Top Lawyers for Pre-publication Advice

In a world in which information can spread near instantaneously, the optimal way to protect oneself from defamation is prevention of publication. Vardags’ elite team of Reputation and Privacy lawyers are experienced in providing advice to clients who are being threatened by individuals or organisations – including large media firms – by the publication of harmful or defamatory material.

Vardags is a top Reputation and Privacy law firm with our leading solicitors possessing a wealth of experience defending high profile clients on all legal matters relating to reputation, data privacy and the media. Vardags regularly acts on behalf of clients who are at risk of having their reputations damaged by threatening publications. Our approach is proactive and swift - our team are each well-versed in the intricacies of defamation law and use this expertise to negotiate and advocate on behalf of our clients. The team is headed by Alex McCready, who has been described as ‘the definitive reputation and privacy lawyer’ - Alex has an extensive record of acting on behalf of incredibly high-profile and affluent persons, securing the best outcomes for them and their families.

Our experienced team of Reputation and Privacy lawyers respond quickly and decisively to initial approaches by the media or any individuals who threaten to publish harmful and defamatory information. We handle issues with the utmost sensitivity and discretion, tailoring our approach to the individual needs of each client. Contact Vardags today for a free initial consultation on your matter.

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Ensuring the Best Outcomes for our Clients

Vardags’ provides pre-publication advice and action for clients being threatened by defamatory or damaging material. Our best Reputation and Privacy lawyers are able to obtain injunctions to prevent the publication of defamatory material or private information, thus safeguarding your Reputation and Privacy. 

Our specialist Reputation and Privacy lawyers are skilled engaging with the media organisation or any individual who has threatened to defame you by putting them on notice that they intend on publishing false and defamatory information and obtain undertakings from them to ensure that the false and defamatory information is not published. If this fails, our solicitors are experienced at seeking injunctive relief to stop the media outlet or individual from publishing false and defamatory information.

Vardags expert Reputation and Privacy lawyers can find the best strategic solutions to your specific case and unique circumstances. Vardags’ serves wealthy, high-profile clients who are dependent upon their positive reputation and personal privacy. Whether you are facing defamation in the press, by an individual, harassment, blackmail, mishandling of your private data, pre-publication threats, or you with to gain top legal advice on such matters - whatever the matter, contact Vardags and arrange a free consultation today. 

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WHY VARDAGS?

Having Experience on Both Sides

At Vardags, we are sympathetic to the unique challenges facing our clients when it comes to protecting their reputation and privacy. Our founder and president, Ayesha Vardag, understands this all too well.

Ayesha’s wide recognition as being “Britain’s Top Divorce Lawyer” has led her to become a prominent public figure with all the trials this entails. Being regularly featured in the national press, Ayesha has become well versed in dealing with invasive media and protecting her own reputation from defamatory attacks.

Vardags’ elite reputation and media team have a wealth of experience in protecting our high-profile, high-net-worth clients on a wide range of matters. It is never too early nor too late to get some advice on your case. Arrange a free consultation today.

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MEET OUR TEAM

Reputation Management & Defamation Lawyers
Alex McCready Vardags Partner Head of Reputation & Privaacy

Alex McCready

Partner - Head of Reputation and Privacy
“ALEX IS THE DEFINITIVE REPUTATION AND PRIVACY LAWYER.”
Spears 500
Alex McCready is a Partner at Vardags. As Head of Reputation & Privacy, she is widely respected for her leading expertise in this area. Regarded as “the...
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Gregory Monk Vardags Senior Associate Reputation & Privacy

Gregory Monk

Senior Associate
HAS EXPERIENCE IN THE ENGLISH HIGH COURT, COURT OF APPEAL AND SUPREME COURT
Profile
Gregory is a senior associate and solicitor advocate advising a wide range of clients on all aspects of litigation, private client, reputation and privacy. He has...
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Alanah Tannous

