedings are very expensive and because trials are in front of a jury rather than judge alone (uniquely amongst civil proceedings) their outcome is inherently more unpredictable than many kinds of proceedings.

NO-WIN-NO-FEE AVAILABLE WHERE RISK-ADJUSTED FUNDING IS NEEDED

If you would like to have us working on your behalf, we should be pleased to undertake this engagement for you.