Payne Hicks Beach LLP

Dispute Resolution/Privacy and Media Law

Dominic is Head of the Dispute Resolution Department and Privacy & Media Law Team at Payne Hicks Beach.

He is a highly experienced litigator and trusted advisor who is well known for his specialism in the law of privacy, breach of confidence, defamation and harassment, but the nature of his clients and instructions has led to him being instructed in cases covering a multitude of issues.

Clients contact Dominic to resolve complex business and personal disputes, and when they are subject to unwanted national and international media intrusion. Dominic acts to protect against and investigate malicious reputational attack, and deal with social media misuse; suspected unlawful breach of privacy and loss of confidential information, including by way of phone-hacking or cyber-crime. Dominic is also instructed where clients are subject to stalking, harassment and unlawful threats.

For over two decades he has acted in leading cases for well-known actors, leading businesspeople and companies, politicians, sportspersons and musicians. He is often instructed at times of crisis, and in relation to sensitive, complex issues.

Inevitably, the majority of Dominic’s work is highly confidential; however, instructions in the public domain include: acting for Princess Haya in her proceedings against Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum (in the High Court and Court of Appeal); representing Steve Coogan; acting in Max Mosley’s case against the News of the World; and the Leveson Inquiry, in which Dominic acted for all of the 53 “Core Participant Victims”. He has acted in ground-breaking privacy claims in all appellate courts including the European Court of Human Rights.

Partner at Payne Hicks Beach since 2014. Head of Dispute Resolution Department and Privacy & Media Law Team from 2018, and served for five years on the firm’s Management Board.