Alanah Tannous

Senior Associate*
““ALANAH IS AN EXCEPTIONAL LAWYER. SHE HAS THE KNOWLEDGE OF SOMEONE 20 YEARS HER SENIOR,...”
Client
Alanah is a senior associate in our reputation and privacy department. She has extensive expertise advising on a range of reputational risk matters, including defamation,...
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Isabella Theocharous Graduate Trainee Solicitor

Isabella Theocharous

Assistant Solicitor
“FROM MY FIRST MEETING WITH YOU I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR YOU.”
Client
Isabella joined the Graduate Training Programme at Vardags in 2021. A year later, she began working in the Reputation and Privacy department, where she has gained...
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Frank Ryan Vardags Civil Litigation Consultant

Frank Ryan

Civil Litigation Consultant
“FRANK RYAN IS A LAWYER WHO THINKS OUT OF THE BOX AND DELIVERS RESULTS, TIME AND AGAIN, OFTEN WITH...”
Toni Hilton, Dean of the Glasgow School for Business and Society
Frank is a civil litigation consultant for Vardags. He is a highly regarded litigation lawyer with four decades of extensive experience and expertise,...
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WE ARE READY TO HELP

We offer a free initial consultation to potential clients earning £300,000 per annum, or with at least £2 million in assets

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

False allegations have been made about me, how can I protect my reputation?
As a high-profile individual, your reputation is priceless. If allegations about you have been published in print or online and have caused or are likely to cause serious harm to your reputation, we can help. Reputation-damaging allegations can affect your private and public life; the most serious allegations, for example those of a sexual nature, can have a devastating impact on all areas of your life. Whatever the situation, our team can provide specialist advice to protect and defend your reputation.
What can I do if I am being blackmailed or extorted?
High-profile and high-net-worth individuals are common targets for blackmail and extortion and such attempts can be highly distressing. A former sexual or romantic partner may be threatening to publish or post intimate photographs of you; or you may have received threats from a disgruntled employee to leak confidential business information unless you pay them money. Our team provide expert advice on the practical and legal steps you can take to deal with the situation quickly and discreetly. When necessary, we work alongside our in-house criminal law experts, headed by Robert Conway, to provide comprehensive advice on both the reputation and criminal aspects of your case.
What can I do if the media has published defamatory content about me?
As a high-profile individual, media attention will not be alien to you. Anyone in the spotlight knows that a reputation takes years to build, but only seconds to destroy. We regularly engage with publishers, ranging from established publications to social media personalities and even companies, to seek the removal of defamatory allegations, and the correction and rectification of inaccurate data. Our lawyers have specific experience handling cases of Twitter libel (“Twibel”) and other aspects of social media law. To create a seamless and effective strategy that addresses the issue on all fronts, we can work alongside your PR representatives to ensure comprehensive protection and consistent messaging.
I am the victim of a harassment campaign involving defamatory allegations online, what can I do?
If you are a high-profile or high-net-worth individual, defamation can pose a serious threat to your personal and professional life. When the stakes are so high, it is vital that the issue is handled correctly. Even when defamatory allegations emanate from an anonymous individual or online account, there are actions that can be taken to protect your reputation. We regularly instruct private investigators and cyber experts who can work to uncover the identity of an anonymous attacker. There are also legal options available for uncovering the identity of anonymous online users. In some circumstances it is possible to obtain an order from the Court requiring that an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or website host disclose the identity of the anonymous user.
What can I do if I have an issue relating to financial due diligence?
Negative or inaccurate results in financial due diligence can have a devastating impact on the ability of individuals and/or families to do business and operate freely. If you believe that a compliance database holds inaccurate or out of date information about you there are steps you can take. Defamation and data protection laws apply to compliance database companies and can be utilised to good effect to challenge such content.
What can I do if the media has published defamatory content about our business and/or our executives?
A company’s reputation is its most valuable asset. For successful brands and companies, damaging allegations can cause serious damage to public and financial standing. We regularly engage with publishers, ranging from established publications through to social media channels and even other companies, to seek the removal of defamatory allegations, and the correction and rectification of inaccurate data. Our lawyers have specific experience handling cases of Twitter libel (“Twibel”) and other aspects of social media law.
