With a focus on preventative work, Harbottle & Lewis LLP‘s ’best in class’ reputation management practice advises on all aspects of defamation, privacy, breach of confidence, defamation and information law. The team works on behalf of a range of corporates and UHNWIs across the entertainment, media and sports sectors. Senior partner Gerrard Tyrrell has over 35 years of experience working for some of the most influential people in the country, including members of the Royal Family and former prime ministers, as well as powerful industry names in the US tech sector. John Kelly deals with reputation protection for leading figures in the entertainment and sport arenas. Senior associate Louise Prince is known for her experience with privacy issues, while Amy Bradbury has a strong track record in data protection work.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Always professional, highly knowledgeable and experienced, comprehensively accessible, happy to go the extra mile.’

  • ‘Fantastic to work with, excellent at client relations, calm under fire, knowledgeable and reassuring.’

  • ‘Excellent knowledge and experience in this practice area, especially John Kelly.’

  • ‘The Harbottle & Lewis team have a wonderful ‘family’ feel about them. They are professionally robust, honest and discreet whilst maintaining a sense of fun and light-heartedness over some difficult and pressing issues. As a result, they are a pleasure to work with and for.’

  • ‘John Kelly and team are simply best in class. They specialise in the complicated and do it better than all others.’

  • ‘John Kelly is the leading advisor in this space bar none. He is an excellent advisor and client handler.’

  • ‘Gerrard Tyrell: a leader in the field, clientele are second to none. John Kelly: experienced, hard working, client friendly and practical.’

Key clients

  • All of the most senior members of The Royal Family, including HM The Queen, HM The King and Queen Consort and TRH The Prince and Princess of Wales
  • Former First Lady of the United States Melania Trump
  • Sir Richard Branson
  • David and Victoria Beckham
  • Kate Moss
  • David Ross
  • Gordon Ramsay
  • Matthew Vaughn and Claudia Schiffer
  • Soho House
  • The Estate of Shane Warne
  • Iceland
  • Universal
  • Pets at Home Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Alexandra Pettifer (also known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke) in proceedings against the BBC for defamation over false claims made during the making of the Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales and obtained a statement in open court from the BBC as well as substantial damages.
  • Representing a number of high-profile victims of phone hacking who are pursuing claims against News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers.
  • Representing IS Prime, a brokerage business, in pursuing a claim in malicious falsehood over false statements made by a competitor and its head of compliance.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
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Hall of fameHarbottle & Lewis LLP
Gerrard is Senior partner and head of media and information group; specialising in IP, defamation, confidence, and media sport and commercial litigation; legal counsel for numerous global household names. He is acknowledged as a leading lawyer in the field of litigation with particular reference to the work that he carries out in the fields of information protection, privacy and defamation.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Harbottle & Lewis LLP
John Kelly is recognised as a leading litigator who specialises in the area of reputation protection, privacy and defamation.Having been involved in many of the most high profile cases and developments in this area, John is recognised as a leading practitioner by Chambers UK, Chambers HNW, The Legal 500 and The Spear’s 500. John works with clients to protect their rights and reputations. Whilst much of John’s work is confidential he represents a number of high-profile individuals, well-known brands, and FTSE 100 companies. Personal clients include High Net Worth individuals, successful entrepreneurs, as well as leading individuals in the entertainment industry, music and sport. John has represented a host of well-known clients including Angelina Jolie, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Steve Coogan, Russell Brand and Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne. John has developed Personal Protection Principles which are used to protect clients reputations, their family and their security. Corporate clients include leading consumer brands, as well as companies in the financial services and charity sector. Work for corporate clients includes corporate brand protection, advising on the media law aspects of complex litigation, and the protection of private and confidential information in such cases. In addition to this John has extensive experience of dealing with consumer affairs television programmes. John is well-known in the area of sports law and acts for premiership and international football clubs, players, owners, managers, agents as well as governing bodies. John is a regular speaker on Reputation Protection and Personal Protection rights both in the UK and internationally including in the US and Australia.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Gerrard Tyrrell, John Kelly

Other key lawyers

Emma Wright, Daniel Marks, Andrew Terry, Louise Prince, Amy Bradbury, Elizabeth McClenan