England - London • TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Farrer & Co

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Farrer & Co is experienced in advising HNWIs on a range of complex reputation issues, particularly those in the fields of charity, arts and heritage, and education. The team also includes a strong defendant practice for publishers. Julian Pike leads the team, with over 30 years of experience advising individuals, corporations and institutions on crises and pre-publication issues. Tom Rudkin advises on all aspects of reputation and risk management, as well as handling media disputes, including information theft, defamation and harassment claims.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Julian Pike has done exceptionally well to build the media department into what it is today - I have observed him in conversation with clients and seen how trusted he is by them. He gives very sensible but positive advice.'

  • ‘Their knowledge, network, and creativity of solutions.’

  • ‘Julian Pike and Tom Rudkin are my go-to people.'

  • ‘Discreet in their approach, honest and direct with their advice and very open to collaboration with other experts across the reputation management value chain. There are only a handful of other firms that come close to meeting their capabilities.’

  • ‘Julian Pike is a highly respected, trusted and experienced adviser with a long and distinguished record of reputation management. He is calm, fair, but also direct in his assessments of clients' challenges.'

  • 'Tom Rudkin has a keen intellect and a very personable disposition which allows him to quickly forge a relationship with clients and find the best course of action for them.’

Key clients

  • The Executor of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh’s Estate

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Julian Pike

Farrer & Co

Julian heads Farrer & Co's reputation management practice. He has more than 20 years' experience of advising high profile individuals, corporations and institutions who find themselves the subject of attention, whether from mainstream media, online attacks or campaigning/ obsessed individuals. Often Julian will work with public relations advisers, in-house and external, to achieve the best outcomes. This recognises that the law has its limitations, but also that there is a need to take account of the client's long term business and strategic interests, as well as dealing with immediate issue. Having also represented major UK media organisations throughout his career, Julian knows the "art of the possible" and how best this is achieved.

Next Generation Partners

Tom Rudkin

Farrer & Co

Tom is an Partner in Farrer & Co's Reputation Management practice, and is also a member of the firm's Sports Group. Tom provides reputation management, contentious media and IP advice to a full range of the firm's clients, including individuals, corporates and institutions. He has experience advising both claimants and defendants on defamation, privacy, contentious data protection, cyber security, harassment, and copyright and trademark law. He works alongside communications advisers, investigative firms, and IT and cyber security specialists to help devise strategies on, and responses to, sensitive issues where the reputational risk is significant. Tom frequently advises sports organisations and individuals on contentious, regulatory and commercial matters. His clients include international and national sports governing bodies, as well as a number of professional sportsmen and women and other sports organisations. Tom's experience includes advising Farrer & Co's sports clients on various forms of dispute resolution (comprising litigation, arbitration at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and mediation), internal investigations, disciplinary and selection issues, and the drafting of key policies (such as those relating to anti-doping and the selection of athletes for major events). Tom has spent time in-house on two separate secondments at the Lawn Tennis Association.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Julian Pike, Tom Rudkin

Other key lawyers

Athalie Matthews