Withers LLP

Media, reputation and privacy team.

Partner and head of UK media, reputation and privacy team. 

Jo joined Withersworldwide in 2019 to lead the media and reputation team in London. She has 15 years’ experience of looking after the reputation and privacy of some of the world’s most well-known individuals and businesses.

Described as ‘calm and insightful’, Jo advises clients whenever sensitive information or reputation is at risk. She assists clients who become the subject of press attention and who want to ensure that stories are accurate and fairly put together. This can be achieved via legal engagement with the media before publication, commonly in tandem with communications advisers. Jo helps clients who face challenges over the use of information in high profile contexts, such as Select Committee or public inquiries, media reporting on high-profile litigation or misuse of information online or in breach of confidence.

The other central part of her work is contentious data protection advice, acting for data controllers or individuals in respect of complex subject access rights, data breach and complaints.

For individuals she also advises on privacy, blackmail threats or harassment. Recently she has helped clients who wished to avoid publicity of details of their home and removal of untrue and malicious content online.

Jo was previously a news journalist and PR adviser.