Chris is a Partner and the Head of Hamlins’ Media and Reputation Management group. Chris' main areas of practice are defamation, privacy and confidentiality. He is also a recognised expert on social media and online content, and provides pre-publication advice to publishers on a range of media-related legal issues. Recent case highlights include successfully acting for the claimant in Sloutsker v Romanova, obtaining libel damages of £110,000, being one of the highest awards of recent years. He also acted for one of the representative claimants in the first phone-hacking civil trial against Mirror Group Newspapers in 2015. Chris’ team are now Lead Solicitors in the current round of phonehacking claims against News Group Newspapers. Clients include Eddie Jordan, Jim Moir (Vic Reeves) and various corporate clients.
England - London • TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Hamlins LLP
The media dispute department at Hamlins LLP works for a range of high-profile clients across print and digital media, where it is instructed in precedent-setting defamation and privacy cases. In addition, the team advises public and private figures on pre-publication issues, as well as libel and privacy law. Practice head Christopher Hutchings has over 30 years of experience in media litigation, particularly in regard to libel and privacy cases. Callum Galbraith is an expert in supporting high-profile individuals with defamation and privacy issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Christopher Hutchings has been a fantastic lawyer to work with. Clear, professional, trustworthy and professional.’
‘The striking difference was the proactive nature of the practice.'
‘Callum Galbraith - consistently impressive.'
‘Callum Galbraith and Ellen Gallagher are two terrific lawyers with unparalleled knowledge of phone hacking and unlawful information gathering claims.’
‘The media team is a simply fantastic group of lawyers. Despite being the lead solicitor in one of the group litigation actions for hacking, they have strength and depth which comes through in their focus on every libel action they act in. Amazing culture combining client focus and effective litigation.’
‘Ellen Gallagher combines stellar legal knowledge with pragmatic advice.'
- 'Christopher Hutchings is brilliant; he devotes time and care to ensure he really understands his client's aims and needs and is genuinely invested in getting them the best possible result.'
- 'Callum Galbraith has a brilliant legal mind and can herd cats; a truly great litigator.’
Key clients
- Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex
- Sadie Frost
- Davinia Douglass
- Melanie Chisholm (‘Mel C’)
- Melanie Brown (‘Mel B’)
- Paul Seeley
- Jewish Chronicle
- The Lord Watson of Wyre Forest
- Ricky Tomlinson
- David Cunningham
- Alison Owen
- Irina Lazareanu
- Neville Hendricks
- Sue Barker
- Sally Craddock
- Steve Cradock
- Natalie Cecil
- Catherine Tate
- Nicki Chapman
- Clare Balding CBE
Work highlights
- Representing Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, along with Sadie Frost, in an action against Associated Newspapers relating to major unlawful information gathering claims.
- Successfully represented a National Crime Agency undercover police officer in his libel claim against News Group Newspapers, concerning a false but highly defamatory allegation put to the client during the course of court proceedings in which the client appeared as the arresting officer.
- Acting for claimants in the MTVIL against News Group Newspapers.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Christopher Hutchings