We are concerned about ex-employees leaking confidential information, what can we do?
Bad leavers can present a real threat to a company’s reputation if they have access to confidential information that they could leak, or material for blackmail. Nevertheless, it is possible to take legal action to avoid potential fallout. Information leaks can fall within the remit of data protection law and the law of confidence. You can also protect yourself by enforcing existing contractual terms by, for example, securing emergency injunctions.
We are the victim of a smear campaign, what can we do?
Smear campaigns can have a devastating effect on the reputation and finances of successful companies and their executives. Defamation and conspiracy laws exist to protect businesses from such damaging accusations. We can create a bespoke strategy to handle co-ordinated attacks on your business’s reputation, collaborating with your existing legal, financial and PR team to manage the issue on all fronts. We regularly engage with publishers, including national press and social media, to seek removal of defamatory allegations, and correction and rectification of inaccurate data. We can also help you uncover evidence as to who is behind the campaign.
False allegations have been made against my client, how can I protect their reputation?
Threats to your client’s reputation can have a dramatic impact on their private or professional lives. Some allegations, such as those of a sexual nature, can impact all areas of their lives. We understand that your client’s reputation is priceless. If allegations have been published about them in print or online and are causing serious harm to their reputation, we can help. Our team understands the specific concerns of high-profile figures when it comes to reputational matters, and can provide specialist legal advice to protect and defend both their reputation and privacy.
What to do if my client is being blackmailed or extorted?
It is not uncommon for high-profile individuals to be targets of blackmail and extortion, and such attempts can be highly distressing. A former sexual or romantic partner may be threatening to publish or post intimate photographs of your client; or they may have received threats from a disgruntled employee to leak confidential business information unless they pay money. Blackmail is a criminal offence, so it is important to seek advice on the practical and legal steps that can be taken. When appropriate, our reputation and privacy lawyers can work alongside our in-house criminal law team, to provide comprehensive legal strategy.
What can I do if the media has published defamatory content about my client?
As advisers to high-profile individuals, we know that while a reputation takes years to build, it can be destroyed in seconds. We regularly engage with publishers, ranging from established publications to social media personalities and even companies, to seek the removal of defamatory allegations, and correction and rectification of inaccurate data. Our lawyers have specific experience handling cases of Twitter libel (“Twibel”) and other aspects of social media law. We work with you and your client to develop a seamless and effective strategy that addresses the issue on all fronts, ensuring comprehensive protection and consistent messaging.
What should I do if my client is the victim of a harassment campaign, involving defamatory allegations online?
Defamation can pose a serious threat to the personal and professional life of high-profile individuals. Online, these allegations can spread quickly and are difficult to get under control. Vardags’ lawyers have extensive experience handling all areas of social media law and have engaged with online publishers to great success. Even when defamatory allegations emanate from an anonymous individual or online account, there are actions that can be taken to protect your reputation.
What should I do if my client has issues relating to financial due diligence?
Negative or inaccurate results in financial due diligence can have a devastating effect on the ability of your client to do business and operate freely. If a compliance database holds inaccurate or out of date information about your client there are steps that can be taken. The laws of defamation and data protection apply to compliance database companies and can be utilised to good effect to challenge such content.
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REPUTATION & PRIVACY GUIDES

The Vardags reputation and privacy guide explains all the key concepts you might need to know in relation to personal and business reputation.

Using our expertise atthe cutting-edge of litigation, we have built this guide to help answer any questions you might have about extortion, blackmail, slander, libel, harassment and privacy breaches.

OFFICES

London
Tel: 020 7404 9390
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Cambridge
Tel: 01223 631639
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Manchester
Tel: 0161 826 7595
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Vardags International
Tel: 020 7458 4305
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